Celeb Best Blog

NeNe Leakes attends "The Celebrity Apprentice" Season 4 Finale at Trump SoHo on May 22, 2011 in New York City.

Credit: Zimbio

Nene Leakes may have left Celebrity Apprentice in dramatic fashion on Sunday night’s show, but she showed no signs of hostility when she was snapped in West Hollywood just hours later.

The ever-dramatic Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member looked exceedingly chipper as the paps caught her chatting on the phone while out shopping West Hollywood.

Credit: Celebuzz (Wes Ferguson)

NeNe Leakes never had second thoughts about quitting Celebrity Apprentice. It all just got to be too much, she says.

"I don't regret it. I felt very good about it. I always do what my gut tells me to do," the Real Housewives of Atlanta star says in an interview airing Wednesday on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

She adds: "I'm a grown woman, and nobody makes decisions for me. I make my own decisions. It was a toxic situation for me."

Particularly poisonous, of course, was her feud with Star Jones. In an episode two weeks ago, Leakes unloaded on Jones in front of a client, then walked off the show. She doesn't regret that either, but admits it didn't need to get that ugly.

"I needed to get it out," she says. "I wish I could have maybe had a different delivery, maybe better word choices, but I'm OK with it. I felt she deserved it. I know everybody in Hollywood knows I'm telling the truth [about Jones]."

Of course, things evened out this past week, when Donald Trump fired Jones. "When I said on the show yesterday that Star got fired, there were applauses in the audience," says DeGeneres. "People were thrilled that Star got fired."

To which Leakes replies: "Yeah, let's clap about it."

Credit: PEOPLE (Tim Nudd)

With celebrities, respected journalists and interest groups lobbing the racist label at Donald Trump, friends of Nene Leakes tell Rob Shuter of Pop Eater that quitting Celebrity Apprentice in a shocking -- and low-rated -- episode on Sunday was a smart, principled move.

"Everything will ultimately work out for NeNe," a friend of the Real Housewives of Atlanta star tells him. "In the long run she was much better off to quit and walk away than get a job with Donald Trump."

It should be noted that each celebrity is playing to raise money for their charity rather than get a job within Trump's organization. It should also be noted that the Celebrity Apprentice you're seeing on Sundays was taped months ago, before The Donald's now-floundering bid for the White House and string of attacks on President Obama that many believe reek of racism.

CBS news anchor Bob Schieffer hit Donald recently after he raised doubts about President Obama's school grades. "That's just code for saying he got into law school because he's black," he said. "This is an ugly strain of racism that's running through this whole thing."

Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Cosby, Robert De Niro, Rosie O'Donnell and David Letterman have also spoken out.

The political advocacy group Color of Change has called on all black cast members to boycott the show and one fired "applicant" told Shuter that they would shun the finale if their contract didn't stipulate they had to be there.

On Monday morning, Donald appeared on FOX News to try and dispel the charges he's racist.

"I am the least racist person there is," he said. "And I think most people who know me would tell you that. I am the least racist, I've had great relationships."

NeNe's fellow 'Housewife' (well, from NYC) Ramona Singer isn't buying it.

"Well, anyone who makes a racist remark is showing their opinion and where their mind is at," Ramona tells him.

Credit: Pop Eater (Rob Shuter)

Real Housewives of Atlanta's NeNe Leakes made a quick getaway on Sunday's Celebrity Apprentice, but she didn't get to hear Donald Trump utter his famous phrase "you're fired!" Instead, the reality star bolted on her own accord, reasoning that the drama with foe Star Jones had pushed her over the edge.

During Sunday's episode, where teams were tasked with producing and selling tickets to a comedy show, Leakes, 41, left her team -- John Rich, Lil Jon and La Toya Jackson (who switched places with Meat Loaf at the start of the episode) -- high and dry without an explanation. Later, when her teammates couldn't reach Leakes, Trump decided to dial her up himself.

"I've never called anybody but I'm calling you because I think you have great ability," Trump, 64, told Leakes in a last-ditch effort to keep her around. "If you quit, it's going to follow you for the rest of your life. For you to quit at the end is stupid."

In the wake of her monumental blowout fight with Jones (as seen on the May 2 episode), Leakes remained confident in her decision to leave the series.

"I really feel that Star got her way," Leakes said after her conversation with Trump. "Mr. Trump bought into her bulls--t. I don't have to stay with BS to raise money for my charity. The best thing for me to do is leave."

Leakes' swift exit stunned her castmates, namely Rich, 37.

"Star ran her off and that's so amateur," the country crooner said after they confirmed she was gone for good. "I cant say I have a healthy amount of respect for that. You can't just abandon your team. She didn't even say goodbye to us!"

