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The Real Housewives of Atlanta season 16 premiere hit our screens on Sunday night with an unexpected sense of calm. Given the backstage chaos and drama surrounding the show over the past year, fans were likely expecting more fireworks. But instead, we got a smooth, almost routine episode—except for one glaring omission: Kenya Moore.
The episode introduces new faces alongside familiar ones, including the return of RHOA veterans Porsha Williams and Cynthia Bailey. But while both make their grand entrance into the season, only Porsha is given a coveted peach in the opening credits, alongside Drew Sidora and Shamea Morton, who’s now been promoted from “friend of” to full-time cast member.
The spotlight is on Morton as she bridges the gap between the original RHOA stars and the newer cast members, Brit Eady, Angela Oakley, and Kelli Ferrell. It doesn’t take long for the drama to surface, particularly when the conversation turns to Porsha’s divorce from Simon Guobadia. Newcomer Eady doesn’t hold back, questioning how Porsha could steal her soon-to-be-ex-husband from Falynn Pina, a former RHOA cast member.
Later in the episode, Eady makes a remark about her upgraded engagement ring, which leads to a tense exchange with Kenya Moore. When Eady says her new ring is a “step up” from her first one, Kenya responds with a sarcastic comment, suggesting that Eady should focus on her own relationship, given her own divorce and marriage status. It’s a moment that sets the tone for the rest of the episode—and gives us a glimpse of the sharp wit we know Kenya for.
But what’s more interesting is how Kenya Moore’s absence looms large throughout the premiere. While RHOA fans know her as one of the show’s central figures, Kenya’s presence has been noticeably reduced in season 16. She was even edited out of many scenes. On social media, Kenya wasn’t shy about calling attention to it, posting a photo of herself trending on X (formerly Twitter) and writing, “When they try to erase but are THE ONLY one trending.”
Fans and insiders alike have speculated about the reason behind her reduced airtime. Moore was suspended and later fired from the show last June after an incident during filming at her Kenya Moore Hair Spa in Atlanta. It involved sexually explicit posters of fellow cast member Brit Eady, which led to a lot of drama both on and off camera. Initially, Moore denied accusations of revenge porn, but later admitted to her mistake during a Tamron Hall Show interview, acknowledging that the photos were “distasteful” and saying she would handle things differently if given a second chance.
The drama doesn’t stop there. In a later scene at Shamea Morton’s birthday party, Moore is introduced to the new cast while tensions continue to rise. When the conversation turns to relationship statuses—who’s married, who’s divorced—Kenya tries to clarify Eady’s ring situation, asking if she’s engaged or married. It’s a subtle jab, but one that hints at more underlying conflict between the women.
While Bravo has yet to confirm whether the altercation that led to Kenya’s exit will be shown on TV, the whole situation remains a mystery. There are conflicting reports about the fallout: one source claims Moore was protecting herself and her daughter Brooklyn from verbal threats made by Eady, while another denies the existence of any weapons or physical threats.
Regardless of how the season unfolds, one thing is clear: Kenya Moore knows how to keep the drama going—even when she’s not in the spotlight. While RHOA fans may be wondering about her absence, Moore is letting the audience know exactly where the action is.