The Real Housewives of Atlantais undergoing a transformative makeover after a poorly received Season 15. In addition to the shakeup and rumors ofPorsha WilliamsandPhaedra Parksreturning to theRHOASeason 16 cast, there was the copacetic announcement on February 4 thatKandi Burrusswould not return for Season 16of the Bravoreality TV show.Losing one of the few housewives with a lasting entertainment industry presence and demonstrable talent will be a critical hit forRHOA.
Some fans had speculated Kandi’s time on the iconic series would soon be over — her disinterest in attending group events in Season 15 was apparent, and poor ratings called her unusually large Bravo paychecks into question — but the confirmation she was leaving still sent shockwaves through social media. This was partly becauseKandi was one of the few “OGs” still standing, having appeared for fourteen consecutive seasons. It was also because she was unlike any other cast member:Kandi was one ofThe Real Housewives’few legitimate stars, with businesses that weren’t smoke and mirrors and a credible music career.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta
A reality series focusing on the personal and professional lives of several women in Atlanta’s high society. The show documents their interactions, from lavish parties and business ventures to intimate moments with family and friends. The cast members navigate complex relationships, intense rivalries, and significant life events, providing a mix of drama, entertainment, and insight into the pressures and privileges of their status. Each episode highlights the evolving dynamics within the group, showcasing the highs and lows of their interconnected lives.
Kandi Burruss Was a Shining Star Before ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’
While Bravo rarely secures eye-widening talent, it has presumably always been a goal forThe Real Housewivesto employ the help of head turners to lure in new viewers.Kandi was one of the few women ever cast to bring an existing reputation to the table.
Before joiningRHOA, her girl groupXscape had released a Platinum-certified album and was well-established in the ’90s R&B scene.If that wasn’t enough to set her apart from most of the social climbers onThe Real Housewives(it was),she co-wrote “No Scrubs,” TLC’s biggest hitand a karaoke favorite across the globe. She had a foundation built well before Andy Cohen came knocking.
Kandi Burruss Sets a Classy Example With Her ‘RHOA’ Exit
She has officially announced she is not returning to ‘RHOA’ and has shown her gratitude to the network, which some of her colleagues didn’t do.
Kandi Burruss Rubs Shoulders With A-listers
Being a songwriter who works with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Boyz II Men, Destiny’s Child, and Pink, gets you into high places.Kandi is frequently invited to fancy industry parties, standing next to A-listers in VIP areas at concerts, and has been on more than a few stages to humbly accept awards.
Kandi broke the mold for housewives.Some of the biggest music artists in the world have her on speed dial because they know she’s a hitmaker.Interestingly, she’s secure enough in her status thatshe rarely bragged about her connectionsonRHOA. The show would call back to Xscape often, but Kandi, classy as she is, resisted bringing up her ‘Shape of You’ co-writer credit at every opportunity. IfSonja Morganachieved these accolades, they’d be reached for with slurred words at a minimum of ten luncheons.
Kenya Moore Isn’t Happy With ‘RHOA’ Season 16 Cast Changes
Kenya Moore is upset with one cast member’s exit.
Kandi Burruss' Businesses Actually Exist
Longtime fans ofThe Real Housewivesknow that, ironically, the business ventures paraded on the shows are not particularly real.We watchedShereé Whitfield’s apparel brand SHE by Shereé take more than a decade to come to fruition. Sonja claimed she had part ownership of a soccer team, and nearly every housewife has released some sort of collection.This is part ofThe Real Housewives' formula, so viewers suspend their disbelief. However, with Kandi, they didn’t need to.
While she might not be about to winSuccession,Kandi’s businesses stand up to interrogation better than other housewives' ventures do.They stuck around for more than one season, and you can physically confirm they exist. While manyother cast members' lines have disappeared into the ether, you can orderBedroom Kandiproducts to your heart’s content. Some fans might not want to, on account of the MLM-laden language on the website, but it’s possible to procure them.
Kandi Burruss Never Needed ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’
There are many reasons a person might join a reality TV show. Often, it’s to further their brands, capitalize on their heyday — likeDenise RichardsinThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hills— or publicize their businesses.Kandi played her part to perfection, hosting sex toy demonstrations, letting cameras inside her business headquarters, and utilizing restaurant launches as storylines in the show. However, it’s plausiblenone of her businesses were reliant onRHOA, and that meant she was never beholden to Bravo.
Some housewives are devastated when they’re released from their show, and there are many women within touching distance ofThe Real Housewiveswho would give anything to use it as a platform — just askThe Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’sMonica Garcia. Kandi never had that air about her, there was no hint of desperation.The relationship between Kandi andRHOAwas more symbiotic than what is typical.That gave her sway behind the scenes, in addition to the rumored largest paydays inThe Real Housewives' history.
This created some problems:Kandi often seemed not to play by the housewives rulebook, by picking and choosing when she wanted to engage.Yet,her self-sufficiency was impressivein a reality TV landscape where talent is often holding the shorter end of the stick, displaying their worst moments on screen in the hope of a renewed contract because it’s their primary source of income.
The Real Housewives of Atlantais available to stream on Peacock in the U.S.
