Kenya Moore reacts to Kandi Burruss’ Real Housewives Of Atlanta exit: “She is always going to be winning”

Last week, longtime Real Housewives Of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss announced she was exiting the series. It’s a big shakeup for the Bravo franchise, as Burruss has been part of the show since its second season, and was a cast member for a whopping 14 seasons total. But all good things must come to an end, and her friend Kenya Moore has a positive outlook on the situation.

“Yes, Kandi Burruss just announced she isn’t returning this season to Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Moore recently told The A.V. Club while promoting her new film Abducted Off the Street: The Carlesha Gaither Story. “Of course I’m sad, I mean, she was one of my best buddies on screen, off screen, she is a real friend to me. Kandi is gonna be okay, she just needs a break, and I can understand it, I took one season off years ago. And I just think sometimes, you know, the weight of the show can really affect you.”

Moore added, “But I think Kandi is doing so many things, and has her hands in so many pots, that she’s going to always be successful. That is just part of her DNA. So I think that no matter where she ends up in life, she is always going to be winning.”

Burruss shared the news of her departure amid rumors of a major cast overhaul for RHOA. “A major shakeup is coming to The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Before the women filmed their recent reunion, they were told that they should expect a big change with the franchise moving forward,” a source shared with Entertainment Tonight in August 2023. “They hinted at a reboot like New York got, but it also could be moving forward with only a couple of the current stars. The cast is on edge about their future and has no idea where the network plans to go. Although their ratings are still strong, the network is listening to fans and their desire for a change.”

Burruss hinted at behind-the-scenes issues when speaking with Variety; she said the network “allowed us to sit around for a little too long” while “making the decision,” presumably about renewing the stars’ contracts. But, as Moore pointed out, “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 added.

She continued. “But it’s not just that. It’s just like, 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.’”

For his part, Housewives mastermind Andy Cohen said that Burruss “knows the show is at a crossroads right now” on his SiriusXM radio show and noted that she could drop back into the show in the future. “Bravo will be in business with [Burruss] for a long time. They’ve got other things in development,” he said. “She is a talent that they’re not going to want to let go.”