Mention It All - Nene Might Return To RHOA… But Does It Need Her? Ft. Chelsea Stark-Jones

Episode Date: March 24, 2025

Dylan kicks off the new week with a new guest, The Ringer’s Chelsea Stark-Jones. Chelsea talks about her experience as a day-one Housewives viewer, and how the franchise has changed over the years, for better or worse. Then, they dig into some recent Bravo updates, including Phaedra’s brutal read of the Married to Medicine cast, and Bethenny’s confusing RHONY rewatch update. Then, they go deep on the new season of RHOA, unpacking some favorite moments from this week’s episode, as well as their feelings on a potential Nene Leakes comeback. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Betches Media presents. Ha ha, laugh, funny. Mention It All, a Bravo by Betches podcast. We don't say that, but now we said it. With me, Dylan Hafer. We're going to check me, boo. Hey, everyone. Welcome back to the Mention at All podcast.

I am so excited to kick off this week with a new guest on the show. Somebody I met at BravoCon in 2023, so it's long overdue for her to be here. She is a fellow Bravo podcaster, a real housewives expert. And I am so excited to have her on the show. Please welcome Chelsea Stark, Joan. Oh, hey. Wow. Thank you. Thank you. That was really sweet. Expert. Bravo house size expert. Yes. So we met in the press room at BravoCon in Vegas. We were like on that end of the red carpet where everybody's kind of like stacked on top of each other a little bit. And we just had lots of time to camp out and chit chat and wonder who we were going to get to talk to. Yes. It is so crazy to think like that weekend in Vegas really just.

is a fever dream to me because so much was happening. Yeah. Yeah. You know, honestly, I was really disappointed when they said BravoCon was going to be in Vegas when that was the location because I went to the first one in New York too. And I'm from California. I don't go to New York often. And I want to go to New York.

So I was like, I've been to Vegas so many times. Vegas stresses me out. So much anxiety. So yes, it was, and being at the end of that line by the time the Bravo Lebs got to us, It was like they're ever over it or they've been asked all the same questions. So it was really fun to try to think of interesting ways to get them engaged with us because they were they were tired. One of my favorite memories from the press room and I have a photo of this that I won't post because I feel like that's an invasion of privacy. But I'll say it was watching after Wendy Ocefo got off the carpet, Eddie was there with her hotel slippers.

I was like, that is love. That's what I'm looking for. Happy Eddie is a great house husband. When we were in New York, he was very attentive to Wendy. He is always keeping sure she is well kept for and taking care of. I love it. I love that too. I want to get into Chelsea.

To get people kind of to know you a little bit, I always like to ask people, what is their Bravo origin story? Like, where did it all start for you? Was there one show that really got you hooked? When did that happen? How did that happen? How did we get here? Was it, what was, what did we just celebrate the 15 years of Orange County, 20 years of Orange County? I believe it was 19 years of Orange County. So 19 years ago when the Real Housewives of Orange County premiered, me and my mom were sat. Like I said, I'm from Southern California. So Orange County is very much a like thing that I know of and very familiar with.

So we watched Real Housewives of OC the OG days with Vicky and Gina and good old Slade. And yeah, so that was my entry point was them. And then just continuously watching the Housewives. Who was next? It was Jersey. Yeah, it was like New York, Atlanta, Jersey all within a year or so. And then we were off to the races. Yeah.

So I was like very much in all of that. I loved Beverly Hills when it first came out because I'm more closer to L.A. than O.C. So, yeah. So that, like, was my hook. And then it took me a while to get into, like, what we call on our show, like the JV. shows. Vanderpump Rules took me a minute because it felt too close to home. Like, I was also a 20-something in L.A. going to the same spots that they were going to. So I was like, I don't want to see them IR and then, like, know about them in the show. and then I was in between jobs and just like binge watched it so then I was hooked. But yeah, so I started at the Housewives inception of Orange County and I've never looked back. I feel like there's, I mean, obviously that show was a hit and that's why we're here all these years later. But to be able to say like you were there kind of when the first brick was laid, that's, it's pretty exciting.

