Ariana Biermann’s dating life became one of the most buzzed-about topics, as well as a major source of drama, on Season 2 of Next Gen NYC. After her split from Hudson McLeroy, Ariana grew closer to Liam Obergfoll — all while leaning into an increasingly flirty dynamic with Charlie Zakkour. Naturally, Ariana’s castmates have thoughts on her romantic journey this season, and they’re not holding back.
How to Watch
Next Gen NYC airs on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo. Episodes stream next day on Peacock.
From those who were immediately rooting for Ariana and Liam to others who questioned her situation with Charlie, read on to learn how the Next Gen NYC cast reacted to the complicated dynamics throughout the season.
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The Next Gen NYC cast reacts to Ariana Biermann and Liam Obergfoll’s relationship
Initially, Ava Dash was one of the first in the group to get excited about Ariana and Liam’s connection. As the two started getting closer, Ava told Brooks Marks, “I ship that.” Brooks was apparently just as invested, even dubbing the couple “Li-Ana.”
Charlie had a very different perspective on Ariana and Liam’s relationship, particularly because of his budding friendship with Hudson. When Liam began pursuing Ariana, Charlie spoke to him about getting involved with his friend’s ex. Liam explained that he had no ulterior motives. Instead, his goal was simply to get to know Ariana.
Shai Fruchter also questioned Liam’s intent in the situation. Although Liam was the one interested in Ariana, Shai felt that he had overstepped after being the one to help set Ariana and Liam up in the first place.
The Next Gen NYC cast debates if Ariana Biermann and Liam Obergfoll were exclusive
On Season 2, Episode 10 of the Next Gen NYC After Show, the group tackled the question directly: Does being exclusive mean you’re dating? The cast debated the difference between dating, exclusivity, and actually being in an official relationship while revisiting Ariana and Liam’s murky situation. This discussion came after Ariana and Liam gave conflicting answers about their relationship during the season.
Liam had told Ava that he and Ariana were exclusive and that they had actually talked about it. Ariana, however, told the group that the two were not dating and that she wasn’t his girlfriend. She did clarify that she wasn’t “touching anybody else,” though.
According to Ava, “being exclusive is the same thing as being boyfriend-girlfriend. While Shai and Riley Burruss shared the same sentiment, Georgia McCann countered, “Being exclusive is, like, right before dating.”
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How the Next Gen NYC cast felt about Ariana Biermann and Charlie Zakkour’s flirtation
Charlie and Ariana’s connection became another major source of speculation throughout the season.
At Bravocon 2025, Ariana declared she wouldn’t touch Charlie “with a 10-foot pole.” She later admitted to regretting that statement because she believed the comment may have encouraged Charlie to flirt with her even more. Charlie, for his part, said Ariana’s flirting “hit a little bit sweeter” after hearing what she had said about him.
Ariana didn’t exactly deny that there was a playful dynamic either. In an After Show clip, she spoke about Charlie’s unpredictability and unfiltered comments. She admitted that she doesn’t always mind the attention and said, “sometimes it’s fun.”
Another Season 2, Episode 10 After Show segment revisited Ariana’s late-night visit to Charlie’s apartment, which had become one of the main points of discussion surrounding the two.
The cast debated whether the interaction was simply friendly or had crossed into flirting. While Emira D’Spain firmly declared it wasn’t “inappropriate,” Ava added, “I don’t think it’s inappropriate at all, but I do think it’s flirty.”
Noting with a grin, she had “no comment,” Riley added, “I respect Ariana and whatever she wants to do.”
Hudson McLeroy weighs in on Ariana Biermann and Charlie Zakkour’s connection
After his breakup with Ariana, Hudson confessed that he intentionally befriended Charlie because he wanted to prevent him from pursuing Ariana.
“I was avoiding Charlie flirting with Ariana by being friends with him,” Hudson previously shared on the After Show. He later admitted that the plan had backfired and said he “should’ve known better.”
How did the Next Gen NYC cast react to Charlie Zakkour and Ariana Biermann’s kiss?
Like many Next Gen NYC viewers, Charlie and Ariana’s castmates were stunned by their shocking finale kiss.
“Ew, on camera? Ew, gross,” Riley declared of the kiss in Season 2, Episode 12 of the After Show.
Ava and Emira seemed to feel sympathy for Liam, who “didn’t know” about the kiss that night. “That’s so awkward,” Ava said in the After Show clip, to which Emira added, “That’s crazy.”
Shai added that he encouraged Liam to “have fun” and not pursue a relationship with Ariana.
According to Ariana, Hudson was so upset when he learned of the kiss between Ariana and Charlie that he was the one to tell Liam that it happened. He also told Ariana’s sister Brielle Biermann.
Liam Obergfoll opens up about Ariana Biermann and Charlie Zakkour’s kiss
For Liam, the kiss wasn’t just another piece of the group’s drama. It completely altered his relationship with Ariana.
In an After Show interview, Liam reflected on the situation from his perspective. After spending so much of the season believing he and Ariana were building something serious, he was disappointed with the way everything unfolded, though he confessed that he still cared about her and had feelings for her.
Liam had already been frustrated by the lack of clarity surrounding Ariana’s relationship with Charlie, while Ariana continued to maintain that she and Liam weren’t officially dating. By this point, though, the situation had clearly gone beyond a disagreement over labels, which is when Liam knew it was time to walk away from Ariana.
What happened between Ariana Biermann and Charlie Zakkour after their kiss?
In Season 2, Episode 12 of the After Show, Ariana and Charlie got candid about where they stand now, and it sounds like the kiss didn’t exactly leave either of them eager to start a relationship.
When Charlie was asked if he would ever date Ariana, he responded, “Probably not after what I’ve seen.” Ariana was even more definitive. When asked if she thought she would ever be romantically involved with Charlie, she said, “Of that, I can say, ‘Never.'”
The two also acknowledged that there were hurt feelings on both sides, adding a deeper layer to a relationship that had mostly been defined by flirting and joking around earlier in the season.
In hindsight, what started out as a playful dynamic eventually became something that left both of them hurt, and neither seems interested in turning it into a relationship now.
Where does Ariana Biermann stand now with Charlie Zakkour, Hudson McLeroy and Liam Obergfoll?
What started as Ariana trying to navigate life after splitting from Hudson turned into season-long drama involving Liam, Charlie, and a whole lot of thoughts from the people around her. However, with the Season 2 reunion coming up, there’s even more left to unpack.
In the meantime, get a complete timeline of Ariana and Liam’s romance, from meeting to breakup.
