The wait is nearly over for Bravo fans clamoring for the return ofTheReal Housewives of Atlanta!
Nearly a year and a half after the series wrapped for season 15, it’s slated to return for 16 season on March 9 — this time with a rebooted cast featuring the return of longtime cast membersPorsha WilliamsandPhaedra Parksas Housewives andCynthia Baileyas a Friend.
Shamea Morton Mwangi, who has appeared on the show in a guest and friend role dating back to season 5, has been upgraded to a full-time Housewife.
All can be seen in action in the season 16 trailer, which Bravo dropped on Thursday, Jan. 30.
‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Season 16 cast: Brit Eady, Angela Oakley, Porsha Williams, Drew Sidora, Phaedra Parks, Kelli Ferrell and Shamea Morton Mwangi.Gizelle Hernandez/James Bianchi/Bravo
Gizelle Hernandez/James Bianchi/Bravo
In the clip, the women promise “a whole new ATL” though insists, “the shade is still shady and the tea is still piping hot — if not hotter.”
Most of the shade is cut from the trailer in favor of fun, though, with the girls celebrating together, sharing laughs and traveling on a glamorous vacation to Granada. But an official synopsis promises, “with a whirlwind of divorces, rumors, strained relationships and redefined alliances, will the ladies be able to keep things peachy in the A?”
There is a peek at one scandal that’s made it’s way into the press involvingKenya Moore.
When production began on season 16 in May 2024, Moore — a longstanding staple onRHOA —was returning as a Housewife. But in June, all of that changed when news broke the former Miss UA would be exiting the series after allegedly unveiling explicit pictures of Eady while the Bravo cameras were rolling at a cast event.
Kenya Moore filming the opening of her Kenya Moore Hair Spa' for ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ season 16 on June 6.Prince Williams/WireImage
Prince Williams/WireImage
A clip of the moment made it into the trailer, with Moore asking, “Who is this ho?” to the room.
At the time, an insider told PEOPLE that Moore was retaliating after Eady allegedly threatened her costar using the word “gun." However, a second source close to production disputed that, saying, “At no time was Kenya ever threatened with a weapon, nor was there ever a weapon present during the course of production."
Later in the trailer, we see the cast reacting to the moment, with Bailey noting the moment “couldn’t go any lower” as Eady cries and asks, “She thinks that’s okay?”
“That was Kenya’s choice to twirl on down to hell,” Williams says.
Brit Eady.Gizelle Hernandez/James Bianchi/Bravo
“You are the best fans anyone could ever ask for, and I love you all so very much,” Moore wrote on Instagram on June 25, the same day cast members were told about her firing. “Always and forever.”
She’s since apologized for the incident, saying in a November appearance onTamron Hallthat she is “sorry” for what she’d done, and noting that, “I didn’t have to take it that far” while filming. “Hindsight is always fifty, fifty,” she said. “I’ve taken full accountability for the things that I’ve done.”
Porsha Williams.Gizelle Hernandez/James Bianchi/Bravo
That drama aside, other conflicts in the trailer appear to be between longtime friends Morton Mwangi and Williams. There’s also tension brewing between Williams and Sidora.
Here’s what Bravo is teasing to come for each of our peach holders.
Drew Sidora.Gizelle Hernandez/James Bianchi/Bravo
Drew is busier than ever with her music and film career taking off. While in full time mommy-mode, she has her sights set on reaching her goals, including having an amicable divorce to end a dramatic roller coaster of a marriage with Ralph, who takes his court-ordered residence in the family basement (or as Ralph calls it his lower-level penthouse), until the divorce is finalized. Drew is looking forward to reclaiming her life, rebuilding friendships and focusing on using her music as an outlet to cope with all the emotional turbulence. But with finding a new music partner in Dennis, who is also Porsha’s ex-fiancé, things get complicated when there are two sides to a story. Will this unique collaboration end in one accord?
Shamea Morton Mwangi.Gizelle Hernandez/James Bianchi/Bravo
Brit is an innovator that carved out her own niche in the insurance industry transforming into mogul status. Brit built her million-dollar agency alongside her sisters and met her husband, Michael Cunningham, through her firm. While she’s serious about her business, Brit is basking in the glow of her 10-carat diamond ring and marriage to Michael. However, with the loss of a family member and career transition, her marriage with Mike seems to have driven a wedge between her and her once inseparable sisters who feel that their quality time is now non-existent. Despite life’s challenges, Brit’s fun and feisty personality is ready to create some good times with the ladies, especially Kelli, who has grown to be her bestie. However, when she experiences some friendship friction and a catastrophic event that shatters everything, Brit’s left to pick up the pieces.
Kelli is big energy with a mix of culinary couture as chef extraordinaire and owner of well-known ATL staple Nana’s Chicken & Waffles. There’s never a dull moment for Kelli as a single mom of four daughters: Chasti, Chelsi, Chloe and Chance, who are her everything. Her recent divorce has been challenging after 11 years of marriage and threatened Nana’s very existence. This Queen of Waffles is now ready to flourish, build her empire and get to know these ladies better. She’s not holding back on any of her opinions or side-eyes.
Kelli Ferrell.Gizelle Hernandez/James Bianchi/Bravo
Angela Oakley.Gizelle Hernandez/James Bianchi/Bravo
Phaedra makes her epic return later this season and it will be worth the wait as she turns up the fun and shade. With so many friendships that she’s excited to reignite with, including the long-awaited reunion of Frick and Frack, there are some new bonds that are fractured from the start. Will Phaedra be able to restore order in the group without a side of messiness and drama?
The legendary Cynthia is back in the ATL as a friend and is always ready to lighten the mood when tensions arise. But as the voice of reason that this group needs, will she land in the middle of the drama?
Phaedra Parks.Gizelle Hernandez/James Bianchi/Bravo
RHOApremiered on Bravo in October 2008 as the third installment in the now-robustReal Housewivesuniverse.NeNe Leakes,DeShawn Snow,Shereé Whitfield,Lisa WuandKim Zolciak-Biermannall starred.
Whitfield was part of the season 15 cast. She exitedRHOAamid the reboot alongsideMarlo HamptonandSanya Richards-Ross. All three joined as full-time Housewives together back in season 14, though Hampton has been a recurring Friend/guest for years while Whitfield had appeared as Housewife on multiple seasons throughout its run.
Cynthia Bailey.Gizelle Hernandez/James Bianchi/Bravo
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Previous seasons ofRHOAcan be streamed on Peacock.
source: people.com