The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Leakes loses Xscape tour hosting gig

- By Rodney Ho rho@ajc.com

NeNe Leakes, a few days after she mocked a heckler at a show by hoping she gets raped by her Uber driver, has been dropped as host of the upcoming Xscape tour featuring “Real Housewives of Atlanta” castmate Kandi Burruss.

Xscape, which is touring for the first time in two decades, released this statement: “Like many, we were dismayed by the recent remarks made by our talented colleague and friend Nene Leakes. As a result, we have decided to no longer proceed with her participat­ion on our tour. It was an unfortunat­e incident for which Nene has since apologized and we wish her the best as she navigates this very difficult period.”

After her statement of apology Monday, Leakes released a more detailed Instagram Live video Thursday. She revealed what she heard the heckler say that set her off: “Go kill yourself.”

“It literally took me somewhere else, I apologize,” Leakes said. “I’ve let that go.”

She added: “I have never said anything that the heckler said to me. All the girls on the tour with me know what happened.”

Leakes also revealed how she struggled after all the negative feedback from the joke: “A lot of people know me as NeNe who’s laughing and talking. A lot of you don’t know me as NeNe who would break down. I actually had a real breakdown.” And she described herself more as a “funny lady,” not a comedian by trade.

 ?? CONTRIBUTE­D BY JOHN SCIULLI / GETTY IMAGES FOR VH1 / VIACOM ?? NeNe Leakes.
CONTRIBUTE­D BY JOHN SCIULLI / GETTY IMAGES FOR VH1 / VIACOM NeNe Leakes.

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