Has 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' star NeNe Leakes become a villain?

Remember NeNe during the first season of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta"? She was the homegirl you wanted to hang out with the most -- unpretentious (unlike the other wives), silly and unapologetic. She had money just like the rest of them, but she was on the outskirts of the group because she didn't put on airs. And when on-again, off-again friend Sheree didn't invite her to the big party, those were real feelings being hurt.

But then the show blew up and became a big fat hit for Bravo. "Atlanta" is the highest-rated of the network's "Housewives" series, surpassing viewership for the ladies of Orange County, New York and New Jersey. NeNe blew up too. Her feud with Kim -- similar to the Lauren Conrad-Heidi Montag "she said, she said" war on "The Hills" -- made the pair stars, and in Season 2, NeNe couldn't stop basking in her newfound spotlight.

She understood how she became famous, and so, very blatantly, she took every opportunity to stir up trouble in the show's second season. She arranged a get-together just days after Sheree had yanked off Kim's wig on the street. She acted the diva during the alter-ego photo shoot. She got up in newcomer Kandi's face repeatedly, and for no good reason. (Picking on Kandi? The most grounded and sympathetic of the "Housewives"? Not smart.) And just watch what happens during tonight's season finale.

I had lunch with all of the "Atlanta" women -- minus Kim -- not too long ago in Westwood, and it was pretty clear that being in close confines wasn't how they prefer to be. "We're cordial," Lisa kept saying. "Cordial" being separate and apart from "friends." After one too many questions about Kim, NeNe went off: "I'm not gonna sit here and eat my lunch and talk about Kim. You want to ask me about something about myself, I'd be glad to talk to you about it. I have a book. I'm doing a lot of things. I'm not interviewing about Kim."

Well, not until she felt like it. 

A few minutes after she smacked me down, she decided to let me in on a moment that didn't air on the show -- and didn't make the print version of my feature on her. "Kim was tongue-kissing a man. Tongue-kissing. And he wasn't Big Poppa," she said. It happened the night that Sheree puller her wig off, moments after that incident. Sheree jumped in: "I was telling the cameraman, 'You need to focus the camera over there where Kim is making out with that guy!' " NeNe just kept saying "Tongue-kissing."

So Kim made out with a random stranger, minutes after their quarrel? NeNe and Sheree said "Yes!" It triggered an entire discussion -- that I was left out of -- of how Kim does nothing but lie. One can only hope that footage and that story make the upcoming reunion episode, slated to air in two parts, on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5.

Read more about NeNe's transformation and why, for better or worse, making money drives all her decisions now in today's feature, "Queen bee of 'Real Housewives of Atlanta.' "

-- Denise Martin

Photo: Dwight, NeNe Leakes and Lisa Wu Hartwell during the taping of the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" reunion episode. Credit: Bravo

Comments

[Justmyopinion]

What is kind of funny is: Real Housewives is the name, well Kandi , Kim and Sheree are not married. What is the criteria for the show. Hell I got friends WITH money and ARE married and LIVE in Atlanta. Can somebody else get those spots? Just thought I'd ask.

[NENE LEAKS]

my girl!!, you have been my keeping it '" REAL ATLANTA HOUSE WIFE" this "season" you are looking like a "hater", and a "BIG MOUTH"!! you have let the "SPOTLIGHT" change you," HEFFA'

[citra]

NeNe always like to be the center of attentions and she needs a boob job badly unless Greg is broke!!:)
Sheree` needs a sugar daddy ..not Kim and who did Sheree's nose job anuways! looks like a de-formed one.
Lisa always needs to wear make-up. she don't have the face to show it all NATURAL. She is absolutely laud and ameturish...not a tv personal.
Kim needs to open a wig foundation and stay fabulous!!

[Maria Reese]

I think that NENE is such a hatter! She alway's want the attention to be on her. Kim, stop putting yourself out there for people to abuse you. Kandi, you are a beautiful person inside and out. May God continue to bless and keep you and your family. Lisa, I liked her in the beginning, but she is nothing but a golddigger and a s@88 starter. I love this show, and really hate to see it end.

