Cynthia Bailey is feeling both love and disappointment for her longtime friend Kenya Moore.
As The Real Housewives of Atlanta viewers prepare to find out what led to Kenya’s exit from season 16, Cynthia, 58, is shining a light on her reaction to all of the drama.
“I know Kenya. I just held her to a standard that I hold for my friends and I just felt like it was not good for Kenya,” Cynthia exclusively told Luxury Handbag Shopping on Thursday, April 3. “I just felt like she was bigger. I felt the way she responded was beneath her.”
Based on a preview of the Sunday, April 6, episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, viewers will learn more about the drama surrounding Kenya, 54, and costar Brittany Eady.
In June 2024, Us confirmed Kenya abruptly exited the series due to an alleged explicit photo scandal. “My heart is full and my conscience is clean,” Kenya shared via Instagram after her exit was confirmed. “So many false claims hiding behind anonymous sources.”
During a separate interview with Us in November 2024, Kenya cryptically shared that “the truth always comes to light, and I’m always right.”
From Cynthia’s perspective, she’s disappointed that the drama took the focus off of an event dedicated to the Kenya Moore Haircare Spa.
“I know how hard she’s been working on that and this is a lifelong dream of hers,” she explained to Us. “It’s just really unfortunate that it was overshadowed by the events that took place.”
Although Cynthia said she has not spoken to Kenya “since everything happened,” the “Humble Brag” podcast host is ready to talk when her friend is ready.
“At the end of the day, I have a real friendship with Kenya, and she knows that when she’s ready to talk, I am here,” Cynthia said. “I will be happy to pick up where we left off.”
As the season continues to play out Sunday nights on Bravo, Cynthia still wishes Kenya could have been part of more events with the cast that includes Porsha Williams, Drew Sidora, Kelli Ferrell, Shamea Morton and Angela Oakley.
“I know that losing Kenya didn’t help us at all,” Cynthia explained. “We were literally the dream team. Bravo spent a lot of time curating their vision for season 16 with exactly the cast that started this whole season 16 journey together, and it’s just really unfortunate that the fans don’t get to see it play out with that official cast that they put together.”
Cynthia is hopeful fans will keep watching as Married to Medicine alum Phaedra Parks joins the cast later on in the season. (Viewers will also be able to watch Cynthia on a new reality show titled Got to Get Out later this month on Hulu.)
“If there’s one word that describes the season, it’s unpredictable because we never thought we would lose Kenya,” Cynthia said. “We never saw Phaedra coming. So at the end of the day, we’re going to get past everything that happened and you guys are in for a treat.”
The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs on Bravo Sundays at 8 p.m. ET with old episodes streaming on Peacock. Got to Get Out premieres on Hulu Friday, April 11.
