As a lot as I’ve beloved and cherished “The Actual Housewives of Atlanta” because it launched in 2008, it has felt like a chore to observe it for a minimum of three seasons.
Whereas the formally No. 1 rated present on Bravo was all the time identified for the reads and shade-throwing between solid members, there seemed to be some degree of camaraderie between them primarily based on actual relationships. The present itself had a witty and irreverent allure to it that made it such a standout.
There had been darker moments to make sure, however after the controversy sparked by Phaedra Parks admitting to spreading false drug accusations about Kandi Burruss in season 9, I had hoped that each solid members and the manufacturing behind the collection realized that form of factor just isn’t why the present pops.
It was truly wealthy women – actual or imagined – being ridiculous however not in a approach that screamed authorized legal responsibility.
Then got here “Bolo-Gate” in season 13, which led to headlines like “Porsha Williams and Tanya Sam Allegedly Acquired Their Peaches Cobbled by a Lengthy Dong Stripper on RHOA Forged Journey” earlier than the season even began to air. Some folks across the present may’ve thought they have been producing consideration for the present with such story vegetation, however by the point the precise scenes behind these tales aired, most of us didn’t care what consenting adults did off digital camera — making for a reasonably depressing (and boring) viewing expertise.
That season was extensively panned for that includes a gaggle of individuals with little to no chemistry doing nothing however bickering about unimportant stuff we had already heard about on the web a number of months prior.
As an alternative of fixing course then, although, RHOA continued largely as is tonally albeit with new folks, and a formally outdated favourite good friend, Marlo Hampton, lastly upgraded to peach holder.
It didn’t assist the present regain its footing, however as dangerous as the next season was, it was no match for the newest version, season 15, which yielded much more dangerous evaluations, decrease scores, and requires a reboot from followers.
So when the community introduced earlier this yr that RHOA followers can be handled to one thing like reboot-lite, there was pleasure — particularly as soon as it was introduced that Porsha Williams, who had left the present in 2021, can be returning.
In line with Bravo, Porsha can be joined by Kenya Moore and Drew Sidora, the one remaining solid members from the earlier season, together with newbies Shamea Morton Mwangi, Brittany Eady, Kelli Ferrell and Angela Oakley. Cynthia Bailey would additionally return as a good friend of the housewives.
I don’t know who half these individuals are, and it’s not the return of NeNe Leakes (which I do know is very unlikely), however I used to be blissful for something completely different than what I had been forcing myself to be careful of behavior lately.
Sadly, RHOA’s reboot is already displaying indicators of battle.
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Porsha, who had married Simon Guobadia, the previous husband of another person who appeared on RHOA for a millisecond, filed for divorce 10 days after the announcement. Whereas they regarded blissful and rich on Instagram lower than a yr in the past, they beef about immigration standing and liars on social media now. In the meantime, Simon is now at the moment throwing out stop and desist letters to Bravo – disrupting Porsha’s return by making it extremely troublesome to movie the place she lives.
Nevertheless, their greatest drawback is Kenya Moore’s abrupt exit from the present.
Through the season 16 filming, an occasion was happening at Kenya’s new hair salon, and he or she allegedly shared sexually express photographs of newcomer Brittany Eady. A supply instructed Web page Six that Kenya’s actions got here in response to Brittany making threats utilizing the phrase “gun,” which in flip made solid members really feel “uncomfortable.” Eady denies this.
To be clear, Kenya has denied accusations about her conduct and after footage from the occasion went viral, she posted to Instagram: “Consider none of what you hear and half of what you see. The reality all the time involves gentle.”
Nicely, particulars have poured out, however what precisely occurred is dependent upon whom you imagine. Deadline and TMZ say Kenya left on her personal accord whereas Love B. Scott stories that following an investigation, it was decided that she violated Bravo’s code of conduct and was terminated.
I’ve by no means been the largest Kenya Moore fan, however she has been a vivid spot in a darkish interval of the present, and whereas what she’s accused of sounds horrible, I additionally fault the manufacturing for even permitting something that salacious to occur on digital camera. They haven’t discovered that Scarlet Letter-themed scandals aren’t the present’s salvation.
So whereas Kenya continues to disclaim all this and says she is going to proceed to “thrive in a non-toxic work setting.”
I’m positive she is going to, however will RHOA thrive with out her?
I didn’t know that TMZ frolicked in Atlanta-area grocery retailer parking heaps, however they randomly bumped into Sherée Whitfield and requested her about all the pieces.
“I hate to see my lady Kenya exit like that,” she instructed them. “As an OG, it’s form of onerous to take a seat again and watch the present form of slowly sink the way in which it’s, so I’m not blissful. I don’t prefer it.”
As for the present’s future, she mentioned, “An OG’s presence is all the time welcome … all the time wanted on the collection — it doesn’t matter what capability.”
Naturally, she mentioned she would return to filming and filling the void left in Kenya’s absence for the “proper” amount of cash.
I believe this present’s issues are larger than the bone collector. They start and finish with the manufacturing, who chooses the solid and units the tone. Maybe this season might be salvaged, however because it stands now, it seems to be going the way in which of “Basketball Wives” and “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” franchises, which proceed to nonetheless air however not practically on the identical stature or viewers views.
Michael Arceneaux is the New York Instances bestselling creator of “I Can’t Date Jesus, I Don’t Need To Die Poor,” and his newest essay assortment, “I Lastly Purchased Some Jordans.”
