NeNe Leakes sues claiming racism accepted on ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former star of “The Actual Housewives of Atlanta” NeNe Leakes sued the businesses behind the present on Wednesday, alleging that they fostered and tolerated a hostile and racist work setting.

The lawsuit filed in federal court docket in Atlanta says Leakes, who’s black, complained to executives about years of racist remarks from fellow “Housewife” Kim Zolciak-Biermann, who’s white, however that solely Leakes suffered penalties.

It names as defendants NBCUniversal, Bravo, manufacturing corporations True Leisure and Really Authentic, executives from the businesses and “Housewives” government producer Andy Cohen, however not Zolciak-Biermann.

“NBC, Bravo and True foster a company and office tradition during which racially-insensitive and inappropriate habits is tolerated — if not, inspired,” the swimsuit says.

Emails despatched to representatives of the defendants and Zolciak-Biermann looking for remark weren’t instantly returned to the Related Press.

Leakes, 54, a TV character and actor whose authorized identify is Linnethia Monique Leakes, spent seven seasons as one of many central stars of “The Actual Housewives of Atlanta” between 2008 and 2020.

It alleges that throughout the first season, which aired in 2008, the solid was planning to attend a barbecue, and housewife Kim Zolciak-Biermann, responded to the concept with “phrases to the impact of: ‘I don’t need to sit round with NeNe and eat rooster.’” The swimsuit says the assertion “perpetuated an offensive stereotype about African-People.”

The swimsuit says in 2012 throughout the fifth season, Zolciak-Biermann made “racially offensive and stereotypical” feedback in regards to the new house of housewife Kandi Burruss, calling her neighborhood a “ghetto” and perpetuating a racial stereotype in an offensive remark about whether or not Burruss wanted a swimming pool.

That very same yr, the swimsuit says, Zolciak-Biermann used the N-word to seek advice from Leakes and different of the housewives after a dispute with them, the swimsuit alleges. It additionally alleges Zolciak-Biermann falsely implied that Leakes used medication and known as her house a “roach nest.”

The swimsuit says after Leakes’ complaints to the executives overseeing the present, they “didn’t terminate their relationship with Zolciak-Biermann, nor take some other significant motion to place an finish to her racially-offensive habits,” and if something rewarded her by giving her her personal spinoff present.

“From the day the collection started filming, NeNe was the goal of systemic racism from co-star Kim Zolciak-Biermann, which was tolerated by Bravo government producer Andy Cohen and different executives,” Leakes’ lawyer David deRubertis stated in a press release.

Joe Habachy, one other Leakes lawyer, stated through e-mail that “not a day goes by that NeNe doesn’t get up with an onslaught of overwhelming feelings as a direct results of these unlucky and avoidable occurrences.”

The lawsuit alleges that her complaints of racism led partly to Leakes being pressured off the present in 2020 earlier than its thirteenth season.

The swimsuit says Leakes’ negotiations for the season got here because the Black Lives Matter motion was gaining main momentum, with Leakes a vocal supporter.

Executives sought to sideline Leakes from speaking in regards to the trigger, protecting her off early episodes during which the “Housewives” would handle BLM, the swimsuit alleges.

“Because the Black Lives Matter motion swept our nation, Mrs. Leakes — Bravo’s traditionally most profitable Black feminine expertise — ought to have been embraced by NBC, Bravo, and True,” the swimsuit says. “As an alternative, NBC, Bravo, and True pressured her out of the ‘home she constructed,’ denying her a daily position.”

The swimsuit alleges that the defendants’ actions violate federal employment and anti-discrimination legislation, and it seeks financial damages to be decided at trial.