Kandi Burruss Talks RHOA Return and Shares Her Honest Thoughts on Season 16

Is Kandi Burruss ready to reclaim her peach?

The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum was asked about a potential series return during the Entertainment Community Fund Gala in New York City.

“I’m just not there at this moment in my life,” she said during a red-carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight. “I’m doing what I really love. But I’m supporting from afar.”

Kandi Burruss announces RHOA exit after 14 seasons

The comments came more than a year after Kandi announced she would not return to RHOA for Season 16. She dropped the shocking news ahead of the 66^th Annual Grammy Awards, saying she was shifting her focus to other projects. 

“I decided I’m not coming back this year,” she told Variety in February 2024. “I had started working on a lot of other things, and I got some nice big projects coming soon, so I’m super excited about those things. But it’s not just that… A friend of mine was like, ‘Why do you keep doing it?’ And I was like, ‘Well, I think because I’ve just been doing it for so long, it feels weird to think not to do it?’ So I was just like, ‘You know what? I’m going to take a break, I’m going to take a moment… I’m not coming back this year.’”

Kandi Burruss weighs in on RHOA Season 16: "Obviously..."

In the months since confirming her departure, Kandi has continued to make big moves within the entertainment realm. Her recent career highlights included a headlining North American tour with her singing group, XSCAPE, and her behind-the-scenes involvement in Broadway’s Othello.

But despite her busy schedule, Kandi has managed to keep up with RHOA Season 16, which premiered in early March. The ongoing season features Kandi’s former castmates Porsha Williams and Drew Sidora, as well as new Housewives Brit Eady, Kelli Ferrell, Angela Oakley, and Shamea Morton Mwangi, who is good friends with Kandi. 

“It’s different. Obviously, it’s different,” Kandi said about the current season. “A lot of times, people get used to the people that they love, you know? But in order for a show to continue to go on and on and on, you gotta get to know new faces and new personalities. I have to say, my girl Shamea? She is bringing it!”

Kandi Burruss gives daughter Riley Burruss advice ahead of Next Gen NYC

Although Kandi’s future with Bravo remains uncertain, her oldest daughter, Riley Burruss, will return to the network in Next Gen NYC. The new series, which premieres on June 3, will follow the  New York University graduate and her group of friends as they navigate early adulthood in the Big Apple.

Riley will be joined by fellow Real Housewives kids Gia Giudice, Ariana Biermann, and Brooks Marks. The cast will be rounded out by Ava Dash, Hudson McLeroy, Emira D’Spain, Shai Fruchter, Georgia McCann, and Charlie Zakkour.

“I hope you guys support my daughter Riley Burruss,” Kandi said, referencing Next Gen NYC. “Y’all seen her grow up on the Real Housewives.”

While Riley is no stranger to reality TV (she was 6 when she made her Bravo debut), Kandi gave her firstborn a piece of advice before the cameras went up.  

“I told her, ‘When you’re filming, stand on everything you say,’” she revealed, echoing Riley's recent comments to BravoTV.com. “‘Don’t ever go back and try to say you didn’t say something so they can rewind the tape on you. You have to own it, stand on it. And if you need to apologize, apologize, but don’t lie about saying stuff, because we be having a lot of liars on those shows…. We’re not doing that. We don’t mess up the Burruss name like that.’”

Get a closer look at Kandi’s family life and her recent gift to Riley.