When Rich, Jackson and Lil Jon met with the opposing team -- Jones, Meat Loaf and Marlee Matlin -- Trump was even more fired up about Leakes. The billionaire businessman launched into an epic tirade about potential, and how Leakes' exit cost last week's eliminated contestant Hope Dworaczyk a chance to compete.

"The fact is she left, she quit, she gave up. To you, NeNe, I say, you're fired. And you're a quitter. And Star Jones kicked your ass whether you like it or not. Potential doesn't mean sh--. I've been hearing about potential all my life, but that usually [is said of people who are] not performing. We let go of Hope and we ultimately lost NeNe. That's fine. That's the way life is."

Credit: Us Magazine

After the altercations NeNe Leakes has gotten herself into both on Real Housewives of Atlanta, and now on Celebrity Apprentice, she's been pretty widely painted as a bully who uses her size to physically dominate her victims, but hey now, it's not NeNe's fault she's 5'10" and towers over everyone!

In a recent radio interview with The Russ Parr Morning Show, NeNe disagreed with the bully label, and disputed accusations that she was only chosen for Celebrity Apprentice to be branded the villain.

"I'm on the show because I am very popular and Mr. Donald Trump handpicked me himself," she insisted. While it may be easy to tab NeNe as the most outwardly aggressive of the women, she certainly doesn't have a reputation for being a villain. She has proven her business savvy on the show (she's now in the final 7), and is often praised by the Donald and her teammates.

"I'm not bullying anybody," she added. "I stand up for what I believe in, and I'm very honest, and I always tell the truth. I'm not a liar, I'm not manipulative, and I don't stab you in your back, because I will stab you in your chest."

Credit: Wet Paint (Mariella Mosthof)

The last time the Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes sat down to talk with Ellen DeGeneres, she called fellow Celebrity Apprentice contestant Star Jones "a disaster." After Sunday night's vicious spat between the contestants, Jones appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show – and she didn't miss her chance to strike back.

"What were you thinking when NeNe was going off like that?" DeGeneres asks Jones in an episode airing Tuesday.

"I was thinking my grandmother is going to watch this," Jones says. "I was thinking I need to keep calm."

She also couldn't resist comparing her costar to a feral animal. "When you're confronted in the wild with an un-caged animal you're supposed to retreat," Jones says. "You're not supposed to attack."

"No," says DeGeneres, "with a bear you're supposed to appear bigger. You're supposed to get larger."

"If you can tell me how to get bigger than that, I got money for you," says Star.

Ellen also asked if a reconciliation loomed anywhere in the future for the two reality stars: "It looks like at the end of it you started making up, although you didn't want to do it on camera," she says. "How do you all get along now?"

"I don't know that girl and I don't hang with people like that."

Credit: PEOPLE (Sarah Durham Wilson)

The women of Real Housewives of Atlanta are busy filming season 4, which so far has included a baby shower for Kim Zolciak. Meanwhile, the show's two biggest stars -- arch enemies NeNe Leakes and Zolciak -- are in talks to headline their own spin-off series on Bravo, sources tell The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Leakes' series would follow her as she moves to L.A. and tries to break into Hollywood; Zolciak's series would chronicle her life with NFL player Kroy Biermann and their new baby.

Of course, the network doesn't want them both to leave the mother show; they are the two most prominent personalities of the group, after all.

But keeping them both in the original show may be even more problematic. "The two no longer trust each other, much less like each other," writes The Atlanta Journal Constitution's radio and TV blogger Rodney Ho. "This dynamic must be creating challenges for Bravo producers shooting season four, since they want to maximize interaction among the six cast members while Kim and NeNe probably want to spend as little time face to face as possible."

Odds are that Leakes would be the one to make the break for good. Like Bethenny Frankel of The Real Housewives of New York, Leakes has parlayed her Houswives notoriety into other Hollywood gigs -- such as her current, high-profile stint on The Celebrity Apprentice -- and exploited the media exposure at every turn. That includes a big-time feud with Star Jones, which spilled over beyond the reality series when Leakes made the talk show rounds, complaining about Jones.

No doubt, some may say that The Real Housewives franchise has reached a saturation point, and there's no need for another spin-off. But producers can simply point out that The Real Housewives of Atlanta is the most popular one of all of them. Since it averages about 4 million viewers a week, largely on the draw of stars like Zolciak and Leakes, then maybe these women could carry their own shows. As far as TV execs are concerned, there's only one way to find out.

Credit: iVillage (Jennifer Graham Kizer)

Just how bats--t crazy is Celebrity Apprentice?

Playboy Playmate contestant Hope Dworaczyk sums it up pretty well…

"It's a mess," she tells me. "Celebrity Apprentice looks a lot like the commercials for Celebrity Rehab."

