Riley Burruss Opens Up About a Drunken Next Gen NYC Outburst, Nearly Throwing a Glass, and Its Shocking Fallout
August 21, 2026
Riley Burruss is opening up about the backlash she’s faced over her chaotic Next Gen NYC moment, and according to the reality star, the response went well beyond fans dragging her online, extending into racist texts and even death threats.
During an appearance on Gia Giudice’s Casual Chaos podcast, Burruss discussed the fallout from the episode in which she became noticeably intoxicated during a girls’ night, clashed with Georgia McCann, and seemed ready to throw a glass. The moment quickly rose to one of the season’s most talked-about scenes, with viewers questioning her conduct and her later frustration with best friend Ariana Biermann.
As previously noted by BOSSIP, Burruss admitted that she crossed a line during that explosive night. She confronted Georgia about alleged drug use, took shots at her finances, and appeared to grab a glass during the argument. Burruss later offered an apology and acknowledged that watching the episode again left her feeling embarrassed.
Yet the online response apparently extended far beyond typical reality-TV criticism.
According to All About TRH, Burruss revealed that her phone number was allegedly leaked after the episode aired, which led to racist text messages and even death threats.
“I got racist texts, and so I had to literally turn off my phone for a week,” she explained.
And Riley isn’t pretending she was entirely blameless in what viewers saw. In fact, she says she understands why people were upset.
“I get it. The way I showed up on TV was really not okay,” she said, even admitting that if viewers wanted to label her a “spoiled brat,” she could understand where they were coming from.
That distinction matters to Burruss. She can handle criticism of her actions, but she draws the line at racism.
“When it comes to like race, like all of those things, like the microaggressions, that’s not okay,” she said. Burruss specifically called out receiving messages containing racial slurs.
The backlash also reportedly strained her relationship with costar Kim Zolciak’s daughter Ariana Biermann.
When Ariana previously discussed their friendship on Watch What Happens Live, she said Riley had not reached out after the episode.
Burruss told Gia Giudice that Ariana hadn’t heard the full story because she had essentially disconnected from her phone while dealing with the harassment.
The good news? Riley and Ariana appear to have worked through their issues. But this situation serves as another reminder that watching reality TV does not give viewers permission to issue real-life threats.
Critique the moment. Debate the behavior. Call out the foolishness. But racist harassment and death threats? That is never tea.
Danielle Brooks
I am a staff writer at New York Beacon, where I focus on culture, entrepreneurship, and the emerging voices redefining Black America. My work highlights innovators, artists, and founders whose stories often unfold beyond mainstream headlines but shape communities in meaningful ways. Through precise reporting and thoughtful storytelling, I aim to document progress, challenge narratives, and contribute to a stronger Black press tradition.
