Southern Charm has lost its charm for Leva Bonaparte.
The reality star, 45, announced on Wednesday, March 26, that she will be departing Southern Charm after four seasons as a full-time cast member.
“Wanted to let you know that although this year was so fun -I’ll be stepping away from Southern Charm this year on great terms!” Bonaparte wrote on Instagram March 26. “I am in a place now in my life where I want to have time to focus on Boys and my Joys.”
The mom of 7-year-old son Lamar, Jr., who she calls Little, stated that she needs “some time for a life reset” away from the show.
“I don’t have a very salacious personal life to share but I do have a lot going on and frankly I’m working on some pretty cool stuff that I hope to share more of soon!” Bonaparte continued. “I love my friends on charm wish them the best and I’ll show up when they need me.”
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Bonaparte teased that viewers may see her at “at party or two” on the upcoming season of Southern Charm, as well as on Charm’s spinoff Southern Hospitality, which follows the staff at the Charleston, S.C. restaurants owned by Bonaparte and her husband Lamar.
“Where you will see me is on Southern Hospitality in full force where I can focus my energy on the business and the show that has really found its footing this year thanks to the fans, the bravo bloggers and the GOAT network @nbc @bravotv !” she wrote. “So this isn’t TV goodbye! Just maybe a you’ll see me a little less! 🫶🏽❤️ love yall!”
Southern Charm wrapped its 10th season on March 20 and will air a two-part reunion beginning Thursday, March 27.
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“It was a fun season for me because it felt like, oh, this is why we're friends. We have fun together,” Bonaparte told PEOPLE.
Bonaparte said she “was in a good place with everyone” going into season 10.
“I was in my season of just having a good old time,” she continued. “I did not want everyone to fight. I just wanted to have fun. Usually I'm like, ‘Okay, let's talk about our feelings.’ I think maybe I didn't have the bandwidth. And I was like, I don't care this year.”
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The restaurant and bar owner says she considered herself a “neutral space” for her castmates, perhaps because “I'm a little older.”
“I don't have any agenda, so I feel like it's sort of a trustworthy space for everyone,” Bonaparte added. “And I feel like I might be, right now, the one person that really knows everybody [on the cast].”
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Bonaparte learned over the years that, “when it comes to doing shows like this, the best thing is just to be honest,” she continued. “The minute you're dishonest, I feel like people can tell. If you don't own your stuff, it comes out the wrong way. It ends up being worse.”
Reality TV allowed Bonaparte to see herself “from a different perspective” over the years. But one thing hasn’t changed. “The one thing I'm savage about are boundaries,” she said. “My business comes first, and I protect it, and I've worked hard for it. We have a lot of things sort of brewing.”
