In a recent interview with Variety at the 2024 Grammy Awards, Kandi Burruss disclosed her decision not to return for the upcoming season of Real Housewives of Atlanta. Burruss, who joined the RHOA cast during its second season in 2009, expressed her reasons for stepping away from the popular Bravo reality series.
“I’m not keeping up. I already said it, so I’ll tell you. I decided I’m not coming back this year,” Burruss stated during the interview. Reflecting on her 14-season tenure, she acknowledged the prolonged duration and explained, “It’s been 14 seasons, and they allowed us to sit around for a little too long, but during that time I had started working on a lot of other things, and I got some nice big projects coming soon, so I’m super excited about those things.”
Burruss, known for her multifaceted career as a singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur, elaborated on her decision. “After you really have time to think, and a friend of mine was like, ‘Why do you keep doing it?’ And I was like, ‘Well, I think because I’ve just been doing it for so long, it feels weird to think not to do it?’ So I was just like, ‘You know what? I’m going to take a break, I’m going to take a moment… I’m not coming back this year.’”
Beyond her role as a main cast member, Burruss has expanded her Bravo presence with multiple spinoffs, including “Kandi’s Wedding,” “Kandi’s Ski Trip,” “Xscape: Still Kickin’ It,” “Kandi Koated Nights,” and “Kandi & The Gang.” Her departure marks the end of an era for the reality series, as Burruss has been a central figure on RHOA and has utilized the platform to launch successful ventures such as Atlanta restaurants and the sex toy company Bedroom Kandi.
Burruss, who faced challenges during her time on the show, recalled one of the toughest moments when fellow castmate Phaedra Parks spread a damaging rumor. During Variety’s Women in Reality event in November, Burruss shared her experience, stating, “I would say one of my worst years on the show was when we were accused of drugging somebody. I mean, I don’t even like to talk about it, really, to be honest with you. It was a crazy situation that just exploded, and a situation I never thought I’d see myself in, happening on the show. And that was one the times where I really felt like, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ But we made it through.”
As Bravo prepares to retool the cast for the next season of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Burruss will not be part of the returning lineup, signaling the end of her remarkable run on the show.