As the latest season of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta has kicked off without NeNe Leakes for the first time, Kandi Burruss shares her thoughts on Leakes’ fans’ comments that she made the show.

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Leakes was the only cast member from the original season to do the full seven seasons as she quit just before the co-stars began taping for season eight. And while Sheree Whitfield is back this season after leaving following season four, many wondered how the show would do without Leakes.

Well Burruss made it clear to The Grio Friday, “The group as a whole is what makes the show. Not one person. That’s why it’s an ensemble cast. A lot of people…the ones that are minty just [NeNe’s] fans, they don’t get that. I’m not trying to say that she’s not good on the show, I’m just saying that she’s better with the show.”

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She also offered up proof that Leakes wasn’t the only star in the popular series.

“If it was just about her by herself, her numbers when she had her own shows would be bigger than the ‘Housewives’, and they weren’t. It’s because we as a group together are good…when one person feels that they are bigger than the group, that’s when it’s a problem.”

As for stars who tuned in to the first episode without Leakes that aired Nov. 8, more than half agreed that they “missed” Leakes in a poll from ‘The Real Housewives’ franchise.

See what other fans had to say about Leakes’ absence.

Tags: The Real Housewives of Atlanta Reality TV Bravo