Four days after part three of the Real Housewives of Atlanta season ten reunion aired, Kim Zolciak-Biermann issued a lengthy statement about her controversial comments stated at the end of the special. After filming for the reunion wrapped, she, Andy Cohen, her husband Kory Biermann, and a fellow castmate Sheree Whitfield had a candid conversation in the bathroom. Some of the things Kim said didn’t sit well with people, including myself.
During the final scenes that aired Kim said, “This whole racism thing in this day and age is bulls**t. Everyone one of those mother**kers on that couch owes this world a f**kin’ apology for this racism s**t. They already tried to claim that s**t long ago, Sheree, as you know. Nobody really bought into it because social media wasn’t there and racism wasn’t all that f**king real. And you know it.”
In the statement Kim issued, she says that her comments were taken out of context.
“During the last RHOA Reunion episode, I made a comment that confused and offended people,” she began. “I sincerely apologize. Edited out of context, I understand why my remark angered people. Racism is a sad reality in the United States. It has been prevalent throughout our country’s history. Let me be very clear, I do NOT support, tolerate or put up with any form of racism, hate or other discrimination. My love for ALL people runs deep—I am open to all and always have been.”
“I was heartbroken when I watched the last few minutes of the episode and saw how my words were taken out of context,” Kim continued. “My comment that seemingly ‘racism didn’t exist 10 years ago’ was made as part of a larger, emotional 45-minute conversation about how, sadly, social media has become a hub for hate. Immediately following my confusing comment, I also said that ‘it’s not as real as it is now’ referring to the power of social media. But those remarks didn’t make the show.”
“I believe that social media has made a centuries-old issue more real. Before social media, the public simply observed the news. Now, the public actively participates and has an opportunity to take action—in real time. But this is a double edged sword. Now, when false accusations are made, they are amplified by online platforms regardless of their merit. This wasn’t the case 10 years ago when I started on RHOA.”
“I truly pray that the people wishing horrible things on others, and on me, channel that energy into something positive. Our world would be a much better place if you do. I am committed to making this world a better place to live. I will continue to learn from, and be open to, ALL people,” she concluded.
The reason I’m not buying Kim’s apology is because she still refuses to acknowledge that what her daughter, Brielle Biermann, did at Nene Leakes’s home was distasteful, malicious, and disrespectful. If you don’t remember, Brielle visited Nene’s home and filmed a video of water bugs that were inside a bathroom and posted it to her Snapchat and claimed they were roaches. It was clear from the video that they were not.
The problem that I have about the whole roachgate situation is the fact that Kim has a wall built up and doesn’t understand why Brielle saying Nene had roaches is lowkey racist and stereotypical. Claiming that someone has roaches in the Black community has been associated with being dirty and living in the projects. If you say that Black people have them, they will automatically become defensive. Sometimes, living in the projects is all that someone can afford. The conditions are not always great in low-income household areas but it doesn’t mean they are dirty. When a Black person is able to get out of the projects and make something of themselves and someone comes into their home and claims they have roaches, it’s like a slap in the face. Brielle could have said Nene had ants, not that it’s any better, but all of it was inconsiderate.
What made the situation worse was Kim saving the Snapchat video and using it to slander Nene and not understanding how utterly wrong it was. Even at the reunion she showed no remorse for what she and Brielle did. Instead, she played victim and insinuated that racism doesn’t exist. No matter what was edited, Kim still tried to argue that because of social media, people are painting her out to be a racist although she’s not. And while that may be true, it doesn’t change the fact that she doesn’t see why the roachgate scandal was very much racially charged. She can say that her and Brielle weren’t being racist all she wants but actions speaks louder than words.
Keep your apology, sis. Nobody wants it. We won’t miss you, your family, or Sheree next season.