Maybe a little scary too. I'm truly a pioneer in this game. Yeah, no, it was. It was really fun. And I mean, gosh, just like the difference. And I love going back and watching some of the old seasons and not even like to completion, just like turning on season two, episode three and just seeing how like simple it was. And also just chaotic.

And like the women like even just, what did I turn? I turned on season five of Atlanta recently. And it was like the Fadra Kim. I think it was Kim's last season before she was. Yeah. And then it was Portia. in Kenya's first season. And it just is like such, it just freshens me up. I don't know. It just really makes me appreciate the golden days. And also like, yeah, appreciate how far we've come as well.

It's been, it's been quite a journey with so many of these women. But yeah, I've definitely been hooked on it ever ever since. I think when you are so in the in the real time keeping up with every show, obviously you and I, you know, are on a schedule of talking about it on a microphone. But even if you're just a fan and you really are, you know, rigid about watching all the, all the franchises, like going back to that well and just taking a little hit of like that kind of classic recipe. Like it is, it's not that the shows now are like less good necessarily, but it's just fundamentally different in a way that is hard to like really quantify. And it's like, oh yeah, that's the good shit. Yeah, it reminds me why I do this. I did notice, though, on last week's episode of Atlanta, they did something.

thing that they have not done in a long time on one of these shows, which was an on-the-fly confessional with Portia, where they interviewed her basically in the bathroom of this, like, kitty playplace that she was meeting up with tennis. And that is something, I have burned in my brain the image of Bethany doing a sidewalk confessional on Roney and then roller skating away after a costume party. And I'm like, we have not gotten a like man on the street confessional like that in years, I think. Oh, my gosh, no. And one of my all-time favorite confessions is Dwight from Atlanta, like laying across, was it a P.A. Like, just laying across, like, doing his confessional. And it was like, who produced this? I bet he was like, you know what, guys, I'm not going to sit.

I'm going to lay. And you're going to talk to me like this. It's, yeah, they were so, so good and so candid. I kind of, I don't think they would be as good now if they did, if they did those. Like the one with Portia was really like the breaking of the fourth wall. It was really genuine because she was so emotional. But if they were to just like pull someone from a scene and like have them analyze it, I feel like it would feel almost not too pretty. It just wouldn't feel as natural. Like I don't know.

Like they just didn't know what they were doing then. And that's what made those on the flies feel so like intriguing and captured us, you know. And now they're just too like hip to the game. Yeah. I think that like back in those days, I mean when you're talking. about that Bethany thing or Duay, I mean, that's like 2008, 2009. Like, it's a long time ago. And the whole kind of architecture of the reality TV world was so different and so like bare bones at that time that I don't think people really knew kind of what they were signing up for, knew how things

were going to be edited together and produced. And now it's like, yeah, I think people are just too kind of self-aware. And you're seeing people come on these shows. within an episode or two already kind of trying to like self-produce their own kind of narrative a little bit. And that's not necessarily always a bad thing. But it is just, it's different. And I don't think you could kind of like recapture that like, oh yeah. Like I just, I have to get some things off my chest because I just got out of this crazy fight. Yeah, exactly.

And it's in, yeah. So I definitely like those were those were the golden days. Yeah. But we're in a new age of Bravo. I still, I love it. There's some, so many shows that I still. really enjoy some that I think are getting the much needed facelift and everything that they need. But yeah.

Yeah, I want to talk about Atlanta a little bit more. But before we do, there's a couple of little things. There was a lot going on on social media and stuff this weekend in the Bravo direction. And I want to just kind of take a temperature on a couple things. First of all, Bethany is threatening to do a Roney rewatch. I don't know if you saw this, but she's always posting like 50 TikToks a day. but she's like, yeah.

She's like, don't you guys think it could be fun if I went back and watched the show and gave my thoughts? And I'm like, you've done that. Bethany is a racing history that she had a podcast called rewives

that she rebranded to just be dating last summer. But like, we've gotten Bethany's thoughts on housewives before. She's saying like, oh, I haven't sat down and watched episode by episode. And it's like, the Bethany thing is just a conundrum to me.

