NeNe Leakes sues alleging racism accepted on ‘Real Housewives’

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 firms True Leisure and Really Authentic, executives from the businesses and “Housewives” govt producer Andy Cohen, however not Zolciak-Biermann.

“NBC, Bravo and True foster a company and office tradition during which racially-insensitive and inappropriate conduct is tolerated – if not, inspired,” the go well with says.

Representatives for NBCUniversal declined remark. Emails despatched to representatives for the opposite defendants and Zolciak-Biermann looking for remark weren’t instantly returned.

Leakes, 54, a TV persona and actor whose authorized title 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 in the course of the first season, which aired in 2008, the solid was planning to attend a barbecue, and housewife Kim Zolciak-Biermann, responded to the thought with “phrases to the impact of: ‘I don’t need to sit round with NeNe and eat rooster.’” The go well with says the assertion “perpetuated an offensive stereotype about African-People.”

The go well with says in 2012 in the course of the fifth season, Zolciak-Biermann made “racially offensive and stereotypical” feedback in regards to the new residence 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 go well with says, Zolciak-Biermann used the N-word to seek advice from Leakes and different of the housewives after a dispute with them, the go well with alleges. It additionally alleges Zolciak-Biermann falsely implied that Leakes used medicine and referred to as her residence a “roach nest.”

The go well with says after Leakes complaints to the executives overseeing the present, they “didn’t terminate their relationship with Zolciak-Biermann, nor take another significant motion to place an finish to her racially-offensive conduct,” 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 govt producer Andy Cohen and different executives,” Leakes’ lawyer David deRubertis mentioned in an announcement.

Joe Habachy, one other Leakes’ legal professional, mentioned through electronic 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 compelled off the present in 2020 earlier than its thirteenth season.

The go well with 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, holding her off early episodes during which the housewives would deal with BLM, the go well with 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 go well with says. “As an alternative, NBC, Bravo, and True compelled her out of the ‘home she constructed,’ denying her a daily position.”

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