RHOA Demetria McKinney Tells All

03 May, 2015

The rumors started swirling when Demetria McKinney didn’t appear on the first of three reunion shows from season 7 of hit Bravo show Real Housewives of Atlanta. Spoiler Alert: She won’t be on the next two installations either. Does that mean she won’t return for season 8?   

The Trending Report spoke with McKinney who didn’t just reveal her future on the show but gave us insight on life, love and details on why despite all of the drama, being on the show may have been the best decision of her life.

TR: You were noticeably absent from the reunion show.  Will you be on the second or third reunion show for this season?

See What RHOA’s Cynthia Bailey told us

DM:  When they began filming the reunion I was out doing a performance which has led to me now doing the Pepsi FunkFest which has led to me now doing R. Kelly’s tour and getting signed with eOne music. So I did not have time to do the reunion. I am under contract, however my contract does not stipulate ‘as a friend’ that I had to participate in the reunion. We were asked but we felt like the music which is what we came for in the first place took precedence.

TR: But we will see you on the 8th season of RHOA?

DM:  It’s possible. It’s possible. Like I said, things have heated up with the music which has always been the goal. So I may be busy. But if they are willing to work with the music schedule and if they are willing to focus on the music versus any of the shenanigans, at least on my part…I know they come for the shade, I know they come for the tea, I know they come for the drama, but if they let me be a ray of sunshine in that piece I’m all for it.

TR:  That leads me to my next question of why you originally decided to join the show?

DM:  It took a lot of prayer. It took a couple of sips. But I decided to do the show because the shade and everything aside, the platform is huge. It’s undeniable. There’s 3.5 million people tuning in and me wanting to transition from acting into music. It was almost a no brainer aside from the fact that we’re going to be rummaging through my life.

So that’s what led me there-the music, my passion for music.  Roger and I and my son we all sat, we talked about it.  We knew what it might entail, we knew what might happen but we felt like the gamble was worth it and thank goodness it paid off.

TR:  Mr. Roger Bob, are you still a couple?

DM:  Oh honey yes, I just came from San Juan with him. Oh yeah! Just like my picture, I think I posted something on InstaGram.  After all the shenanigans, look, we came together, we’re leaving together and we are STILL together.

TR:  What lessons if any did you learn from being on the show?

DM:  I learned that there are different brands of women. One of the good and bad things about having such a diverse, opinionated group of women together is you get to see that there are really levels to this thing.

There’s class, there’s poise, there’s fun, there’s ratchet, there’s just random chicks that are just bitter. There are so many levels to being a woman and once you find the woman that you want to be then you’ll find your happiness. Some of these chicks-they are lost. They need Jesus, they need a map and they need a trainer because they don’t know what they’re doing with any part of their life and it’s really disheartening but hopefully they’ll find their way.

TR:  From watching the show to actually being on the show, were the girls what you thought they’d be?

DM:  Absolutely not! I mean, some of them were.  Cynthia has always been a gem. She’s always been a beautiful person to me. I actually knew Porsha prior to this but once I guess I stepped into her realm she didn’t want people to really see us cool like that. So me and her-just absolutely not. Phaedra, I didn’t think a southern, church bell could act like that.  Especially one with 5 degrees and knowledge and kids that are going to eventually see all of this.

That’s what I think people are missing. If you have children, they’re going to look. When you’re trying to discipline them and try to tell them what not to do, they’re going to look on there and say mommy you were shaking your butt on this, mommy you were doing this, mommy you called this person that, so why can’t I do it? You know, we’re breeding some nonsense…some of them.

Nene, I respect what she’s been able to do with the platform but I don’t respect how she treats people.  Especially people who are new to the game, I don’t respect that at all. I lost a lot of respect for her. I still wish her well. I know her NeNeans or whatever they call themselves are going to come after me for that comment but this is just my opinion. She has a platform.  She is the queen of reality or what have you, okay, act like it.

TR:  Tell me about your signing with eOne music.