Yeah, it's not anything that we need. It's not something that she wants you to do like a podcast or just on her TikToks. Because either I don't want. It's a little unclear. So I think like for her, what I would imagine is she started doing the podcast thing a few years ago. Like I think before she had really hit big on TikTok. And so I could see why she now is kind of like, oh, all these people are hanging on my every word and my every chicken salad review on TikTok. now I need to go back to this nostalgia Roney well and kind of, you know, suck that drive.

But it's like you actually kind of tried to do that in a more glossy fashion a few years ago. And it didn't really hit other than like when she had Jill on or when she had, I guess, Raquel was like her big, you know, exclusive interview moment. Yeah. Yeah. You know, I don't need it. I think I like to remember Bethany and Roney of the old days. Like I like to remember it. I don't need Bethany retelling me things, especially, like, her presence on social media is so

hectic and so chaotic that it, it kind of ruins her for me in the original Roney. So, like, I don't want her to try to do revisionist history or frame things differently or bring up new beasts with Jill. Like, I just don't, I don't want it. I want to move forward. And I, and I'm okay with her sporadic, you know, drink reviews or makeup TikToks or whatever. but her input on things, like, I can't. And I hate watching her eat food.

Like, I immediately swipe. Like, no. It's a lot. Yeah. I think, like, with that, it's like, if you have something to say, if you want to, if you want to, like, you know, divulge some really great tea or correct the record on something, that's one thing. But, like, I don't need an episode by episode breakdown of something that was edited to look like something different on season one in 2008 where it's like, oh, like, Ramona actually. actually she didn't want to come, but she said she had a thing. It's like, I don't need like fact checking on every moment. And I feel like that's like not every production decision is like a

gotcha reveal. And then we're going to hear from Ramona's reply. And then we're going to hear about, and like sometimes it's just like, you know, I'm a sports fan. Sometimes like, you know, I love athletes that are active or do whatever. But like sometimes I just want you to play basketball. Like sometimes I don't want, like, sometimes I just want you to be a housewife. Like, I don't want to hear your X, Y, and Z views about this or this or that. Like, sometimes I just want you to be a housewife. And I don't need your opinion. And I don't need you to come out of the woodwork when like, like, like, I like seeing Ramona from afar right now. She says and does problematic things. But like, the less I know and see of her, the better I feel about her in my heart. So I don't need them back

in my life like that. I actually so agree with that. Like, there are Bravo Lebrides who I have followed on Instagram. And then I'm like, the experience of seeing your social media posts on an on an everyday basis is making me like you on the show less yes and that it's like you on the show is this like crafted image product and then I see you crashing out on Instagram stories every day and you know posting a million outfit links or you know going on a rant about something out of touchy comments like captioned it's like you're I was feeling the fantasy and then now you're ruining the fantasy and let us. Just feel the fantasy. Let's us live in the fantasy of your delusion on the show. Like, yeah, it oftentimes, yeah, there's some housewives I've had to unfollow or Bravo loves in general where I'm like, this is just not. This is flying a little too close to the sun. I like you on the show. I don't like you. Like, Ashley Darby, her TikToks, like, no, thank you. Like, no thank you. Yeah. I feel like the first couple of those that she did, it was like, oh, wow, new Ashley Darby just dropped. She's acting out. She's, she's feeling, she's, you know,

wearing less and going out more. And then now it's just like, again. Like we're doing this? Like, where are your kids? I don't know. I don't want to see this. Yeah. So good.

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And you've had enough of shopping from your couch. done hoping it looks anything like the picture when you tear up on that envelope. It's time for a little in-person spring treat. It's time for a trip to Ross. Work your magic. Okay, the next thing we have to talk about, I don't know. Did you watch this season of Married to Medicine? No, my mom, every time someone brings up Married to Medicine, my mom is like, I try to tell her, she needs to start watching Married to Medicine.

