NeNe Leakes returns to ‘Real Housewives’ six years after fiery exit

NeNe Leakes made an epic return to the “Real Housewives” franchise six years after her fiery exit.

The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” alum made a special appearance during Sunday’s premiere of the “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th Special.”

The episode kicks off with Leake’s former castmate Porsha Williams welcoming her into her home to help pack for the iconic cross-country vacation. 

“The last time we saw NeNe was Season 12,” Williams recalls in a confessional. “That was the reunion during the [COVID-19] pandemic and she did the close of the laptop.”

During the frenemies’ catch-up, Williams dishes on her relationship with Patrice “Sway” McKinney, with Leakes teasing, “You swimming in the lady pond!” 

“It was just casual texting and all of a sudden there’s this event that came up,” Williams shares of her relationship. “I was like, ‘Hey, you wanna go?”

“As long as you’re happy, that’s the only thing that matters,” Leakes says, despite her surprise.

As their reunion continues, the “Traitors” alum details the group’s travel itinerary to iconic “Real Housewives” locations, including Orange County, Beverly Hills, Miami, New York City and more.

“How dare we celebrate 20 years as ‘Housewives’ and leave out the NeNe Leakes?” Williams teases in a confessional. “So, the queen herself will be making an appearance when we enter Atlanta.”

The duo agrees that Leakes’ return is “huge” considering how she left Bravo.

As fans remember, Leakes quit “RHOA” — despite her OG status — in September 2020.

“I have been on an extremely, extremely long, exhausting, tiring, emotional negotiation,” she announced at the time, explaining that “there’s been a lot of emotion flying from both sides.”

She ultimately made the “very hard and very difficult decision” to exit the series ahead of Season 13.

In April 2022, the reality star filed a bombshell lawsuit against Bravo, Andy Cohen and associated companies, accusing them of “foster[ing] a corporate and workplace culture in which racially insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated — if not, encouraged.”

Leakes alleged that her complaints of racism led in part to her being “forced” out of the “house she built.”

However, after four months of “negotiating” between the parties, Leakes filed to dismiss the case “without prejudice,” meaning she can reopen it later.

Back in May, Leakes revealed she is willing to “move forward” in her relationship with Cohen.

She also claimed that she and the Bravo exec have texted since the filing was axed, but that it’s up to Cohen to decide whether he wants to get back on speaking terms.

“I am the kind of person that, good or bad, time heals. You don’t have to be besties or anything like that, but I move forward. I’m not into holding negative energy.”