‘Next Gen NYC’: Riley Burruss Broke Down After Accusing Charlie Zakkour of Racial Bias

When Bravo's somewhat Housewives spinoff, Next Gen NYC premiered on the network in June 2025, fans were ecstatic to see some of the most memorable children from The Real Housewives franchise all grown up and taking on city in their own way. Within its first season, Riley Burruss, the daughter of longtime Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss, stood out among the cast of Bravo and nepo babies.

While Riley's reality TV career started long before Next Gen NYC, she proved that fans would see a different side to her, one that advocated for herself among her friends, including her co-star Charlie Zakkour.

Let's dive into Riley and Charlie's drama.

In Season 1 Ep. 3 of Next Gen NYC, Riley, Charlie, and the rest of the cast, Ariana Biermann, Ava Dash, Emira D’Spain, Shai Fruchter, Gia Giudice, Brooks Marks, Georgia McCann, Hudson McLeroy, were out when Riley spoke to a girl Charlie was interested in. Later in the episode, the cast unpacked the events, where Riley recalled her friend's love interest being rude and not introducing herself to Riley nor the rest of the group.

Charlie, however, felt Riley was the one being rude and said she "accosted" the girl. While sharing his side of the story, he mimicked Riley, who is Black by rolling his neck and waving his finger as he repeated what he heard her say.

"Dylan and I are talking to these two girls, and she goes up to one of them like, ‘Yo, you think it’s cool to just be here with Charlie but not come up and make sure it’s cool with me?'” Charlie said of Riley.

Riley instantly became upset and denied approaching the girl that way. Her denial is backed up by footage of her asking her what her name was, telling her "nice to meet you," and explaining "I love when my friend's girls ask my name."

Charlie, who is white, reacted by putting the issue back on Riley, stating she also didn't introduce herself to the girls. As he's talking, Riley covered her face as she cried and called out her mostly white friend group had engaged in what she believed to be racial bias before.

"I’m just so mad because every single time y’all do this," Riley says in the scene. "And I try not to make it a thing, but I hate when you guys try to play this like I’m scary or scaring a random white girl. It’s just so annoying."

"That’s cause it’s a real thing I have to go through every day," she reminded her friends. "I’m so f---ing nice to everybody. And there’s always like everyone tries to come off when I’m talking to a white girl that I’m trying to scare them. No, your girls are rude and it’s disrespectful. You’re around people, introduce yourselves.”

As fans watched Riley and Charlie's drama play out, many shared their opinions about Riley's treatment. Several users noted how Charlie's microaggression of making Riley seem angry or violent around his white love interest on their show was wildly irresponsible.

"We’re only three episodes in and riley has already been hit with the angry black woman allegations…" one user clocked.

"Microaggressions ARE REAL and Riley WASN’T wrong," another said. "That white boy just sat on that bus popped his neck, waved his finger and pretty much called Riley aggressive. But we’re suppose to act like we didn’t see it because it’ll ruin the viewing experience for Bravo fans, and cause uncomfortable conversations on the timeline. Even after Riley explained he still didn’t get it…of course."

On Next Gen NYC, Charlie eventually apologized to Riley. However, he admitted he only apologized to diffuse the situation, not because he was actually sorry. After the blowup, Riley called her mom, who was proud of her daughter for sticking up for herself.

New episodes of Next Gen NYC air on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo and stream the next day on Peacock.