Kim Zolciak Addresses How She Spent Ariana’s Stolen Money, If She Paid Her Back, and Why She Isn’t Team Tamra Judge

Kim Zolciak was asked about taking daughter Ariana Biermann‘s money on Thursday’s episode of Watch What Happens Live.

Credit: Instagram

Weeks after Ariana, 23, revealed on Next Gen NYC that the 47-year-old Real Housewives of Atlanta alum, along with her now-estranged husband, Kroy Biermann, 39, had taken the money she had made as a child, Kim addressed the matter, confirming whether she’d paid her back, as she also weighed in on Tamra Judge‘s feud with Gretchen Rossi, 46, offered an update on her divorce, confirmed if she’s dating, and more.

“Actually, the rug was pulled out from the Zolciaks, and yeah, Ariana’s money was spent on bills, to be honest. I was left holding the bag for the family,” Kim explained on the July 31 episode of WWHL. “The money I borrowed from Ariana, I paid her back, I’m saying for the bills and stuff, and as far as what she’s made and stuff. I don’t have the spreadsheets, but she will be.”

As for Brielle, 28, Kim confirmed she “paid an electric bill here and there.”

“I have to be so careful, guys, but I was left with nothing, so I had to figure it out fast,” she reasoned.

As she sat beside Real Housewives of Orange County star Katie Ginella, 41, Kim confirmed she was “never” on Tamra’s side when it came to her tension with Gretchen.

“No, never. You don’t remember her New Year’s Eve making fun of me in the background when I was singing? Let’s look back at it one day. I’m not the most forgiving,” she stated as she noted that she “[loved]” Gretchen.

“We’ve been friends for a long time, so we talk a lot,” she shared.

Offering an update on her split from Kroy, Kim said, “The rug was pulled out from underneath me,” as she confirmed their divorce was “still in process.”

“I would definitely prefer to communicate more regarding the children, but it’s just not there right now,” she added of their dynamic.

Moving on to Ariana’s relationship with Hudson McLeroy, who was featured alongside her on Next Gen NYC, Kim had all good things to say.

“Do you know that these guys have been together since they were 14, and then they would break up for a little bit, and they were back together, and I found a little message on Twitter that she sent me, and she said, ‘Mom, I just love Hudson. I’m gonna wait for him.’ She was 17 … [And] I’ve known his parents 20-something years,” she revealed.

According to Kim, she “[loves]” Hudson but has noticed one “red flag.”

“Hudson, if you would just walk the dogs. Because this is how you’re gonna be with my grandchildren. She’s always in the park with the dogs,” Kim noted.

“[But] she doesn’t go outside at night without me,” he replied.

Regarding her own love life, Kim confirmed that, “yes,” she is “finally” dating.

“He’s just great. I sat in a house and just worked and tried to take care of everything for 20 months, and then I finally met somebody great … through a friend,” she shared.

While Kim hasn’t been featured in a full-time role on RHOA for some time, she has kept in touch with some of her former castmates.

“I was supposed to have lunch with [Phaedra Parks] last week and our schedules are just crazy,” she explained.

Then, when Andy Cohen, 57, mentioned that Jax Taylor, 46, had spoken of their friendship on The Valley reunion, Kim admitted to growing closer due to their divorces.

“Jax and I have talked throughout the years, but because of the divorce, we talked quite a bit kind of through that. He was gonna be in Atlanta. I said, ‘Let’s have a drink,’ and then I was like ‘a Diet Coke,’ because I’m, and then dinner, and then we didn’t end up doing it,” she revealed.

After filming The Surreal Life with Chet Hanks, 34, in 2023, Kim was romantically linked to her castmate. But as she noted, they were never actually an item.

“We’ve just been friends,” she insisted, adding that they last spoke “a few weeks ago.”

After watching Ariana’s friendship with Riley Burruss, 22, play out on Next Gen NYC, Kim admitted she was so happy to see the girls so close.

“I love it. Absolutely. They’re really good. But they were really good when they were little, too. They just worked,” she revealed.

One castmate she never met was Charlie Zakkour, 29. And when asked about him being upset by Bravo kids being cast on Next Gen NYC, Kim said it “doesn’t really matter.”

“I think they did great. I think it’s a great idea, as you can see,” she noted.

While Kim was accused of failing to split her “Don’t Be Tardy for the Party” earnings with Kandi Burruss, 49, she confirmed they actually went to court.

“It cost me $33,000 and it was actually thrown out of court, so yeah. But you know what? Who cares? Love Kandi. Love Riley. Great experience,” she declared. “I wanted to be a one-hit wonder and I got it.”

Kim then said that the biggest misconception she wanted to clear up was that she wasn’t working.

“Nobody spent anybody’s money. I’ve never ever not worked. And I continue to work,” she alleged.

Also on the live broadcast, after naming Gia Giudice, 24, as her favorite Next Gen NYC castmate of Ariana, aside from Riley, and confirming she is friends with Teresa Giudice, 53, Kim gushed over her new home. 

“I just moved into a brand new home that I love back at the end of February. I’m happy. It’s great. It’s perfect,” she shared. 

Later, on the WWHL: After Show, Kim reflected on her recent reunion with her parents, Joe and Karen Zolciak, whom she suffered a falling out with years ago due to their “talking to the media.”

“It was really great to see my parents. A lot of time had passed, and my dad had a couple of strokes, and it was just time,” she explained. 

According to Kim, she first got back in touch with her mom and dad after Joe contacted her divorce attorney out of concern.

“We hadn’t talked in years, and that’s kind of what triggered it,” Kim shared.

“My dad thinks I’m a great mom, so we just started there, and life’s too short,” she continued. “I told my mom, she’s great. She taught me how to do my makeup, and I realized all the work that goes into being a mom … So we had some really great conversations. We all went out to dinner, and then Ariana and Hudson had lunch with them the following day.”

When asked when Brielle was getting married to fiancé Billy Seidl, 25, Kim revealed their date is “up in the air” as Ariana noted that her sister had always wanted a “long engagement,” and Hudson confirmed Billy is a “great guy.”

“He’s a great, great, great guy,” Kim agreed.

She then said, “Thank you, God,” when Andy mentioned that Kroy had a new job in sales.

“Finally. Ten years later. I hope I don’t get in trouble for that, but it’s a fact,” she declared.