The Real Housewives of Atlanta returns on Sunday, November 9 — and some new faces are joining the familiar cast of the popular reality series.
A new trailer released on October 1 gave fans a preview of the exciting drama to come in the upcoming season — minus one of the show’s mainstays. Longtime fans might be shocked to find out that housewife Porsha Williams, a main member of the cast since 2012, won’t be returning. Instead, Williams has been replaced by radio and TV host Claudia Jordan, who will join returning housewives Cynthia Bailey, Kenya Moore, NeNe Leakes, Kandi Burruss, and Phaedra Parks.
Williams was surprised at her removal from the main cast, saying in a statement to Dish Nation that, “After a long season of filming, and giving my all, I was blindsided by the announcement from the network that I was demoted from ‘Housewife Status’ but would remain on the show in a ‘Friend’ capacity.” Williams was involved with a physical altercation with Kenya Moore on the Season 6 reunion show, which may have contributed to her demotion.
Despite admitting to being blindsided by the announcement, Williams is staying upbeat about the development, saying, “This is the beginning of a new chapter in my life, and I will be giving my fans and supporters another chance to watch my growth as I take on the world in my own special way very soon! I am so thankful for all that #TEAMPORSHA does to keep me INSPIRED every day! Stay tuned…”
However, a Hollywood Life source indicated that “She didn’t want to go out this way” but was trying to make the best out of the situation.
The 7th Season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta will air Sunday nights at 8/7c on Bravo.