'Close Your Legs to Married Men': A Brief History of Kim Zolciak-Biermann & NeNe Leakes' Rocky Friendship

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FRIENDS FOREVER?

02of 17’CLOSE YOUR LEGS TO MARRIED MEN’During the season 1 reunion ofRHOA, Kim told hostAndy Cohenthat “Big Poppa,” with whom she had an on-again, off-again relationship, was still legally married to his wife, but in the process of getting a divorce. NeNe reacted to Kim’s admission with a now-infamousHousewivesone-liner: “Close your legs to married men.”

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‘CLOSE YOUR LEGS TO MARRIED MEN’

During the season 1 reunion ofRHOA, Kim told hostAndy Cohenthat “Big Poppa,” with whom she had an on-again, off-again relationship, was still legally married to his wife, but in the process of getting a divorce. NeNe reacted to Kim’s admission with a now-infamousHousewivesone-liner: “Close your legs to married men.”

03of 17CALLING INDuring NeNe’s 2009 appearance onWatch What Happens Live, hostAndy Cohenread an excerpt from the Real Housewife’s book,Never Make the Same Mistake Twice. “Kim wouldn’t know how to make a dime if you slapped her with a bucket of change,” read the excerpt. “Every dollar that chick has is somebody else’s husband’s money.” At the end of the show,Kim called in to defend herself. What ensued was a seven-minute screaming match that included insults (“trash box” and “hooker” were among them) and cheating allegations.

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CALLING IN

During NeNe’s 2009 appearance onWatch What Happens Live, hostAndy Cohenread an excerpt from the Real Housewife’s book,Never Make the Same Mistake Twice. “Kim wouldn’t know how to make a dime if you slapped her with a bucket of change,” read the excerpt. “Every dollar that chick has is somebody else’s husband’s money.” At the end of the show,Kim called in to defend herself. What ensued was a seven-minute screaming match that included insults (“trash box” and “hooker” were among them) and cheating allegations.

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‘PARTY’ DRAMA

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THE TOUR BUS DEBACLE

Bravo

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OH, BABY

Jenny Anderson/WireImage

07of 17STORMING OFFWilford Harewood/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via GettyDuring season 5 ofRHOA,a pregnant Kim stormed off the show after she pulled out of a girls' trip her castmates were planning. In her Bravo blog, Kim stated the reason she didn’t go on the trip to Anguilla was due to doctor’s orders. “Traveling 32 weeks pregnant is such a scary risk and for the women to think that I was willing to take that risk FOR THEM is absurd,” she wrote, adding: “What I find so hilarious is NeNe calling me a liar! NeNe, tell me one thing I have EVER lied about? I would love to hear that!“Kim and NeNe’s rough patch didn’t last for very long that time, however: They hugged and made up on the season’s reunion. Kim even attended NeNe’s June 2013 wedding to husband Gregg.

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STORMING OFF

Wilford Harewood/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

During season 5 ofRHOA,a pregnant Kim stormed off the show after she pulled out of a girls' trip her castmates were planning. In her Bravo blog, Kim stated the reason she didn’t go on the trip to Anguilla was due to doctor’s orders. “Traveling 32 weeks pregnant is such a scary risk and for the women to think that I was willing to take that risk FOR THEM is absurd,” she wrote, adding: “What I find so hilarious is NeNe calling me a liar! NeNe, tell me one thing I have EVER lied about? I would love to hear that!”

Kim and NeNe’s rough patch didn’t last for very long that time, however: They hugged and made up on the season’s reunion. Kim even attended NeNe’s June 2013 wedding to husband Gregg.

08of 17A MAJOR REGRETCharles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via GettyFans curious about Kim and NeNe’s current friendship status were treated toa joint 2014 appearance onWatch What Happens Live. While participating in the late-night talk show’s “Plead the Fifth” segment, NeNe revealed that of all the things she’s said about Kim onRHOA, she wishes she could take back her “close your legs to married men” comment from season one. “Oh, I love that, thank you,” responded Kim.

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A MAJOR REGRET

Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Fans curious about Kim and NeNe’s current friendship status were treated toa joint 2014 appearance onWatch What Happens Live. While participating in the late-night talk show’s “Plead the Fifth” segment, NeNe revealed that of all the things she’s said about Kim onRHOA, she wishes she could take back her “close your legs to married men” comment from season one. “Oh, I love that, thank you,” responded Kim.

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THE COCKROACH INCIDENT

David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty; Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

“Kim & her daughter oops whole family are racists! What her daughter did at my home, (which she nor kim were invited to so be clear abt that as well) was pure disgusting, racist, learned behavior etc,” NeNe wrote, adding, “children are NOT off limits when you allow your child to talk to adults any kind of way, post disrespectful things on social media and so on. Kim is a calculating bio polar racist with a horrible mouth, who uses black folks for her come up.”

