Kandi Burruss shocked fans when she announced her split from Todd Tucker in Nov. 2025, and her daughter Riley Burruss was among the many people caught off guard.
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Next Gen NYC airs on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo. Episodes stream next day on Peacock.
“Todd has been in my life since I was a kid. I think it really caught me by surprise,” Riley confessed during Next Gen NYC Season 3, Episode 9. “And I don’t literally know how to emotionally handle this.”
Riley candidly shared her thoughts on why her mother chose that moment just before the holidays to break the news of her divorce from Todd.
“I think people were pressing her a lot, and she was like, ‘Okay, I have to, like, publicly speak about it,’” she explained. But Riley then revealed, “I didn’t know she was going to do it [at] that time.”
Riley detailed exactly how she found out the divorce had been made public. “I got like a text from a random number that was like, ‘Hey, is your mom okay?’ And I thought she was like sick or something…and I was calling her, she wasn’t picking up, I was really nervous,” Riley disclosed on Next Gen NYC’s Aug. 19 episode. “It turns out she was just on the plane, that’s why she couldn’t answer my phone [call].”
Riley opened up to Ariana Biermann about the aftermath of the announcement during the Aug. 19 episode, and admitted she was struggling with her emotions, despite putting on a brave face.
“I think that a lot of us who have had our parents on TV for a long time are really good at putting this facade up—like, ‘We’re good, we’re confident, we’re okay,’” Riley confided to producers. “And really, we’re going through a lot of things behind the scenes. Not only do I have to deal with this divorce, I have to deal with public opinion and public questions, and navigating that.”
RELATED: Riley Burruss Opens up About Navigating Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker’s Divorce
Despite her own struggles with the news, Riley was clear her focus was on her mother. “I’m trying to deal with my emotions and see how I feel, but also be there for my mom. I just want everything to go the best way,” Riley told Ariana as she began to tear up. “I don’t want people to s—t on my mom, or like make my mom feel bad at all.”
Riley Burruss opens up about her relationship with Todd Tucker now
Riley shared an update during the Aug. 19 episode on how Kandi and Todd were navigating their split with Riley’s half-siblings, Ace and Blaze. “I know my mom and Todd are on a good page. They’re co-parenting very well,” she told Ariana.
Despite that, Riley recently admitted that things are “not the same” in her own relationship with Todd now.
“You know, the divorce shifted a lot of things in my life,” she shared during her Aug. 5 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. “So, it’s not only the divorce — it’s also everything else that comes with that.”
Riley added that maintaining their blended family through divorce is difficult at times. “There are some things that irk my nerves. You know, you sometimes look at his social media, and I’m like, ‘What is going on here?’” she detailed. “But, we’re OK.”
Are Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker officially divorced?
Kandi Burruss shares where she stands with Todd Tucker after their divorce
The exes appear to be on good terms today, as Kandi shared an Instagram post wishing Todd a happy birthday on Aug. 4. “I pray this next year brings you joy & success! Keep living your best life!” she captioned the post.
RELATED: Kandi Burruss Answers All of Andy Cohen’s Questions About Her & Todd Tucker’s Divorce
Kandi marked her milestone 50th birthday in May without Todd by her side, and admitted it’s been difficult.
“I’m not healed,” Kandi told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an interview at that time. “I don’t like to be sad. I like to live into the positive. Lean into the fun.”
Kandi shared more on her life after divorce. “I stay busy. Because if you stay busy, then you ain’t got time to be sad. On top of that, I’ve been leaning into trying to have more fun, planning more trips,” she added. “Like the other day, I booked myself a trip to just fly all the way to London just to see Cynthia Erivo in Dracula.
ICYMI, Kandi opened up on one of the more challenging aspects of their divorce and revealed what caused she and Todd to have a “crazy back and forth.”
