“Real Housewives of Atlanta” daughters Riley Burruss and Ariana Biermann rekindled their friendship in the first season of “Next Gen NYC” which premiered about 15 years after they lost touch. Riley and Ariana reflected on the details of their relationship in separate interviews.
What Really Happened With Kandi & Kim?
When Riley and Ariana were just 10-years-old, their moms Kandi Burruss and Kim Zolciak had a very public falling out on “RHOA.”
The housewives’ drama stemmed from Kandi claiming she wasn’t paid her fair share of publishing royalties for co-writing and co-producing Kim’s song “Tardy for the Party.” Their dispute escalated when Kandi and the song’s other producer and writer sued Kim for copyright infringement in 2013.
Another fight came soon after when the women were arguing over baby names. Kandi claimed Kim purposefully stole her name idea for a future baby boy.
In a more recent interview with Bravo, Kandi discussed their daughters’ Riley and Ariana and their friendship prior to her feud with Kim. “We started out really great friends,” Kandi said regarding Kim. “And that’s when Riley and Ariana first became friends, when they were kids. They were besties when they were kids. And they reconnected when they got older. So, hopefully, they don’t turn up how the older generation did. The next gen should be better than the first gen.”
Riley & Ariana Recall Their Reunion
In separate interviews for US Weekly, the “RHOA” daughters dished the details of their reunion.
“I was nervous,” Riley said. “But we spent the day together, even outside of the cameras. We became best friends in two hours.”
In another interview, Ariana echoed her sentiments, “I’m so happy we can show the world that it doesn’t matter when you stop being somebody’s friend or what happens between your families, you can still pick up and have a friendship.”
“You don’t see somebody for almost 11, 10 years. How are you supposed to know if you’re going to get along again or if you guys are the same people?” Ariana wondered. “Even though we both grew up in Georgia, it was in two different places. She’s lived in New York for four years [already]. I was really nervous and hesitant…We really picked like no time had passed. We hung out all day for the next three days.”
During the second episode of “Next Gen NYC” Season 1, Riley and Ariana agreed that whatever happened between their moms shouldn’t affect them. “I called my mom before [meeting you]…” Riley told Ariana. “But she was like ‘don’t let what went on between me and her mom affect y’all, like y’all are completely different, y’all are adults.'”
“Our mom’s stuff, I don’t feel like is our stuff,” Ariana said.
Riley & Ariana Flaunt Their Newfound Friendship
Riley and Ariana posted an ad on Instagram together with the caption, “besties with a lip obsession.”
Kandi commented in support, “Y’all are too cute!❤️❤️”
Riley and Ariana posted a couple videos showing off their adorable friendship.
What’s Next for Kandi & Kim Now?
Now that Riley and Ariana are friends again, they’re convinced they can help repair their mothers’ friendship. The pair previously told Bravo that Kandi and Kim seemed open to a reconciliation.
“There [hasn’t] been a time or place yet where they’re both in town at the same time,” Ariana said. “I feel like we need to be there at the dinner when they do reconnect. I can’t see them [meeting] in Atlanta…I feel like we could definitely bring them and reconnect them together.”
