Claudia Jordan is the new peach of The Real Housewives of Atlanta and is quickly being recognized as the outspoken leader of the cast.
The actress-turned-reality star went to war with NeNe Leakes during the most recent RHOA episode, appropriately titled “Puerto Read-co.”
During their heated discussion, NeNe called Claudia a “half-breed,” referring to her biracial background.
The response to NeNe’s remark on social media was fast and furious.
In an interview with theGrio, Claudia opened up about her recent on-screen feud with NeNe and responded to her “half-breed” comment.
“I’ve made plenty of jokes about race, and I’ve probably said some off-color things myself that people can say, ‘oh that’s offensive.’ I definitely have a smart mouth, and I’ve made my mistakes,” Claudia confessed.
“I’m not innocent myself, and I’m sure if you dig enough, you’ll find some stuff of me. But, coming from NeNe… first she’s insulting my morals, calling me a whore, then you’re insulting my background. I’m just like, ‘Are you trying to destroy me on the show? What is your goal?'”
“There’s actually a lot of us “half-breeds” and mixed breeds out there right now,” Claudia continued. “I think you just turned off a lot of people with that. [NeNe’s] been continuing down a slippery slope for the past year. From the reunion last year with her comments about gays to her comments about “half-breeds,” and I just feel like she ruining this amazing career that she’s actually had.
Claudia has been candid this season about her struggles growing up with a white mother and a black father. She says she sometimes found it difficult to be accepted by her black friends and her white friends.
Claudia revealed some of her horrific experiences with racism as a child.
“I’ve had some guys that claimed to be part of the Klu Klux Klan throw bottles at me when I went to college in Ohio. When the Rodney King verdict happened, I was very vocal about the verdict,” Claudia recalled. “I helped planned a non-violent vigil with my school in Cleveland. That same night, I got a message from a Klan person saying, ‘your a black n**ger bi**h, and we’re gonna come hang you and we’re gonna f**k you.'”
She also opened up about a painful childhood experience she endured living next to white neighbors.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs on Sundays at 8 p.m. on Bravo.