We haven't seen Dworaczyk, who is competing on behalf of Best Buddies, get into any of the show's ridiculous feuds yet, but she did tell me that she ended up going head to head with—who else?—NeNe Leakes. "I liked Nene a lot until I had to be her boss," she said. "I like her a lot until about [tonight's] episode. It got a little weird after that. I had to tell her what to do and I don't think anybody wants to take direction from someone who is a lot younger than them."

Dworacyk claims Leakes was completely unpredictable. "One minute she was crying and opening up about herself and sharing something about the past that's very very personal, and the next minute, she's yelling," she explained. "I think you can call it unstable."

Yeah, but so unstable that Star Jones felt she had to hire a bodyguard to protect her from the Real Housewives of Atlanta star?

"It was out of control," Dworacyk said. "I think if I had been yelled at and attacked the way Nene gets in Star's face, I would have wanted a bodyguard, too."

Credit: E! Online (Marc Malkin)

Oprah Winfrey will soon be stepping down from her throne as the current Queen of Daytime Talk, and it seems NeNe Leakes might be in a position to take the crown.

NeNe has been in talks with several producers and might even relocate to Miami to host her own daytime talk show, Radar Online reports.

“NeNe is actively shopping herself around and she wants her own chat show and if that does not happen, she would like her own reality show instead,” a source told Radar Online.

After season 3 of RHOA, there were rumors that NeNe would not return to the series. Her multiple confrontations with co-stars Dwight Eubanks, Kandi Burruss and especially Kim Zolciak were seemingly taking a toll on NeNe.

Although some may question whether NeNe has the warmth of other successful female talk-show hosts, she doesn’t seem to have those doubts.

“She thinks she has what it takes to be the next Oprah or Wendy Williams,” the source said. “With Oprah's show coming off the air soon, she believes the time is right for a new Black female talk show host.”

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star has had some experience interviewing celebs. As seen on the Bravo reality show, she interviewed Atlanta stars, such as producer Jermaine Dupri, for a show on a local TV station.

NeNe, who is reportedly in the middle of a divorce, isn’t just looking to TV ventures to support herself. She’s also diving into the world of fashion.

"NeNe really wants to brand herself with her own clothing, makeup and hair products lines, and she is confident she can pull it off,” the source said.

Credit: S2S Magazine (Tracey L. Scott)

Celebrity Apprentice star NeNe Leakes wants to follow in Oprah Winfrey's footsteps by getting her own talk show, Radar Online has exclusively learned.

The reality diva has been in talks with several producers and production companies and wants to relocate from Atlanta to Miami for her new venture.

The former stripper has still not signed-up to do another series of Real Housewives Of Atlanta on the Bravo Network and is working to re-invent herself.

A source told Radar Online: "NeNe is actively shopping herself around and she wants her own chat show and if that does not happen she would like her own reality show instead.

"She was encouraged when she did some slots with local television stations in Atlanta and she thinks that she has what it takes to be the next Oprah or Wendy Williams.

"Both Bravo and VH-1 have had talks with her about several projects although Bravo were hoping to get her back for one more year on Real Housewives.

"NeNe really wants to brand herself with her own clothing, make-up and hair products lines, and she is confident she can pull it off.

"Celebrity Apprentice has given her more confidence but she sees moving to Miami as key to her success and now that her marriage is all but over she is ready to commit but she wants the right project to be in place."

Credit: Radar Online

Not surprisingly, the Real Housewives of Atlanta will be back for a fourth season. And Bravo is keeping the same six women: NeNe Leakes, Sheree Whitfield, Kim Zolciak, Phaedra Parks, Kandi Burruss and Cynthia Bailey.

This is the first season where they have chosen to make no change.

And despite rumors of Kim or NeNe leaving for spinoffs, Andy Cohen is sticking with what’s worked already. The Real Housewives of Atlanta is the most popular “Housewives” franchise, averaging nearly 3 million viewers per episode last season, up from 2.7 million season two.

(Word is that “Real Housewives of D.C.” is already gone after one season. It’s unclear if “Miami” will merit a second season.)

Production for Atlanta is supposed to begin this month. Given how cold the relationship has become between Kim and NeNe, will they have any desire to reconcile again?

Credit: Access Atlanta (Rodney Ho)

NeNe Leakes wants to get more plastic surgery done so that she can have a totally flat stomach this summer, Radar Online has exclusively learned.

Despite aleady having had liposuction done on her thighs, hips and stomach, the reality diva is still not happy with the way she looks and is determined to have an even leaner look.

Leakes, 41, who narrowly avoided being axed from Donald Trump's reality show on Sunday, was recently spotted sitting poolside at a Miami hotel wearing a neon green bikini top and denim shorts, displaying her ample curves.

A source told Radar Online: "NeNe is determined to have a flatter tummy and she intends to have more liposuction done so she looks her very best this summer.

