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Sunday, November 16, 2008
11/17: Real Housewives interviews with DeShawn, NeNe and Sheree
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A charity event that goes awry. A party invite that conveniently disappears. A fashion show with no fashion show. Over-the-top spending. Underhanded comments. Nasty text messages. Fake boobs. Real boobs. And some mysterious dude who goes by the name “Big Poppa.”
Even as the nation has been riveted by a presidential election and horrified by woeful economic news, fans and foes of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” have found a diversion from true reality. Old school Atlanta socialites reacted with disdain. Loyalists have reveled in the excesses of the women’s statements and spending habits from a pure entertainment standpoint.
One of the women, NeNe Leakes, has already been highlighted in Entertainment Weekly’s year-end top entertainers of the year.
For Bravo, a hit is a hit. Ratings are stronger than first season numbers for earlier versions in Orange County and New York. During the week of November 3, Bravo aired the different episodes of the show a whopping 25 times, seen by a collective 9.3 million viewers. Those numbers virtually guarantees a second season in 2009 though the network has yet to publicly commit.
And alas, the finale is already upon us tonight after just seven episodes. And check out an already taped reunion episode next Tuesday in which seemingly grounded Lisa Wu Hartwell unexpectedly clashes with the blonde, Botox-loving Kim Zolciak. Bravo made three of the women available for phone interviews last Friday.
Unfortunately, Lisa and Kim were not in town to tell the AJC why they came to blows on said reunion show and who the heck “Big Poppa” is (though rumored are all over the Web.)
DeShawn Snow
On the charity event that didn’t raise 1 million dollars: “On the show, it made it seem like I lost money but we actually broke even in the end. I could have planned more. I could have charged at the door. The auction was awful.
That’s all they showed. But the party went great. More than 400 people learned about the foundation.”
On her foundation to help raise teen girls’ self esteem: “My goal to go national will be realized faster. A lot of people have been donating money. I’ve done summer camps for three years. We had 180 girls the first year, 250 the second and a little more than 300 this past summer. I want to do four camps in metro Atlanta next year.”
On Kim and Sheree bagging on her barbecue, the one she hoped would help reconcile Kim and NeNe: “I’m not mad about them not coming. I don’t care. I was just surprised. I was trying to help.”
On NeNe: “NeNe and I were very close during and after the taping. They didn’t show much of that. I respect her. She’ll say what she thinks to your face, not behind your back. I don’t hang out much with the other girls [except for the show.]”
On NeNe’s mockery of Kim in the limo that led to Kim cutting ties with NeNe: “She wasn’t trying to hurt Kim’s feelings. I was cracking up. There was no harm. It wasn’t something she hadn’t said to Kim’s face. [Then again,] it should not have left the limo.”
On the rough treatment in blogland to the show and to her: “Eric [her husband and captain of the Cleveland Cavaliers] warned me that people would have opinions. I said, ‘Okay, okay, I’ll be fine.’ But my skin wasn’t thick enough. It bothered me. People who know me know I’m a great person. At the end of the day, all that matters to me is Eric and the boys. I can’t control what people say. The show is just a snapshot of who I am.”
On rumors she is in a rented house: “If these people knew the battles I’ve gone through with the builders, they know I wouldn’t do this with a rented house. You can’t believe what you hear.”
On the newfound fame: “I eat it up. I love the glitz and glamour and people recognizing me. It’s all exciting.”
Taking advantage of said fame: “I’m going to be selling online hats and T-shirts, plus crystal cell phone cases. The shirts will have things I said people have run with such as “She didn’t even Google me!” and what Eric called me: ‘Boss lady.’A portion of the proceeds goes to my girls. [meaning, her foundation.]”
Sheree Whitfield
On how she comes across on TV: “I’ve always been strong and confident. It comes across as a little cold.”
On whether her confidence masks insecurity: “Are you kidding me? I am the most secure person on Earth. Anyone who knows me knows I’m comfortable in my own skin.”
