Former The Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes sued the companies behind the show on Wednesday, claiming they encouraged and tolerated a hostile and racist work environment.
The lawsuit, filed in Atlanta federal court, says Leakes, who is black, complained to executives about years of racist remarks made by his white housewife, Kim Zolciak-Biermann, but that only Leakes suffered consequences.
It names as defendants NBCUniversal, Bravo, the production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original, executives of the companies, and executive producer of Housewives Andy Cohen, but not Zolciak-Biermann.
“NBC, Bravo and True promote a corporate and workplace culture in which racially insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated — if not encouraged,” the lawsuit reads.
Emails sent to representatives of the defendants and to Zolciak-Biermann asking for comment were not immediately answered.
Leakes, 54, a TV personality and actress whose real name is Linnethia Monique Leakes, spent seven seasons between 2008 and 2020 as one of the central stars of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
It is alleged that during the first season, which aired in 2008, the cast planned to attend a barbecue, and housewife Kim Zolciak-Biermann responded to the idea with “words like, ‘I don’t want to sit around with NeNe and eat chicken .'” The suit says the statement “perpetuated an offensive stereotype about African Americans.”
The lawsuit alleges that Zolciak-Biermann made “racially offensive and stereotypical” comments about housewife Kandi Burruss’ new home during season five in 2012, calling her neighborhood a “ghetto” and perpetuating a racial stereotype in an abusive comment about, if Burruss needed a swimming pool.
That same year, the lawsuit alleges, after an argument with them, Zolciak-Biermann used the N-word to refer to Leakes and other housewives, the lawsuit says. It’s also alleged that Zolciak-Biermann falsely implied that Leakes used drugs and called her home a “roach nest.”
The lawsuit, following complaints by Leakes to the executives overseeing the show, states that they “have not ended their relationship with Zolciak-Biermann and have not taken other reasonable steps to put an end to their racially objectionable behavior,” and if they are rewarded by giving they have their own spinoff show.
“Since the series began filming, NeNe has been the target of systemic racism from co-star Kim Zolciak-Biermann, which was tolerated by executive Bravo producer Andy Cohen and other executives,” Leakes attorney David deRubertis said in a statement.
Joe Habachy, another of Leakes’ attorneys, said via email that “not a day goes by that NeNe doesn’t wake up with a rush of overwhelming emotions as a direct result of these unfortunate and preventable events.”
The lawsuit alleges that her racism complaints led in part to Leakes being pushed off the show in 2020 ahead of season 13.
The suit states that Leakes’ negotiations for the season took place as the Black Lives Matter movement was gaining momentum, with Leakes being a vocal supporter.
Executives tried to prevent Leakes from speaking out about the cause and barred her from early episodes where the housewives would address BLM, the lawsuit alleges.
“When the Black Lives Matter movement swept our nation, Mrs. Leakes — Bravo’s most historic black female talent — should have been embraced by NBC, Bravo and True,” the suit reads. “Instead, NBC, Bravo and True forced her out of ‘the house she built’ and denied her a regular role.”
The lawsuit alleges that the defendants’ actions violate federal labor and antidiscrimination statutes and seeks damages to be determined in court.