"She intends to have the procedure done sooner rather than later and at the moment she is hanging out in Miami with her friends Al Reynolds and Evelyn Lozado from the reality series Basketball Wives."

Since becoming famous the 6 ft tall reality star has had several procedures done including a nose job, breast reduction and lift, liposuction on her tummy, thighs and hips plus new veneers on her teeth.

"She has always wanted to be famous and now that she is those insecurities have been heightened for her to look perfect."

Speaking to People magazine last year NeNe admitted: "I love what I did. I didn't want to change my looks. I wanted to look like the black woman I am, only a better version".

Credit: Radar Online

Credit: Wire Image 

As pregnant Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak gets closer to her due date, her on-going feud with cast mate NeNe Leakes is starting to takes its toll on her.

"NeNe has problems. I never want to speak to her again," Zolciak told Life & Style in an exclusive interview after she got wind of a "Free Sweetie" radio campaign launched by Leakes. The campaign refers to Sweetie, Zolciak's assistant.

"To have all these T-shirts and posters being made, it's disgusting," she added.

"She's a big, big liar, and I have a problem with liars," Leakes responded to L&S about Zolciak, who is due to give birth in June. Don't expect Leakes to send over any presents when the big day arrives though.

"I'm not interested in seeing the baby, and I have no plans to send a gift," Leakes said. "Absolutely no plans at all."

Credit: Pop Eater (Kelly Fisher)

Celebrity Apprentice contestant and Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes is setting the record straight, exclusively telling Life & Style that she is not dating Star Jones' ex-husband Al Reynolds.

"I don't know Al from a can of paint!" NeNe tells Life & Style. "I just met him. I don't know him."

NeNe and Star Jones, who butted heads on this season of Celebrity Apprentice, have been feuding in the media, and recently rumors began swirling that NeNe and Al were an item.

"There were 15 of us that went out to dinner, and we took several pictures of the group, and I just jumped into the picture," NeNe says of the night in question.

While NeNe speaks highly of Al, she assures Life & Style that they will never be romantically involved. "He was very kind to me when I met him, but is Al my type of guy? No," she says. "He's not the type of guy I would date."

Credit: Life & Style

NeNe Leakes can be seen on Celebrity Apprentice battling it out for a spot in Donald Trump’s empire, but you can’t see her like this on the show.

Seeing NeNe's bikini pictures from the beach couldn’t be more timely, as things are heating up for her on Celebrity Apprentice.

Credit: Bloginity (Brian Willett)

It was a "Housewife" dinner night. Real Housewives of Atlanta star Nene Leakes and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Taylor Armstrong were spotted at BOA Steakhouse last night holding hands.

Credit: The YBF (Natasha)

Star magazine claims that Real Housewives of Atlanta's NeNe Leakes has been antagonizing Star Jones by spending quality time with Jones' ex-husband, Al Reynolds.

Although Reynolds has been haunted by gay rumors, the magazine says he's been getting quite cozy with his ex wife's nemesis.

RumorFix reached out to Al's rep to see if there were any truth to the rumors and were surprised when we got this answer: "Al and NeNe were recently introduced. He is enjoying getting to know her."

The rep wouldn't confirm that they're dating, but the two have been flirting on Twitter. Star Jones better watch out!

Credit: Rumor Fix

NeNe Leakes of the Real Housewives of Atlanta and more recently, Celebrity Apprentice, will appear on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” today.

According to a transcript the show sent us, they’ll be discussing Leakes’ fellow Apprentice cast member Star Jones.

They’re not exactly best buddies.

“She is bossy, she is manipulative, conniving,” Leakes said of Jones. “She is controlling. I think that she knows. Yeah. She looks in the mirror, she better know.”

By the way here’s a comprehensive Celebrity Apprentice recap from our colleague Rodney Ho. If you’d like to see RoHo talking about the show click here for his video.

Jones has been vocal about Leakes as well, telling Daytime Confidential, “We’re not on the same level. Let’s make that clear. We’re on the same show.”

In case that was unclear she added, ”Cream rises to the top and water seeks its own level.”

Jones also noted, “They cast the show based on what they thought would generate good ratings. This was not a show about friendship.”

Apparently their relationship was strained from the beginning.

“When I walked into the situation, I tried to walk in with no preconceived notions,” Leakes told DeGeneres. “I was just thinking, ‘Okay, I’m going to do the show. I’m going to get to know who Star is.’ I think she had preconceived notions of who she thought I was just from watching me on the ‘Housewives.’ I think she thought I was going to come in and take over. I tried to get to know her. Some people are difficult to get to know. She’s not easiest person to get to know. She is a disaster.”

Could they work things out?

“I don’t think she’s easy to get along with,” Leakes said. “She’s a tough girl. We’re kind of okay. I’m trying to feel her out right now.”

Credit: The Buzz (Jennifer Brett)