Peace and Blessings
MCR

[mn]

evil evil is all I have to say please stay in Atlanta do not spread the evil ...size 8 my @#$...lies lies lies...she needs the attention so she must lie....she needs to get help, its always everyone elses fault in her eyes

[nikki]

NENE was my favorite, but she has tried to turn hollywood in the most ghetto way!!!! she is all camera action these days.... NENE be you stop putting on a show.. It starting to look like NENE is a hater.....

[Mel]

i don't know why everyone thinks kandi is the super innocent defenseless little girl why the big bad nene comes to chase her down. if you go back to the footage where nene and kandi first met, you'll notice that from the beginning that kandi seemed to dislike nene for no reason as she'd give her these looks like she thought she was better than nene. now i admit that nene comes on really strong and i understand that not everyone is going to like that but there was no reason for kandi to behave like that. nene's got that loud obnoxious personality that you're either gonna love it or you're gonna hate it. some ppl can hang with loud crazy ppl like that and others can't. *shrugs*
she did not try to stir up trouble the whole season as you say. i love how you're turning the get together she planned into a bad thing. she had good intentions but it didn't go as well as she hoped (to put it mildly). if you'll note, during the fight with sheree and kim she was actually trying to stop sheree from attacking her.
however as the season went on she was very hurt by kim and she lashed on ppl. was it the right thing to do? no but i understand it. when i get hurt, especially by someone i consider(ed) a friend, i will instantly get defensive and try to hurt them more than they've hurt me. it's something i'm working on but that's what i do naturally. i hate feeling betrayed so instead of expressing my sadness over the situation i only express the anger. from there, i usually try to put up a front like i'm cool when on the inside i'm hurting. once again, it's not the best choice but it's the one i usually make. basically, don't try to make nene out to be some big plotting villain when she's hurting too.

[Jackie]

Nene was fabulous in season 1, but has become such a big disappointment in season 2. Apparently she is now believing her own press. Kandi by far outstripped all of the housewives in class and the ability to earn her own money through her own talents. Lisa doesn't make any sense and Sheree is as fake as her hair. She should be on her knees thanking Dwight for making her fashion show a success instead of pretending she made it happen. While she was running around not thinking, he was putting together the details of the show that made it work. As he said, she doesn't have a clue.

Again, Nene, you disappointed me girl. What happened?

[natalee smith]

Nene is so disgusting, She had said that Kim cant sing and that she is not gonna make it anywhere in the music industry, so why is she mad that Kim does no want her on the single. She is just so jealous of Kim and wants to be in everything. Kim I think you are the hottest on the show, you dress so expensive and who cares if Big Pappa is married. Whatever!

[tee manajae']

i love you nee-nee....your the best one on there....keep doing what you doing girl =]

[Puddykat]

I really debated commenting in regards to this article. However I just couldn't take it anymore. I must start by saying that I really love Kandi, and I'm glad they (Bravo) decided to make her a part of HWA. Kandi is really worried about her image and how other people see her. And doesn't want to get caught with her pants down(not literally) I feel her she's playing her hand close to her chest and theirs nothing wrong with that. Ne Ne will eventually fade out and she'll be on to other things. Kim is ok I guess!! She amuses me. lol If ya think I'm going to waste a drop of my time talking about Sha wrong (Sheree) than you're wrong. One word sums it up for me INSECURE!! And Lisa I didn't care much for her last season, but dig her this season. Go Lisa!! Everything is definitely going to work out in Lisa & Ed's favor.

God Bless you guys in all you do!!!

[3iLL]

I only like Kandi and Lisa, they are the classiest of the group. Hartwell is a lucky guy. That bitch Sheree would make me date a white girl. That big girl seems like a fake attention seeking drama queen or drag queen. The white girl looks 15 years older than what her age is. Sheree is a evil gold-digger who should be lonely because who would want her in their lives?

