'The show has never been about one person': Cynthia Bailey reacts to NeNe Leakes' Real Housewives departure and says she hopes the newcomer has 'fire'
Real Housewives Of Atlanta fans can expect a change of cast when the show returns this fall.
Cast members NeNe Leakes and Claudia Jordan have officially dropped out of the show for the coming eighth season.
In an E! exclusive, cast member Cynthia Bailey discussed NeNe's departure, saying: 'Well the show has never been about one person. It's just not what makes it work.'
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One less housewife: Cynthia Bailey, 47, reacted to NeNe Leakes's departure from the Real Housewives Of Atlanta in an E! exclusive saying 'I wish her well.' The reality TV star is seen here at the BET Awards in June
'Sometimes you gotta change it up and mix it up,' continued the 47-year-old housewife. 'I look forward to a really great drama-filled season.'
Cynthia went on to mention that there was no bad blood between the two after NeNe split and that 'we are cool.'
'I wasn't super surprised because I used to be very close with NeNe so I knew that at some point, she wanted to do other things and rightfully so because I think she has had a great run on the show. In my opinion, she will always be the original Atlanta Housewife and I wish her well.'
When she heard the news, Cynthia reached out to her co-star: 'We text back and forth…When I heard the news about her leaving the show, I shot her a text and said good luck to you. May you continue to shine. Do your thing so we are cool.'
So long: NeNe Leakes, 47, won't be returning to the eighth season of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta. The TV personality is seen here at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York
Along with NeNe, Claudia Jordan will be leaving the show after a one-season run as a main cast member. However, it's speculated that Claudia will continue to appear as a guest.
Rumors have been swirling regarding who will replace the stars with one major standout being actress Kim Fields.
'I am just excited for someone to come in who is a spit fire,' she said about the newcomer, 'someone who is not just gonna come in and check things out. I don't know who yet but whoever you are, please audition for the Real Housewives of Atlanta. We need you!'
Cast: Cynthia Bailey, NeNe Leakes, Phaedra Parls, Kandi Burruss and Kenya Moore all seen here in Las Vegas in March
Apart from starring on RHOA, Cynthia centers her focus on her sunglasses line, Cynthia Bailey Eyewear.
'It's the beginning of my accessories line that I want to do,' she said. 'I feel like personal style is so important, more so than what things cost and labels and those things. It's really how you put it together and that's what I'm interested in and teaching everybody.'
Long run: NeNe will be leaving the show after seven season's as a main cast member; the TV personality seen here at the Live! With Kelly And Michael show in New York in June
While she's very busy with her sunglasses line and preparing for the upcoming season, Cynthia still has time for her husband, Peter Thomas.
She mentioned her secret to keeping her romance alive with her businessman husband, Peter Thomas.
'A lot of our date nights revolve around work,' she said. 'But we try to go together and then you know, have a booty call at the end of the night after we finish working!'
New app: NeNe is featured on Kim Kardashian's new $85 million Hollywood app
The Real Housewives Of Atlanta star was also recently featured on Kim Kardashian's $85 million cartoon hollywood app.
Kim, 34, announced the addition on Instagram saying: 'Look who joined Kim Kardashian Hollywood!!!! None other than @NeNeLeakes'
The mother-of-two is also featured in some promotional stills wearing a skintight leopard-print mini dress.
Other endeavors: Meanwhile Cynthia also has a sunglasses line side project, Cynthia Bailey Eyewear. Here Cynthia is seen with her RHOA co-star Kenya Moore in June at 1OAK in Los Angeles
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