NeNe Leakes Quits 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta'

After 7 seasons on the "reality" show where she honed her acting chops and made her "very rich," Linethia Leakes is quitting (or was fired from) "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" for new pastures. After seeing how the final episodes of season 7 were edited and seeing how unpopular her character has become, we aren't surprised. We wondered if Bravo would kill off the character played by Linnethia. And now we know it has.

Eight years after beginning her journey on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," the star, 47, is moving away from reality and dipping her hand into primetime TV. "This was definitely a hard decision for me," Leakes told People about leaving the show. "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." Fans don't fret though, the sassy housewife will still be appearing on the small screen. "I'm actually going to be doing a new primetime television show with a big legend," she shared. "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." Sometimes change is good. Since making her big decision, Leakes said that she feels like a weight has been "lifted off my shoulders." The new show isn't the only project that the Leakes have been involved in recently. The actress is the newest famous face on the highly successful Kim Kardashian app, Kim Kardashian Hollywood.

source: NY Daily News

Last week, Linnethia's oldest son Bryson Bryant was arrested in Douglas, Georgia, in connection with a check forgery case. According to Coffee County investigator Robert Sprinkle, the 25-year-old had a fake check written to him in his possession and was arrested because he provided the cops with a false name. He wasn't charged with check fraud, because he hadn’t cashed it yet. According to booking information, Bryson is married and works at Five Guys. He was released on bond. He was arrested several times before on charges of theft and weed possession. Last fall, he spent three months in prison after a probation violation stemming from a DUI arrest and reckless driving arrest in 2013. He was sentenced to probation, but while on probation Bryson failed to report to his probation officer multiple times, tested for cocaine and skipped mandatory DUI school. He was also ordered into rehab earlier this year.

(Sidebar: Given the franchise's penchant for manufacturing storylines, the news of NeNe's departure could be a storyline like her supposed divorce and remarriage. Don't be surprised if she has a "change of heart" and returns to the show.)