[karen king]

I absoloutely LOVED NeNe in season 1..... What happened to her? She used to be "real", she was the one I tuned in to watch, now she has turned into a spoiled ass train wreck! The best part of NeNe this season is her husband who loves her unconditionaly! She is the BULLY of the show! Trust me on this, I would pick NeNe over Kim any day, but when she started hating on Kandi, who by the way is now my FAVORITE,
she lost me as a fan FOREVER! Kandi is what I call CLASS!
She has worked since she was a teenager, she didnt marry anyone to give her a great lifestyle, she EARNED hers. NeNe is so jealous of her and it is obvious to everyone! I just wonder what season 3 will bring out of NeNe, is she becomming SYBIL! I hope she knows what that means!! split personality!! LOL. I hate to say it but the NeNe I loved is GONE BABY GONE! she cant even handle the little publicity from this stupid show, could U imagine how she would be if she had talent???? THUMBS DOWN!

[Tabitha Desousa]

I don't understand what the big deal is, however I am aware that when on TV you do what is good for televison. Personally I dont think that the house wives of Atlanta are any more "Ghetto" than any of the other house wives from the other states. I love all of the weman. They are all diffrent and who says that being a house wife main focus should be all about being rich anyway the economy has hit everyone hard. I bet that most of the people that so quick to judge these ladies are probally of their likeness or worst. Why is it that when the other house wives talk about each other and get one of the house wives drunk which could obvioulsly have put her in a position to be raped by her son, it was down played, but when we beautiful people of color do something it gets labeled as "GHETTO". Give me a break I will continue to support my sistahs.Like Lisa said if it dont make her money she don't do it. Obviously they are not too broke I am sure that the net work sees to that lol.

[peace]

NeeNee you r my girl in the show please dont let kandi kim and sheree let you lose your way. r for get who u are .you and lisa is the most real one on the show.lisa keep doing your thing with your clothing line lisa and neenee more powder to u guys [kim sheree and kandi belong together they one hot mess]nee nee please i repeat let kim and her tired ass song go to hell you dont need that u be alright without kim silly ass song kim u need to stop trying to get something u just cannt have go get your ownman tired ass kim [love yourfamily neenee . love your family lisa god be with you guys

[angel99]

Nene I would just like you to know,you are truely a star without even trying.So don't let haters dim your light,stay focused and you'll continue to shine.For all who say they were with you 1st season but all of a sudden they don't so called feel you now,Those are the kind of people you don't wont in your corner.In reality, those type of people would be your best friend until someone else came into the picture and then they would trade you in for a new one.kandi i like you,I'm just puzzled by the fact that you actually put your reputable name out there on Tardy for the party, not knowing what would be the outcome.It could have gone either way.what is it that would make you stick your neck out for a total stranger?There are so many GIFTED young people out there who whould have been humbled for the opportunity.Kim they say you have 2 BIG POPPAS,could one of them be KANDI?PS Nene you are still my favorite.KEEP PUSHING IT BABY>

[lovely]

neenee dont worry about all those haters and there negative comments people in general dont realize you of to have pass some good some nt so good some bad [the bad we try to correct and move on to better thing and neenee you grow to better thing so all you hater can hate all you want neenee we all have a pass we just learn from it. i love u in 1.and2 series .kim can nt sing not even to save her own life she better say thank god for kandi.kandi you soon find out who kim is just hold on for a min-keep doing you thing neenee. make that baby lisa am praying for you we lve u wish you and neenee all the best

[angie]

On the first season Nene was very well liked and she WAS my favorite. On the 2nd season she let all the fame get to her head and she lost that touch she had with most of her audience. I didn't like how she handle Kandi. She needs to get real and go back to who she was

[suga lips]

ne ne, i just want 2 say u are the star of the real housewives. dont listen 2 kim and kandy with there bs. your the best and power 2 the ladies.

from:suga lips

[porscha]

i love nene, always have!! there's definitely those moments where i wish she didnt do what she did, but hey...were not always on our A game, aaaand, she has let the fame get to ther a tad bit. but u know what, hopefully she watches herslef and kinda relaxes. nene first season and second season is same old nene, just a little more money and fame. i dont know why she dosent like kandi, i think it could be a jelousy thing but u know what, i dont blame her. us girls tend not to like sharing the spotlight, and kandi is someone every1 loves so i dont know...but hey,im TEAM NENE all the way...