Kenya Moore has confessed to her knowledge of Kandi Burruss‘ exit from the “Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
In a media chat, the reality television star opened up about being aware of Burruss’ decision to depart from the show way before the businesswoman shockingly announced it on the Grammys red carpet.
The mother-of-one’s public acknowledgment comes shortly after an insider revealed ex-Housewife Porsha Williams’ alleged condition for a comeback.
Kenya Moore & Kandi Burruss Had Conversations About Burruss’ Decision To Leave ‘RHOA’
Even though she has been keeping mum on her peach status since shooting for the 15th season of “RHOA” wrapped up over a year ago. Moore is open about dishing on her friend, Burruss. She used the opportunity of a recent interview to disclose:
“We had conversations like, ‘OK, well if you get a phone call let me know…’ We communicated about all of that, and once she told me that she had made the decision not to return I was like, ‘Are you sure? Really think about this. Are you sure?’ “You know, you’ve been there for 14 consecutive years…’”
After praising the singer-songwriter for being “so loved and so well-respected,” the beauty pageant titleholder added, “I think once she made the decision, it was really clear she felt good about the decision.”
Moore then admitted that she ultimately opted to support her pal, telling ET, “If that’s what you really want, and that’s where your heart takes you, I’m all for it.” Delving deeper into the conversation with the outlet, the haircare mogul explained:
“Everything has its season. You can’t have one, single job forever, for the rest of your life, at least most people don’t. You have to follow your heart, and in this time where I just feel liberated, you know? I finally have been granted a divorce, I finally got the most beautiful child I ever wanted — everything that’s on my vision board comes true, for the most part — and I feel like when it’s time for me to move on, I’ll just know, and it’ll be a happy moment.”
Moore also reiterated that her leaving “RHOA” will not be sad since it will translate to her “taking a step in a different direction” and shared her “hope that everyone would support me in that.”
Regarding Burruss’ unexpected revelation at the Grammys, the 47-year-old admitted later that she had not intended to share the news at the awards ceremony. As she disclosed, the circumstances surrounding the information being shared there boiled down to being there for her family and exploring new opportunities.
She elaborated that stepping away from the reality television show allowed her to fully embrace certain “mommy duties” that were previously challenging to manage. In her words:
“Like I was doing real mommy duties, and I was loving it. I was like, now, I know this ain’t got nothing to do with making money, but I probably wouldn’t have been able to be there for every one of those things had I not had the little extra time on my hands.”
Burruss’ mention of having “a little extra time” on her hands referred to the break Bravo granted cast members while they navigated the uncertainties surrounding the next season of the show and the fate of the housewives, as The Blast reported.
Burruss became a fixture on “RHOA” from its second season in 2009, sharing the highs and lows of her personal and professional journey.
Porsha Williams’ Willingness To Return To ‘RHOA’ Is Hinged On This Bravo Decision
While Burruss is leaving the show, her former frenemy, Porsha Williams, has seemingly been considering a return for the right amount. As an insider stated in August 2023:
“Bravo has been trying to get Porsha to come back to ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ for the possible cast shakeup, but she’s playing hardball. Bravo offered Porsha a lot of money to return, but she declined.”
According to them, the former “Dish Nation” co-host has been vocal with her friends about her desire to become “the highest-paid Housewife on any franchise.”
While the source noted the potential for Williams’ return, they claimed, “as of now, she and Bravo have not come to an agreement.” It is worth noting that the 42-year-old previously declared that she had not completely ruled out a return to the reality television series where she was a fixture from 2012 until 2021.
“I’ve never written it off, I’ve never talked down on the show. I love what the girls are doing. I love that the brand is still as strong as it was before, and you just never know. I will say [that] I’ll never say ‘never,’” she expressed.