Guess What ‘The Real Housewives Of Atlanta’ Doesn’t Need: Kim Zolciak-Biermann

FYI, we’re only 5 episodes into this season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. It sure feels like the weight of the drama on our shoulders and our screens would mean we’re much farther along, but that’s not the case. And much of this has to do with Kim Zolciak-Biermann.

She’s made her equal parts triumphant and troublesome return to the show as a “friend” this season, which means she’s not a full-time cast member, but will show up sporadically enough to cause some epic drama on the show. And already, it’s way too much. This show doesn’t need her, it doesn’t need the low-blows, and it doesn’t need the drink-throwing we’ve already seen from her.

But here’s the thing: I like Kim. She’s exactly what a reality TV star should be. Don’t Be Tardy has its moments, and watching her get a butt lift (and subsequently rip her pants) while in Italy, and putting her chef and friend through a lie detector test, and debating the pronunciation of “sommelier” with her husband, Kroy, whom she shares a really sweet connection with, have all been the definition of guilty pleasure TV scenes this season. And she should keep it that way, on that show.

Adding her back into the mix here has been, what NeNe Leakes would call, “declassing the show.” The second she showed up to NeNe’s party (full name: NeNe’s Girls and Gays Never Forget All White Party Seafood Soirée), she began repeatedly poking Kenya with her words. And Cynthia called it: Kim just wanted a reaction out of Kenya. And she damn sure got one. Make no mistake about it: Kenya’s remark about gender reassignment surgery was not okay. She was lashing out, and those words will certainly cut, but they are inappropriate and wrong. Now, does the same go for referencing Kim’s tweets about her daughter, asking “Who does Brielle have to blow?” for John Legend tickets? Nah. Kids are generally off-limits, yes. But that was Kim’s public tweet, a question she could DM or text to Chrissy Teigen, its recipient, if they do have a close enough relationship that she tearfully hinted towards after being dragged outside of the party. It’s easy bait for Kenya, and she bit.

This drama feels…too much. Having to be carried out of a party this early in the season? It’s still “storming out” time, not “carried out” — there’s still a whole season to happen! Let’s also not forget that the “injured son” phrase came out of only her mouth. So not only is she bringing crazy drama as it is, she’s also making it up as she goes along. I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt and assume the sound at the John Legend concert was so loud it’s now causing her to hear things incorrectly. And perhaps she imagined that phrase in her fit of rage. But come on now, she’s just way too extra at this point. A pro for Kim: watching Kroy keeping her outside proves yet again how great they are together. And a con: the rest of last night’s episode was so much better without her.

As Kenya deals with the death of her grandmother, it’s a reminder that she simply cannot catch a break. This should’ve been a joyous time in her life, celebrating her marriage, and seeming to be the happiest we’ve seen her in quite some time. There’s no room for Kim drama. Between Cynthia and Shereé’s dating lives, Kandi’s faces, and NeNe and Porsha’s drama, there is more than enough going on to keep things juicy and fun. Not to mention, there’s a new Wife on the way! It will be interesting to see where Eva Marcille falls within this group of women when she shows up later this season.

Kim is an OG Atlanta Housewife and for that, sure, there’s a bit of respect or fondness towards her. But in order for it to stay that way, she’s gotta stay away. She’s not bringing the right energy to the show at this point. And nothing makes this quite so glaring as the return of NeNe. She’s funnier than ever, we’ve already gotten to see a softer side when it comes to her husband’s health troubles, and she’s spent the majority of her time this season arguing with Porsha over a Watch What Happens Live clip. This is a woman that knows how to be hilarious and confrontational, and often both at the same time. Kim…just can’t compete.

Again: Kim should be on television. She can continue the chaos (khaos?) on Don’t Be Tardy, but leave RHOA to these other ladies. Let Porsha go on about her “baby veganism” and let Shereé keep it real, and if any “friends” want to show up, let them be true friends like Marlo, who fixed NeNe’s hair while she was in the middle of a screaming match. You know Kim wouldn’t do that. And she wouldn’t keep things as fun as this group will have no problem doing themselves. Let’s just keep those Kandi faces coming, and we’re good.

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