Okay. So I haven't, but I've heard lots. Okay, so I love Married to Medicine. Full disclosure, I have not watched most of this. season. I will catch up at some point. So Fadra was on the last two seasons. She skipped the reunion for this season, which started airing last night. And obviously we know she's going to pop up on Atlanta later this season. But at the reunion from married to medicine, they showed like unerered footage of her in the confessional and the producer asking her, so what have you learned from being with

this group of ladies? And like kind of an exit interview, you could say. And this is the quote of what Fadra said. I'm just going to read it because it's a lot. What have you learned from the ladies? That they're trash. I'm not going to be able to say that I enjoyed anything about this group because I feel like they're demonic minions of hell. They're those bitches, those mean, angry black women who are mean to other black women because they're fat, they're funny looking, they're just jealous and hateful. I don't see a future with these ladies because they don't like me and I like people who like me.

And I don't try to participate in spaces. I'm not welcomed in. So I'm very happy to be leaving. I'm ecstatic. Oh, my God. Damn, Bejah. Tell me how you really feel. Wow.

That's insane. Bravo posted the clip of this. So if you go watch it, the whole time you have the picture and picture of Andy and the women reacting to this. Oh, that's iconic. Okay. First of all, like watching Married to Medicine over the last 10, 11 seasons, like, did she make some points, perhaps? I feel strongly that Fadra would not be doing all of this if she didn't have that juicy Atlanta peach waiting for her. It just feels a little bit like when you stay in an Airbnb and you don't love it, but instead of leaving like a polite three-star review, you're going to like shit on the floor before you leave and then check out.

Like it's just like, really? So I guess like what was her? Because they did something with Apollo, right? Like, is that where this, like, root of her resentment and anger towards these women come from? Like, yeah, like, they brought Apollo around. But I think, like, it just feels like it's that type of, like, vitriol that she just said, it is kind of like you really just want to make sure that they feel it. Like, you want to make sure that they feel like you have insulted them on the way out.

And I don't know. I almost just wish she would have gone to the reunion. and set all of that. And set it to their faces. Yeah. You know, it's weird because, like, how you, like, I have to hear it in her sweet Southern Bell voice, but, like, it's not a typical Fager Parks read. It's very direct. And I feel like she could do, like, she's very, like, good with her words and, like, twist it and poetic in a sense. Like, that was, like, very, I hate you. You're ugly and you're not a good person. Goodbye. Like, and she could be very eloquent with how she gives her insults. And So either she's extremely fed up and tired or she, yeah, she really just doesn't give a damn.

Like, I don't, I don't know. I'm super curious to see what her energy is going to be like on Atlanta later this season. Because I think, I mean, Fadre is like an entertainer to her core. She was great on traders. You know, she's like had this resurgence in the last couple of years. But like coming back to Housewives is not always a slam dunk thing. We've seen people have these triumphant returns. and then it kind of just falls flat or doesn't take off.

So I am kind of like, girl, like, I hope this goes well for you, but like we haven't seen you on Atlanta yet. It could be tough. Is she a full-time peach holder or is she coming as a friend of? Do we know that? So she's a full-time peach holder, but they, like in these first few episodes, she's not in the title card and they haven't been given her a tagline yet. So it's kind of like when Sonia joined Real House of New York in season three, like seven

episodes in or something. Like, she's, she's a full-time cast member, but right now they're not including her. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, I'm curious to, I'm excited, I think, for Frick and Frack to be back together. I feel like their relationship is on good terms. So excited to see that. But Atlanta's been, I mean, last night's episode was kind of okay. But the first two have been really strong. Yes. So I'm actually optimistic because going into the season, I was like, I'm not looking forward to this whatsoever.

