EXCLUSIVE: Cynthia Bailey 'Applauds' Nene Leakes' 'Housewives' Departure

Cynthia Bailey is opening up about her former best friend and Real Housewives of Atlanta cast mate Nene Leakes’ exit from the show.

Earlier this week, Leakes announced she was calling it quits after eight seasons on Housewives to pursue other opportunities, leaving fans to wonder how her cast mates took the news.

Though the ladies’ relationship took a turn for the worse over the last two seasons, the supermodel says she wishes Leakes well.

Nene Leakes is Leaving ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’

“I think that there comes a time in your life where you have to do what’s best for you,” Bailey said at the ESSENCE Festival. “She will always be the original Atlanta housewife, she started this platform. If there was no Nene there would be no Cynthia, there would be no Kenya, there’d be no anyone on this show.”

“I applaud her for stepping out and doing something else,” Bailey added.

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Leakes may be bidding adieu to her fellow Atlanta housewives, but the show will definitely go on for Bailey. When asked if she’ll return for the next season she said, “Absolutely! They need some class on the show.”