Fans of The Real Housewives of Atlanta were stunned when longtime peach holder Porsha Williams announced her departure after eight seasons on the show. The former real homemaker turned media personality and entrepreneur said in her statement that it was a decision she contemplated many times before. But the announcement came amid a time where the public wasn’t necessarily in favor of the Atlanta beauty.

At the time of her departure, Williams was newly engaged to her co-star’s estranged husband. In fact, Williams had spent years on the show cultivation of her image. She was a former NFL wife who was allegedly blindsided by a divorce and left nearly penniless only to rebuild her life and image as an independent woman. Now, it was threatened.

But contrary to popular belief, Williams didn’t leave because of the gossip. She left because she said it was time for people to see the real her, outside of the camera.