Now I have a little bit more hope. And I think she'll add something. The new girls, what Atlanta did with this reboot is actually something New York should have done, is keep some core OGs, some people that still have a good story, and then bring in cast around that. that all know each other and that or that is connected in some type of way with new york i i did like the idea of starting fresh but bringing on all those women that really didn't have relationship with one another was a recipe for disaster and boredom and just like we're watching them like build relationships

on a tv show which just feels so inauthentic and so what alina has done and i think i think jersey is going to try to model this as well by like keeping just a couple of like these o gs people that were invested in as as viewers and then surrounding them with like interesting women that are just as messy and dare I say desperate to be on television. And that is that is I think the true recipe to success, not just scrapping everything and starting from zero. Yeah. I think watching like with the newbies on Atlanta this season, I think a concern that I had was

watching what happened with New York, were they going to be casting these women that were like aspirational, but maybe in a way that. doesn't really work on a show where we need people to be getting like down and dirty a little bit because I think with New York that's been a challenge that it's like oh everybody looks great gorgeous gowns whatever but like the the drama maybe isn't exactly the right wavelength for a housewives show yeah and these first few episodes I'm like Angela Kelly Brittany are not pulling any punches I mean they are there to they're there to get in the mud and in a way that I think we we need and even Shemia too.

you. Like, when Shamiya was dogging out Angela's nose for being very 1999 and saying that she looks like Latoya Jackson, I'm like, that is a cruel thing to say, but that's what we need. Yeah. I mean, is it an insult? LaToya's a beautiful woman. Maybe it's the 99 reference that. Like, that's the insult. Like being at this ridiculous, I guess for charity, so not ridiculous, But an over the top event at the Balmonde store where Kelly walks in looking like a hoove from Whoville, respectfully. And then we're fighting about who looks like Flavre and who looks like Latoya Jackson. I'm like, this is real house size of Atlanta. This is it.

This is it. It was crazy because I was just like, Shameda, we're really going to go there. She's trying to come and be nice to you. And we're really just going to call her like Latoy, the Jackson family. off the bat. I loved it. I was like, this fight is pointless.

However, they're both slinging solid insults, and I'm here for it. Yeah. I'm here for it. Yeah, I think that was such a, such an important thing to have coming into this season is everybody just feeling

like they're really like working on the same assignment together of like delivering this house wifery on, on the level that we need. And I think that's kind of what Atlanta was lacking those last couple seasons is like, everybody actually showing up. willing to participate, willing to, you know, whether it's fighting, whether it's making up, whether it's having fun, just like feeling like they want to be there. Yeah.

And I think that this year it feels like everybody on this show is excited to show up and do their part. Yeah, it does feel that way. And like, I think what the issue for me last season, and like I was so happy that Marlowe got her peach finally. But she started to turn, and the way that we've seen Shemia, like Shemia is bringing light shade. She's bringing glamour. She's bringing wealth, opulence, all this, like vulnerability, the stuff with her children. We're getting all that off the bat. And we did get a lot of vulnerable Marlowe with her nephews and stuff.

But like her insults were just kind of dark and like a little bit, the things that she would get upset about was also just very muddy and confusing to follow and stuff. And it's very easy to follow, you know, you got a 99 nose. I didn't listen to you. You look like Flavor Flav. Yeah, I dressed up as flavor. Like it's like it's very simple. It's very simple and petty and fun. And yeah, and they still also bring like, aesthetically pleasing things. Like I, the wealth, I think also was missing from Atlanta these last

couple of seasons and we're getting that back. I, like, I don't know how much you can make off of waffles, but Kelly seems to be doing just fine. She's going to do her damn test. And I like watching that. You know, and the, what's that not Angela, Kelly, Britt. Brittany. Brittany. Brittany, that relationship with the husband, I still can't, I can't figure out. Wait, I was dying when they were asking her in the confessional if she dated Rick Ross. And she was like, yes, I did date Rick Ross. But that's all in the past. I'm very happy with whatever his name is now. And it's been a great three years. When she said three years, I was like, wait, wait, wait, wait. The way that you're talking about this relationship, I thought that you guys had been married for like a decade plus. And she's like, she's like since 2022, this guy and I have been very happy. It's so, like, their relationship is so weird to me. And we were saying it on our show.

