NeNe Leakes is leaving The Real Housewives of Atlanta after seven seasons.
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"This was definitely a hard decision for me," Leakes, 48, told People. "Me and my husband [Gregg Leakes] have been going back and forth on it for weeks now. But my contract is up and I just think this is the right time. This is my opportunity to spread my wings and do different things."
Leakes, who has been on the show since Season 1 and is known for getting in many altercations with her co-stars, said she actually feels relieved.
"I feel a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders," admitted Leakes, a mother of two. "There were times when I was a target. I won't miss the negativity."
Leakes doesn't think her fellow Housewives will necessarily shed a tear over her departure.
On the contrary, "I think some of the girls will be happy," Leakes told the magazine. "They always felt like I was the star, and they were never able to really shine with me there, so here's their opportunity to shine."
But the women shouldn't get too comfortable.
"I'm not saying I'm gone forever," Leakes clarified. "I'll probably pop up and play with those girls every now and then."
Bravo executive Andy Cohen tweeted support for Leakes and made it known her relationship with the network is still strong.
"We love @NeNeLeakes & she is always welcome back to the house she helped build! She's a Real Housewife forever!!" Cohen wrote on Twitter Monday night.
So what's next for the former The Celebrity Apprentice and Dancing with the Stars contestant?
"I'm actually going to be doing a new primetime television show with a big legend," Leakes teased of her newest project. "All of my fans will get to see me be really happy, witty and funny and tell all of those one liners that I always have said on Housewives."
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
