Sound Off: Shereé Whitfield (and Bravo) Fumbled Her ‘RHOA’ Legacy
The ‘Housewives’ OG’s departure was deserved, though Bravo still could’ve handled it better.
Published May 16 2024, 6:47 p.m. ET
Reality star Shereé Whitfield, an original cast member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, is a successful entrepreneur, mother, and "Glam Ma." Despite her significant contributions to the show, Bravo has decided not to bring her back for Season 16, making her the most frequently fired housewife as of 2024.
When the news broke of Shereé’s firing, many fought against it, stating that she deserved to be on the show for another season.
Several commenters even pointed out her OG status and how it should’ve made Andy Cohen and co. respect her contributions more.
Shereé’s third exit proves that, sometimes, the third time isn't that charming. It's also a sign that she and Housewives don’t mesh well, and I have a few thoughts on why.
Let’s get into another Sound Off!
Opinion: Shereé ’s OG status should have never guaranteed her a peach
Please allow me to share my peace before you drag me like Shereé attempted to do to Kandi Burruss in that now infamous Season 15 reunion scene. I adore Shereé and would be lying if I said she hadn’t brought her uniqueness to the show, including catchphrases for days and #bodygoals moments.
As previously mentioned, she is also an OG who will always go down in history as the one who paved the way for Kandi, Porsha Williams, Phaedra Parks, and Kenya Moore.
After fans (myself included) complained about being disappointed in the ladies during Season 15 for various reasons (including conjuring up random drama, ahem, Marlo Hampton), Bravo opted to switch RHOA up. The Season 16 cast includes some fan favorites — Porsha, Kenya, and Shamea Morton Mwangi — as well as new cast members Brittany Eady, Kelli Ferrell, and Angela Oakley.
In a May 2024 Instagram Live, Porsha shared that new cast members are “bad b----es” and bring a refreshing take on the long-running show. While OGs like Kyle Richards have proven they can hang with the young girlies the network brings in, Shereé might not be willing to do so.
As reality TV fans grow tired of obviously scripted storylines and rehearsed reads, Shereé’s uncanny ability to simultaneously show us a lot and nothing at all might not have the same hold it did in '08.
There was her rumored staged relationship with Martell Holt, and her expectation that we would believe she didn’t know her ex-husband, Bob Whitfield, had another child while they were together, something that “played out” on RHOA Season 15.
Between the “fun lies” like She By Shereé’s future (one word: Joggers) and the real things about her life Shereé chooses not to share, her lack of authenticity kept her from reclaiming her peach.
Shereé Whitfield would be a great “friend” if she put her pride aside.
I honestly can’t blame Shereé for being careful about sharing details of her life on the show. Several studies prove sharing too much of your personal life can have adverse effects, especially if the person you share with doesn’t have your best interests at heart.
Under normal circumstances, Shereé’s desire for privacy wouldn't be an issue. However, it's tough to maintain that privacy when you’re on a reality show where people are interested in your personal life. In Shereé's case, this led to her being demoted to a "friend of" on RHOA.
Fans have debated whether Shereé would be better suited as a full-time cast member or as a friend of the show. She has switched between both roles in the past, becoming a “friend” in Season 8 after taking a four-year break from the show.
Shereé was eventually promoted to a full-time cast member after Season 8 but was let go again after Season 10.
Ebony reported in 2018 that Shereé declined an offer to be a friend on Season 11 of the show and reportedly declined for Season 16. While Shereé has the right to refuse work, being a friend on the show could still provide her with good promotion and income.
Bravo owed Shereé a proper ‘RHOA’ sendoff.
Though I feel Season 16 will go along just fine without Shereé, I still think she deserved a better exit than the one she got. Her final reunion was chaotic, to say the least, and many of her fans wanted to see closure from her and her family.
The lack of closure could be a good thing. Bravo has proven that they will never hesitate to call Shereé whenever possible. However, if Shereé declined that call, she would be well within her rights. You know what they say: Fire me thrice, shame on all of us. It’s a thing.
You can stream The Real Housewives of Atlanta on Peacock.