It just feels very like, like, she's like, this is what we're going to be for the camera. But, like, he's not on the same page with her. So he's acting how they are IRL. And then she's acting another way for the camera. And so it's just very, like, like, different. They don't get each other. Yeah, there is something kind of, I think, like, special about when somebody comes on this show or a show like this for the first time. And maybe not everybody in their life

is on this same page about either what it means to be on the show, what they're trying to portray on the show, what is and isn't fair game. I mean, we see people kind of like try to navigate this with marriages, with parents, with friends that come on. Like, I think it is kind of exciting to see that it's like, okay, we're getting a little bit of a disconnect. Is this something that's going to become a deeper issue or is it something that we're going to kind of see her like push to the side or is somebody going to ask her about it at reunion or is it going to come up in a scene? Like we haven't really seen her husband like interact with the group yet. So that I'm curious about.

Like there's a lot of kind of potential this season of different kind of combinations and scenarios we could see. Yeah. When she had her in-laws over and her like nephew or whoever it was was like lobster, this is fancy. I was like, this is not, this is not how they operate on the day to day. It's like usually we're getting a hamburger helper and there's like some. On a paper plate. A fruit tray. Yeah. From Ralph's like, yeah, no, I was like he, he is telling on her. That's like such a good point. You have to imagine. I mean, I have heard some of the stories about like what people spend to be on these shows in the way of planning parties, wardrobe,

hair and makeup. I mean, like, it's a commitment. And a lot of people, like, don't, they like end up in the red from their first season, basically, because they don't make that much. And I'm like, okay, like, yeah, Brittany, Britney wants the lobster. She's going to show you that she's got it like that. The lobster and the scallops. And she will think that she's going to make it up on the back end somehow with whatever, whatever contracts or endorsement she gets at the end of this. Whatever insurance, you know, influencer deals there are out there. I love that we have a Vicki Gumbelson of Atlanta. Like that is just, you know, selling, pushing insurance on everybody. Seems a little shady. It's great. It's so special. I also am just really loving like the,

the Drew and Portia, like Dennis dynamic. And then the fact that we get this episode like matching scenes of Drew and Porsche going to their divorce attorney offices. It's like, you two are so similar. You almost like just can't stand each other by default. Yeah, I got to say, I love Drew for the television aspect of it, but God, that girl is so delulu. Like, I can't. Like, if it takes Kenya to tell you that you did something wrong, like, you know, you know you did something wrong. Like, to go and go after Dennis that way and just to also play it, like, oh, it's not a big deal. Like, and I love when Cynthia was like, baby daddy's hit different. Like, it's just not something you go to.

Yeah. No, and like when Cynthia checks that there is when like Kenya was doing something with Leon, which is like, Leon is like out of the picture. It's so random. Like Leon and Cynthia are cool, whatever. But it's like, yeah, like that's the level we're talking. And Dennis is like both more recent and more fraught if you want to. To put it politely.

Like it's just as it's crazy. And like watching Drew just like lie through her teeth about like we don't talk on the phone. Cut to them talking on the. the phone where it's a strictly business relationship. He's in the phone as like Dennis brother or what bro. And then like, yeah, yeah, I love that Kenya was just clocking that. She's like, why isn't Dennis speaking up for you? Like if nothing's happening, why isn't he saying that nothing's happening when you're being put, dragged like a whore? The, the, just like the deliciousness that Kenya puts on the word whore is just something you can't replicate. No, you can't. I've really come.

I don't want to say I come to like Kenya, which it's, you know, it's going to be short-lived. We're not going to have her in a couple more weeks. But I've really come to enjoy her the season, and maybe it is because they peeled her back a bit because of the controversy. But yeah, I just, Drew is just such a huge liar. But hearing the stuff from her attorney about Ralph probably was very, like, vindicating for her. Because it is stuff that she's, like, accused him. and we've seen him like combated and whatever. But the stalking, the sexing of the women, the multiple fair, like all these things,

I'm just like, oh gosh, like, this is, this is naughty. Well, I think that's the thing with like, knowing that Drew has been on this show for a few seasons. And we've obviously seen plenty of evidence that Ralph is like not a good guy, certainly not a good husband, not not faithful, not trustworthy, not reliable. but like we've probably only seen a fraction of what has actually happened. Like we've gotten a lot of innuendo and what happened in Tampa and all of this. But like we haven't seen all the receipts of everything that Ralph has ever been doing out in the streets. And like knowing that having that documentation is probably like a whole another level.

