Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey admitted that one of the main reasons she left the reality TV show was to “protect” her marriage to sportscaster Mike Hill.

In an interview with Page, Six Bailey revealed, “After going through my divorce with my ex [Peter Thomas], I’m very protective of my second marriage because, you know, I really want it to work, and I want to do everything that I can to protect it and to protect Mike,” the reality star exclusively told the publication.

After getting some experience while being married to Peter Thomas while filming the show as a “Housewife, having their marital issues on blast for years, and eventually splitting up in 2016,” Bailey learned her lesson.

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“Honestly, whether we were on the show or not, I don’t think it would have worked out now,” Bailey said of her first marriage. “Now, let be very clear, I don’t think being on the show helps your relationship.”

“But if your relationship is not solid or there’s issues you guys are dealing with, those issues are going to play out, whether you own the show or not. So that’s just what it is.”

Bailey told the outlet that she hopes that marriage between her Hill will work, but she also made it clear that the talk show host did not pressure her into leaving “RHOA.”

“Mike is supportive either way,” Bailey said. “But I think he is very excited for me to to be in on television in other ways, something a little less drama based.”

“I just need a little bit of a break,” she said, adding that she still may one day go back to the show but “not right now., right now, I need a break, and I want to focus on some of these other things I’ve got going on.”

Bailey announced last month that she was leaving “RHOA” after 11 seasons.

 

Bailey said that the show is “a little bit of a slippery slope” and isn’t “the most positive atmosphere” to bring your family and husband into.