On her divorce with Bob Whitfield and whether that desired seven-figure settlement is forthcoming: “I can’t go into that because of my attorneys… we’re at the tail end [of the divorce proceedings.]”
On her finances: “Financially, I’m fine. When I start asking people for money, then you can say, ‘What’s going on with Sheree?’ Of course with the economy, everyone include me is limiting some of my spending. If I don’t truly love it, I’m not making the purchase.”
On what hasn’t been shown on TV: “I’m a great mom. I’m very active in my kids’ lives. I am that soccer mom, that football mom that is not shown.”
On how people think the five of them represent (or misrepresent) housewives of Atlanta: “It’s very comical. We can’t represent a lot of Atlanta. I can only do Sheree well. We’re five strong women with five strong personalities. Someone can relate to any one of us.”
On her clothing line She by Sheree: “I’m looking to have it ready for fall of 2009. I’ll have samples ready for trade shows in February.”
On why she got her clothing samples so late before her fashion line intro party: “I had different seamstresses fall through. It’s hard to find good people. The clothing was supposed to be ready two weeks earlier. She didn’t finish in time. I put so much time and money into that viewing. It was never a fashion show. It was a viewing. I showed fabrics and sketches.”
On her boutique Bella Azul, which closed two years ago: “It was open at Howell Mill and 8th for about four years. I was a pioneer going into that area. The owner kept promising new businesses. It wasn’t hapepning. It’s booming now.”
On blogs where people slag her: “I don’t want to hear that. I don’t read it although I blog myself. And it’s weird because in person, people are so loving and positive.”
On NeNe: “We weren’t friends going in. I didn’t have a lot of interaction with her on camera.”
On NeNe’s mockery of Kim: “It was very mean. To someone I consider a friend, I would have never sung that song. We’re adults. You’re responsible for what you say, whether you’re drunk, high or sober.”
NeNe Leakes
On the newfound fame: “I can’t leave the house without people knowing who I am. I love it. I have great fans!”
On drunkenly mocking Kim’s country singing aspirations: “I didn’t want to hurt Kim’s feelings. I didn’t mean to hurt Kim’s feelings. It was blown out of proportion. That was really a turning point in our relationship. She stopped talking to me. Since then, we’ve had a chance to talk a bit. I apologized.”
But really, how is Kim’s singing? “I had never heard her sing. When she had me listen to her music. I thought, ‘Wow! The music is horrible!’ And I didn’t think Kim could sing. I didn’t mean to say it harsh. I guess I’m really a Simon Cowell!”
On her domestic violence foundation Twisted Hearts: “Porsche Foxx [of V-103] called me and wants to be part of it. Frank Ski has offered to help. Wendy Williams reached out to me. I’ve reached out to Jennifer Hudson because we share the same hairstylist. I have Chili from TLC on board. Keyshia Cole is interested.”.
On who her real daddy is: “It isn’t addressed this season but we may do something assuming there’s a second season. I may have a celebrity sister. That’s my tease!”
On creating drama: “I like to separate from people who bring drama to my life. Every new year, I go through my cell phone and look at my contacts. I delete everybody’s names who bring stress to my life. I do like having girlfriends. I don’t want to have drama with girlfriends.”
On being wealthy [thanks to her hubby Gregg.]: “I live this great fabulous life. I’m blessed. But I’m not going to brag about it. I never talk about designers. I don’t need to die in Dior. I just want to be comfortable.”
On her breasts: “I’m surprised that everyone is talking about my boobs. I don’t think I’m going to put them totally away, just do it a different way.”
On renting or owning her home and other rumors: “Whether you’re renting or purchasing, either way, it’s money coming out of your own pocket. What’s the big deal? It’s nobody’s business if I filed bankruptcy 10 or 20 years ago. What difference does it make? Will it change Bravo’s opinion about me? Absolutely not. I’m a real housewife of Atlanta. That’s the way it’s going to stay.”
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