I'm like, yeah, I mean, Drew's DeLulu and a liar. But I'm also like, girl, good for you. Get out of there. Yeah. Yeah, no, get out of there and also share. Like, that was one of the reasons I was kind of hesitant to have Drew come back because I knew she wouldn't really say a lot. And I mean, she didn't say it. Her attorney did, which was maybe what she asked to do. She's like, I'm going to smile and nod while you detail a list of legally approved things to say. Yeah, I won't dispute it. I will just agree. So, yeah. But, like, I'm grateful because I really thought she was going to come up here on the same. season just be like I can't talk about it because of my kids or whatever but like you know I thank you

for saying what we've been assuming and and confirming it and all of those things so so yeah the idea that he's just like out here like dogging her out on this like court approved communications app that the judge can see I'm like let him just let him spiral how dumb can you be like you know the sole purpose of this app is for people to look at your text messages like sir drew is right upstairs. If you need to say something crazy, just like shout at the ceiling. Yell it. Throw a note up. Something. That living arrangement just, oh my God. I can't. It's insane. Good sleep is everything. That's why Ali's science back support is made with a blend

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She's talking. She's doing press. She has a YouTube series now, I guess. But TMZ asked her if she would come back to Real Houseways of Atlanta, which, I mean, she gets asked this like every three weeks. So it's not that it's like real news, but I feel like it's a good time to talk about it. if she would be open to coming back to real housewives of Atlanta. I love the way that they framed it, which was Cynthia Arrivo just said in an interview that she's such a fan of you.

And she's like, uh-huh, I loved to hear that. And Nini says that she would come back if the opportunity was correct and the check was, what was her, what was her word? If the check was on point. And I'm wondering, like, we're talking about Atlanta being pretty good this season so far. is Nini Leaks coming back something that is a no-brainer, or do we feel like there's a chance that the time has kind of passed? Yeah. So that TMZ reporter knows what to do by like framing it with a compliment and then

easing her way into it. So like I mentioned at the beginning, I'm rewatching some of Atlanta. I jumped in at season five, I think. And that was when she was just doing glee and the new normal. And so her ego was huge. And she left and then she came back to Atlanta. And that was like, we still got good nini moments, but she was so mentally checked out and like, and also mean and nasty.

And just like, I'm too big for this show where I wouldn't consider it a no brainer at this moment because I would be worried that we would get that nini again of like, I'm too big for this. I have, I have the most housewife memes. I'm the biggest housewife. I have the best one liners. Everyone quotes me, all this stuff. And we can't have that. Like, as much as I like Teresa, like, sometimes her, like, this is my show, like, mentality could ruin the season, the franchise or whatever. And I feel like Nini might come back with that same energy and that same attitude.

And like that just like, that just won't work. Yeah. I think like what she said about the the check being on point. It's like obviously I'm aware on like a like literal level that she would need to be, you know, approached with an offer that she felt was appropriate for her to do it. But like I don't want any. And this is not about Nini. I respect her contributions.

She is an icon. She is like, you know, one of the. She's on the Mount Rush. Yes. She's one of the housewives. But like. I don't want anybody coming back to the show because they finally got presented with a number that makes it like a check they can't refuse. I want them to come back because they feel like the time is right.

They're excited to be back in it. And like going back to what we're talking about the season, it feels like everybody this season is showing up excited to contribute. And like with Nini, I think my fear, and it's not that she couldn't do this, but that my fear is that she would come back just. kind of almost feeling like, okay, I'm here for my job. I'm clocking in as much as I need to. And I'm going to take my, you know, seven figure check. And, you know, we're going to get better ratings or whatever. And then at the end of the day, like, it would just kind of be like a gig. And I think, I don't know. Like, we are in this era where most of our OGs are no longer with us on the shows. I mean, they're not, they're not dead yet. but like, you know, Vicky is in and out.

