Originally posted Thursday, July 11, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Kenya Moore and "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" a year ago couldn't agree on financial terms for season 11 so she was off the show. But a brief surprise appearance near the end of that season prefaced the news now: she's back!
Moore is returning as a full-time cast member of season 12 of “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” now in production. She has been shooting for several weeks already.
Over her first six seasons on the show, she was divisive, a compelling mix of on-camera grandeur, on-camera vulnerability and chipper catchphrases ( "I'm 'Gone With the Wind' fabulous!"). She also had boyfriends allegedly fake and abusive.
Since season 10, she has gotten married and had a baby at age 47. Her husband, restaurateur Marc Daly, only appeared in 2017 with extreme reluctance and Bravo executives were decidedly miffed she got hitched without telling them. It's unclear how much air time Daly will receive season 12.
Moore’s pregnancy last year at such an advanced age led to health complications and an emergency cesarean section.
“I was disappointed [not to be on the show again],” she told People last December. “It broke my heart but with all the stress, I don’t know how I could have done it.”
Moore's mere presence at the end of season 12 led to another rift between former friends Cynthia Bailey and the only remaining OG NeNe Leakes. Bailey's friendship with Moore miffed a jealous Leakes. Both Bailey and Leakes are returning.
Porsha Williams, Kandi Burruss and Eva Marcille are also set to come back as regulars.
Shamari DeVoe, though, has been reportedly demoted to "friend" status, which means part-time appearances. Tanya Sam and Marlo Hampton will also be part timers again.
Though I can't independently confirm this, reports are floating around the Web that Moore took a massive pay cut to return but even less money is still more money than most regular folks make.
