Former Real Housewives of Atlanta star, NeNe Leakes, recently addressed her oldest son Bryson Bryant’s arrest on felony drug possession charges. In an exclusive preview of an upcoming episode, NeNe candidly discussed the situation with People Magazine.
Bryson, 33, was arrested on July 3 in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and remains behind bars at Gwinnett County Jail on a $6,100 bond. The charges he faces include violation of probation in two cases, possession of a scheduled II controlled substance, loitering/prowling, and giving a false name, address, or birthdate.
NeNe acknowledged that her son has been struggling with drug addiction for years, and despite efforts to support him, Bryson has faced relapses even after attending rehab multiple times.
“He needs rehabilitation,” NeNe said. “He needs a lot of counseling. Like many families out there, I have family members that are struggling with drugs and certain addictions. He has an addiction. He’s been struggling with it for years. He’s been in rehab for a couple of times and he still has come back out and relapsed.”
NeNe revealed that she has invested significant resources in trying to help Bryson, but she has learned that ultimately, he must be willing to seek change himself.
“As a mom just to watch it, my hands are tied,” she explained. “For people who have had children or family members that have been on drugs, they know that they have to be ready. They have to simply be ready.”
The reality star expressed her love for her son and her commitment to supporting him despite the challenges. However, she also admitted to becoming somewhat desensitized to his issues over the years.
“He is 33 years old, he’s an adult. He has three children — three beautiful children — who I adore. He has a wife. As a mother, I would never wash my hands of my child, right? But, I’m kind of numb to it because it’s been happening for so many years. I’m just really kind of numb to the situation.”
NeNe’s heartfelt and honest revelations shed light on the difficulties many families face when dealing with addiction. While she remains supportive, she acknowledges that true change can only happen when Bryson is ready to take the necessary steps himself.
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Written by:
Dana Sterling-Editor
