NeNe Leakes Apologized For Telling An Audience Member At A Comedy Show That She Hopes She Gets Raped
"As a woman and someone who has survived abuse, I regret the words that I used," Leakes said in an apology posted on Facebook.
NeNe Leakes is currently facing backlash for saying she hopes someone at her comedy show in Oakland over the weekend gets raped.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star was performing at The Paramount on Saturday, with a lineup that included other comedians like Tiffany Haddish and Loni Love.
A video surfaced on Facebook showing Leakes on stage, saying she hopes someone, presumably a heckler, gets raped by their Uber driver.
"I ain't even gonna tell you about the goddamn Uber driver. I hope he rape yo' ass tonight when he take you home, bitch," she said.
People are not happy with how Leakes handled herself on stage. One person tweeted that they were boycotting the Real Housewives of Atlanta.
@TMZ boycotting #RHOA bc of @NeNeLeakes This is UNACCEPTABLE! She always says horrible things but this is career en… https://t.co/nUMH1R3HIk
"Rape is nothing to wish upon a human being," another user said.
@Bravotv @Andy @Uber Nene Leakes telling someone that she hopes he/she gets raped by an Uber driver is no joke and… https://t.co/smtngojGpq
Others commented that "there's no humor" in making jokes about sexual violence.
@TMZ @FOX5Atlanta I pray #NeneLeakes never finds out how damaging rape is. Men & women who've survived a rape are n… https://t.co/O8M0VjekQx
Leakes has since issued an apology on Facebook, saying, "As a woman and someone who has survived abuse, I regret the words that I used."
BuzzFeed News has reached out to Leakes's management and Bravo for comments.
UPDATE: A spokesperson for Uber issued to following statement to BuzzFeed News:
"Wishing the trauma and violence of rape on anyone is nothing to joke about. Comments like these disrespect those affected by sexual assault and minimize the seriousness of a societal issue that affects millions."
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Michael Blackmon is a culture reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York.
Contact Michael Blackmon at michael.blackmon@buzzfeed.com.
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