When Ariana Biermann and Riley Burruss clashed on Next Gen NYC Season 2, there was plenty of behind-the-scenes drama contributing to the rare argument between the besties.
Their conflict in Episode 4 (streaming on Peacock beginning July 16) sparked when Riley was left feeling unsupported by Ariana amid her separate argument with Georgia McCann during girls’ night. On the Next Gen NYC After Show, Ariana and Riley both revealed unaired details from their fight, in addition to sharing a surprising update on where their friendship stands today.Â
From Riley’s perspective, Ariana has a track record of waiting too long to defend her in tense situations. “I wish she would’ve stepped in earlier,” Riley explained. “I feel like she always waits ’til the last second to step in, after people have already disrespected me a lot. I have friends who step in as soon as they see someone disrespect me. Ariana waits until after they’ve already done it, said it several times. And then, once she sees me about to say something really offensive, then that’s when she wants to step in. And now I look crazy.”
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Ultimately, she wished her fellow The Real Housewives of Atlanta daughter had immediately “interrupted” Georgia and “walked away” with her. “That should’ve been the end of that story,” Riley added, noting that she’s “never had to communicate that” strategy with her “hometown friends.”
Ariana Biermann unpacks her Next Gen NYC drama with Riley Burruss
Gia Giudice, meanwhile, chimed in separately on the Next Gen NYC After Show to point out that Ariana had actually being “sticking up” for Riley, even if she didn’t notice the efforts she was making to “de-escalate the situation” between her and Georgia.
That’s when Ariana unpacked how she simply “didn’t want to keep adding [fuel] to the fire” amid Riley and Georgia’s drama. “I wasn’t gonna yell at Georgia. I didn’t know why we were yelling at Georgia. I still don’t know why we were yelling at Georgia,” she elaborated. “A lot of the things, I was like, ‘Period.’ But it’s the delivery.”
Ariana added, “I don’t know if we have different ideas of support. I don’t really know, which I’m still learning to this day, is, like, how to be the most supportive friend to her.”
When Riley eventually confronted her later on, Ariana said she was “at a loss for words.” She continued, “I really thought she was gonna come over and be like, ‘Thank you for having my back,’ not, ‘You’re the reason why all of that happened.'”
Following their conversation, Ariana said she started to feel “like everything I do is never enough” for Riley, at times. “But, again, I know that’s not her intention or her goal,” she said. “That’s not her heart.”
Where Ariana Biermann and Riley Burruss’ friendship stands today
Despite the drama, Ariana and Riley are still friends today, though both admitted that they are continuing to figure out their dynamic. “Riley is one of my absolute best friends,” Ariana revealed. “I literally adore this woman and love her and know her heart. And I know how good of a person she is. This year, we’re definitely navigating our friendship.”
Later, she further remarked, “But we’ve gotten to, now, like, a very great point in our friendship and have kind of talked through a lot of these different things. And I see her all the time, and we have a great friendship. And I think it’s just still kind of figuring out these kinks and how to fully understand each other.”
RELATED: Ariana Biermann Shares an Update on Her Friendship With Riley Burruss
One complicating factor was that Ariana had just broken up with longtime boyfriend Hudson McLeroy at the beginning of Season 2, while Riley was enjoying her new relationship with her boyfriend Christian. “This year, we’re in different phases,” Riley pointed out.
“I know when you’re freshly single, you want to have that friend that will go out with you and, like, meet all these people, and talk to the guys at the bar, and do all these things. And it’s like I can’t do that anymore,” she elaborated. “So, I feel like we’re in a disconnect because she’s never seen me in a relationship like this. So, it’s kind of hard to adapt. So, we’re trying to re-learn this version of us, and it’s pretty hard.”
Riley also conceded that she’s unsure of what she actually needs from a friendship with Ariana, as she continues evolving in her own life. “I have people who definitely fulfill me in my life,” she added. “And I want her to be a part of that life, but it’s hard when she’s not meeting that criteria. Of course, we’re both main characters; we both have our own things going on. So, I think it’s also hard for us to take care of each other while also taking care of ourselves.”
As Ariana and Riley work through their issues, find out how to watch and stream the Next Gen NYC After Show, so you don’t miss any of the behind-the-scenes scoop straight from the cast’s mouths.
