“I’m so glad I said no”- NeNe Leakes opens up about rejecting ‘Traitors’ appearance following son Brentt’s hospitalization

NeNe Leakes is back in the news, and not for another Real Housewives reunion scandal. The legendary Atlanta Housewife recently dished about turning down an offer to appear on Season 4 of the Peacock reality show Traitor. In characteristic frankness and a sprinkle of that sassy glint fans adore, NeNe said she couldn't commit to appearing on the show because her son, Brentt Leakes, was recovering in the hospital.

It was an uncomfortable decision, but to NeNe, family matters always. She didn't want to agree to work overseas and then pull out at the last minute, something that wouldn't sit well with producers or audience members. So she politely declined. Now, she's speaking out on how that decision is indicative of something many of us understand all too well: reality television can wait, but loved ones can't. NeNe's considerate decision is a brassy reminder that the mother behind every glamorous reality career is doing the best she can.

NeNe Leakes: Why she said no to Traitor because of her brother

When news began circulating that NeNe Leakes, Real Housewives of Atlanta's iconic diva, could be joining Traitor S4, fans were abuzz. The show's combination of tactics, groupings, and a hint of backstabbing seemed just her style. But Real Housewives vet NeNe Leakes set the record straight that she said no to the role, and the reason stings.

“I couldn’t do Traitor ’cause my son’s in the hospital. And he’s still in the hospital,” she told the Humble Brag podcast this week.

Background: Brentt, who's 25 now, experienced heart failure and a stroke in 2022. He had a heart transplant in 2024, then was hit with complications when his body began rejecting the new heart. Through it all, NeNe has stood staunchly by his side.

She told them that although she was truly thrilled about Traitor, she couldn't put her son's illness on the backburner. The show requires players to travel overseas and be gone for weeks—something she just couldn't agree to with Brentt's illness.

NeNe was not shy about being disappointed; she labeled the offer "amazing" but said she was afraid of committing and then having to withdraw when things became real.

“I kept thinking maybe Brentt would be much better [by June]... My fear was committing and then having to go back to them and say, ‘I can’t do it.’ So that was never going to work. Brentt was very sick,” she reflected.

That kind of foresight? Pure parental gold. Fans on Reddit rallied behind her, with one user on r/BravoRealHousewives noting:

“Nene confirms she was asked to be on the Traitors this season but had to say no because her son was in the hospital”.

Their support echoed the broader reaction; while viewers were disappointed not to see her cunning game face, most understood that Brentt’s well-being trumps any reality TV storyline.

NeNe (whose rise to fame began on RHOA and evolved into various ventures in reality TV and entertainment) has never shied away from speaking her mind. NeNe didn’t turn down Traitor just to shake things up; it was a choice rooted in what matters most to her. The show’s producers reportedly offered her a spot, but she knew she couldn’t leave her son’s side. Filming would have taken her out of the country for weeks, and with Brentt in the hospital, that wasn’t an option.

She's standing by her choice. "I'm so glad I said no," she laughed, simple words that convey more than any game strategy ever could. In a way, it's a reminder that sometimes the greatest courage is in knowing when to leave. And much like a well-executed TV episode, this scene has its own combination of drama and heart.

It's a reminder that, beneath the lipstick, the slogans, and the confessionals, what's at stake in the real world is much deeper. And although fans will miss NeNe's calculated side-eye on Traitor, they can't help but cheer the decision she made when reality TV and reality intersected.

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At its heart, this is not so much a Traitor or another reality-TV cameo; it's a story of family, decisions, and understanding your priorities. NeNe Leakes can turn down a shot at further fame, but she established a much more solid boundary: son's health comes first, period. That's something that we can all learn from.