I think most people agree that she doesn't need to be a housewife again. You know, Kyle is hanging on, but like those like LVP comeback truthers, they've quieted down. Like Ramona is off doing Ramona things. Like Roney is, you know, in shambles, but that's a different story. Like Teresa and Kyle are kind of the only two of that class that are still around. And like, yeah, I don't think it's a no brainer. I don't think it's a definite no. but I have reservations.

There's conversations we had. Like you said, it would be like her showing up for a check. And that's what her last few seasons of Atlanta were like. And you could see, you've sensed it as a viewer. Like, she does not want to be here. And if she does it feel like, and I also, you know, again, I don't know what's going on in NeNe's life where I feel like I need to tune in. Like what like with when we got Porsche back this season and it was in the middle of this divorce, I was like, yes. Cameras are up.

I get to see what's going on. With Nini, I'm like, the TMZ hits, the YouTube clips that sometimes go viral, like, that's enough for me with her. Yeah. I don't know if I, like, again, to go back to what we were saying at the beginning, like, I don't know if I want to see her in a different light than what I last remembered her as with Roney and the one-liners and the funniness and like true, true, like genuine Nini-ness, you know? Like, if she were to come back, it would just be so different. And I don't know if I want that like last lasting taste of her like that in my mouth. Yeah, I saw over the weekend she was at dinner with Chanel Ayan, Chelsea Lesconi from Selling Sunset and Jackie Aina. And I'm like, that's like a fascinating group.

But I don't actually like, I'm not like curious what they talked about. Yeah. It's like I'm sure like I get how they all know each other because they're like successful. And I'm sure Chanel Aion is like in everyone's DMs 24 seven. but I'm not like, oh, get me, Andy in a camera. Yeah, no, no. And so, like, that's another part of it where it's like, do I need, like, maybe if she's a friend of, but like, she would never, like, she would never just be a friend. So, so, yeah, it's, it would have to be a discussion.

I even know if I want to see her on her own show. Like, I just, yeah. Yeah, I don't know. I like the lasting vision I have of her in my mind. I don't need it to be changed. I do think, though, Cynthia Bailey, perfect friend of. Oh, that is the role she was born. to play. She's going to walk in with a different set of bangs every time she's on camera,

and she's going to give a funny confessional, she's going to look shocked when somebody says something crazy. And that is what I want from her. And I love that so much, but you're right. Like, Nini would not do that. No, she wouldn't. She would, she's too big for that. She, she, and she, yeah, she has a huge personality. Cynthia's good at kind of going back into the back. And just like being a side, I don't want to insult her. Yeah, she's good at being a friend of. An ensemble member. Yes, yes, yes, yes. And Real Housewives famously an ensemble show. Yes, exactly. Yeah, every member of the cast is important. Exactly. Oh, Chelsea, this has been so fun. Yeah. Can you tell everyone about your podcast and where and when they can listen? Yeah. So we are morally corrupt,

hosted by myself and Rachel Lindsay on Tuesdays. And then we also have a Friday episode. That's solely recapping the shows of the week with Rachel, Jody Walker, and Kelly Curry. Our Tuesday show is just pop like the Bravo online news similar to what we were chatting about today. And yeah, you could catch us on Ring of Reality TV anywhere you could get your podcast. And we are now video on platform on Spotify. So you can see us our lovely faces when you open the Spotify app and press play. I love that. This has been great.

Thank you so much, Chelsea. Thanks. This was fun. I can't believe we're already done. That was like a fun kiki. I know. Easy, breezy Monday morning and now you can go about your week. Yes. Thank you so much, Chelsea. And thank you everyone for listening. Don't forget to rate, review and follow the show wherever you listen. You can follow us on Instagram at Bravo by Betches. And until next time, be cool. Don't be all like uncool. Mentioned at all is produced by me, Dylan Hafer.

Edited by Julia Stanton and Grace Hernandez-Johnson. Socials by Dylan Hafer. Our associate director of podcast is Shannon Jimenez-Sisone. Be sure to follow at Bravo by Betches. What's the difference between butter and butter made from real California dairy? It's the real California farm families behind it. Real people. Real care. Real intention. Why? Because real matters. So whether you're pouring milk, melting of cheese, or just grabbing one more spoonful of yogurt,

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