DM:   Oh my God, I’m ecstatic! Literally less than 48 hours after my performance in Puerto Rico my single ‘100’ shot  all the way to #4 on iTunes and that to me was the best part of the whole freakin’ thing. The attention that the show was able to get me, even just as a friend, I was able to accomplish something no other friend or really anybody other than Kandi has been able to do. I got a deal…and not a 6/60 deal, a great deal!

Before the deal I already had my tour with FunkFest and R. Kelly solidified.

I’ve been able to do some great stuff just being true to myself, staying classy, staying poised, still having fun and using tunnel vision. I’m so glad-oh hallelujah, won’t he do it!

TR: ‘Officially Yours’ has a June release date. What can fans expect to hear?

DM:  ‘Officially Yours’ was originally going to be a 5 song EP then it turned into a 6 song EP which when we got to the label turned into a full-on12 song LP! So the June release is going to be as the title says ‘Officially Yours.’ It’s going to be me, down to the core. My trials with every bit of love, from self-love to how women treat each other, to you know, hardship and joys in relationships. It’s just about being who you are and being comfortable enough with that for somebody to really love all that you are.

TR:  We know you worked with Da Brat, is there any other artists who will be featured on your music?

DM:  Well now that I have to get in the studio and work like a this-yes! I am in the works of deciding who is going to be a collaborative effort with me. I’m looking forward to the opportunities. Signing with eOne has opened so many new doors. The attention from Housewives has opened so many new doors for people to know I sing and now I’m getting the love from other artists which is phenomenal. So I’m looking forward to what’s going to come.

TR:  So it would be accurate to say your dreams are coming true?

DM:  Despite the fact that I am not a tulip. That I played a crackhead on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne. And despite the fact that I do not have a ring on my finger.  Yes!  I am happy. My dream is coming true. I am singing. I am signed. I am touring, I didn’t have to degrade myself to do it and me and my relationshipsssss as a whole are intact.

TR: We’re going to have a little fun with a game to end the interview. I want you to name a song title, lyric or dance that best describes your RHOA cast mates. Here we go:

Kandi Burress:  No Scrubs! That’s the message.  She has been able to remain neutral for this long. The fact that she’s been able to remain herself, still be positive, still keep her business intact and get her marriage on-no scrubs!

Phaedra Parks:  The Whop, because if I was any other woman she might have got molly wopped!

Cynthia Bailey:  (sings) “I’m your dream girl boys.” She’s just really, really, graceful glamour in anything that’s she’s wearing, in anything she’s doing and however she’s carrying herself.

Nene Leakes:  Teach me how to Dougie.  That would be the dance, the Dougie, because at one point you swipe your head and I’m hoping one of those swipes would get whatever ratchet wig she has on…off.

Porsha Stewart:  (sings) “Ain’t nothing but tooty fruity, get on the floor and shake that booty. I wanna rock. I wanna rock.” Yeah. She’s a Luke dancer.

Kenya Moore:  (sings) “Get me bodied. Get me bodied.” Like she just sits there and she flexes that body at any opportunity she has. From getting out of the pool with that bathing suit holding on for dear life to every photoshoot. She is bodied down!

Claudia Jordan:  I was going to mess with her a little bit and do some MC Hammer but I’m not going to do that. Claudia would be, “I’m a movement by myself but I’m a force when we’re together.” This journey was really, really hard by itself but having a newbie come in with me and be able to embrace who I am and be able to be whom she is and us be comfortable and really rock with each other from beginning to end and even up until now… that right there is my ninja!

TR:  Anything that I did not ask you about that you’d like to say?

DM:  Be on the look-out for “Let the Church Say Amen” it’s another movie I have coming out. It will be on BET and is directed by Regina King.  It’s really good, Christian based fun. I also am shopping a pilot. I shot a pilot with Essence Atkins, Vivica Fox, Tony Rock, Carl Patton and Lamman Rucker.  It’s a grown and sexy comedy. It is phenomenal! I’m really excited about that project. Be on the look-out for that. Shout out to the Demetrians. You guys rock you give me so much life and I appreciated all that you do to support me.

B.Owusu

Image Eone Music twitter

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