The entertainment business can be cut-throat. Just ask Porsha Williams.

Yesterday saw Bravo announce her demotion (and effective axing) from the cast of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta. And it appears the news came as a surprise to the aspiring singer and business mogul too.

For, despite putting on a brave face on Instagram ahead of the unveiling of the shows’s seventh season trailer yesterday, Williams has revealed that she found out about her predicament when everyone else did.

Awkward.

Details below…

Per sources close to production, the ‘Flatline’ songbird had actually filmed the full length of the season. Yet, it is believed producers felt – in lieu of her other commitments – she wasn’t providing them enough access so as to carve out a meaty storyline for her this year. Odd, many note, given that she was lucky to have been awarded a spot on the cast after clashing with Kenya Moore at the season 6 reunion.

Speaking on the situation, Williams said in a statement:

This is not an easy time for me right now, but I want everyone to know that I loved being a ‘Housewife’ on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and I am thankful for Bravo for the opportunity but it’s not goodbye, you will see me on the show throughout the season sharing and bonding with the other women and I promise to stay connected with my fans as I start an exciting new time in my life.

After a long season of filming, and giving my all, I was blindsided by the announcement from the network that I was demoted from ‘Housewife Status,’ but would remain on the show in a ‘Friend’ capacity.

Unfortunately, I can only be PORSHA, and portraying anything else, would not be genuine nor honest. This moment is bittersweet, but God has been so amazing to me, and I think this is a perfect time for me to spread my wings, and finally focus on all of my upcoming projects.

In addition to having my recurring role on RHOA, I will be able to focus my attention on my career as an Entertainment Correspondent on DISH NATION on the Fox Network, recording my album, building my businesses, and taking baby steps towards nurturing my relationship with my new love!!!

This is the beginning of a new chapter in my life, and I will be giving my fans & supporters another chance to watch my growth as I take on the world in my own special way very soon!! I am so Thankful for all that #TEAMPORSHA does to keep me INSPIRED every day! Stay Tuned…

As ardent viewers of the show, we’ve long been Team Porsha. As least from a storyline standpoint. There was a refreshing-ness about her approach to the show. What’s more, she had a clear narrative that many would have liked to see play out thoroughly i.e. controlled wife, experienced divorce, set free, set-back after Kenya-gate, and now back on path to to success. It was all fairly straightforward.

From where we’re standing, Porsha made the critical mistake of “keeping it too real”. After all, whether it’s billed as reality TV or not, there is nothing “natural” about having a camera follow oneself around all-day. As such, there’s a degree of “turning up” required (literally and figuratively) when making a show aired for prime-time entertainment. It’s a shame she seemingly let go of that memo.

Hopefully, she’s given another chance in subsequent seasons. Yet, with new recruit Claudia Jordan reportedly causing the right brew of chaos, we wouldn’t hold our breaths. For now.

Your thoughts?