10of 17FIRING BACKCharles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU/GettyKim jumped to her daughter’s defensevia Instagram, assuringRHOAfans that they will see the bug incident play out on the upcoming season, premiering Nov. 5. “Brielle went to the bathroom and saw several bugs and had sent ME the video on [Snapchat] and NO ONE ELSE!!! We ARE filming a show, remember that, (RHOA) and Nene released this video herself! No one has EVER seen this video but RHOA! Nobody would have ever seen this video!” she said. “Nene has said and done some things that are absolutely disgusting, however I will take the high road as you will see it on the show soon enough, but you WILL NOT make it seem as though my daughter did ANYTHING wrong! She never posted this video nor would she! As you see here I myself was not willing to send the video just for ratings for RHOA. END OF STORY.““It’s so sad and offensive that someone can stoop so low as to call someone a racist just because they are mad,” she continued. “Everyone in my life knows that I am far from racist and unfortunately NeNe Leaks has tried for the last 10 years to paint that picture because that’s her last resort. (It’s convenient that I’m not racist when we are getting along.)”

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FIRING BACK

Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU/Getty

Kim jumped to her daughter’s defensevia Instagram, assuringRHOAfans that they will see the bug incident play out on the upcoming season, premiering Nov. 5. “Brielle went to the bathroom and saw several bugs and had sent ME the video on [Snapchat] and NO ONE ELSE!!! We ARE filming a show, remember that, (RHOA) and Nene released this video herself! No one has EVER seen this video but RHOA! Nobody would have ever seen this video!” she said. “Nene has said and done some things that are absolutely disgusting, however I will take the high road as you will see it on the show soon enough, but you WILL NOT make it seem as though my daughter did ANYTHING wrong! She never posted this video nor would she! As you see here I myself was not willing to send the video just for ratings for RHOA. END OF STORY.”

“It’s so sad and offensive that someone can stoop so low as to call someone a racist just because they are mad,” she continued. “Everyone in my life knows that I am far from racist and unfortunately NeNe Leaks has tried for the last 10 years to paint that picture because that’s her last resort. (It’s convenient that I’m not racist when we are getting along.)”

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NOTHING BUT LOVE

Charles Sykes/Bravo

12of 17SEEKING LEGAL COUNSELCharles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU/GettyDuring an appearance onLarry King Nowin October 2017, Kimexplained her decision to seek legal counselin the wake of NeNe’s claims. “She put #KKK on the Instagram post. It’s just that bad,” she said. “I’m on a show with all African-American women and I’m the only one that’s ever been on the show that’s Caucasian, so it’s the card that sometimes they play and it’s gross. And I won’t allow it.”

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SEEKING LEGAL COUNSEL

During an appearance onLarry King Nowin October 2017, Kimexplained her decision to seek legal counselin the wake of NeNe’s claims. “She put #KKK on the Instagram post. It’s just that bad,” she said. “I’m on a show with all African-American women and I’m the only one that’s ever been on the show that’s Caucasian, so it’s the card that sometimes they play and it’s gross. And I won’t allow it.”

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DRESSED FOR THE OCCASION

NeNe Leakes/Instagram

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FRIENDS AGAIN?

Prince Williams/WireImage

“Again, we’re O.G.s and we started this platform [in Atlanta] all together,” she continued. “I want to believe that they can get past this, but there was so much said and done - I’m not sure they’ll ever be where they were before.”

We’ll find out what happens next when theReal Housewives of Atlantareturns to Bravo on Sunday night, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m. ET.

15of 17WHEN IN BARCELONABravoOn an episode of theReal Housewives of Atlanta, which saw the cast members travel to Barcelona, Spain for a girls trip, Zolciak-Biermann was noticeably absent - andit didn’t go over well with NeNe. The “Tardy for the Party” crooner skipped the getaway not only because husband Kroy wasn’t invited, but also because of her health issues.Leakes shaded Zolciak-Biermann’s history of health problems used as reasoning for not wanting to travel alone, implying that was all an excuse. “Kim is the only person who has had cancer, thyroids, blood clots, open-heart surgery, a stroke, and is still running around here being negative,” Leakes said. “If you’ve had that much, you should be so positive and thankful that God has let you live through every disease in America. Cancer, stroke, thyroid, open-heart surgery, andstillliving? I can’t get over it. God is good, honey. She’s had it all!“Zolciak-Biermann learned of Leakes' talk after castmate Shereé Whitfield called her up to tell her, which prompted theDon’t Be Tardystar to send a text to the group while they were in Barcelona.“NeNe is sick and disgusting,” she wrote in the lengthy text, which came with video of the so-called “roaches” and a photo of Leakes' car parked in the handicapped spot. “And I’m not just speaking on the fact that she made fun of a SERIOUS health issue I had… But I am also speaking on the fact that she lives in a f– roach nest. For someone who has two beautiful kids and an amazing husband, she should be worried about karma. But this is coming from the same person who takes handicapped spots from the handicapped.”

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WHEN IN BARCELONA

On an episode of theReal Housewives of Atlanta, which saw the cast members travel to Barcelona, Spain for a girls trip, Zolciak-Biermann was noticeably absent - andit didn’t go over well with NeNe. The “Tardy for the Party” crooner skipped the getaway not only because husband Kroy wasn’t invited, but also because of her health issues.

Leakes shaded Zolciak-Biermann’s history of health problems used as reasoning for not wanting to travel alone, implying that was all an excuse. “Kim is the only person who has had cancer, thyroids, blood clots, open-heart surgery, a stroke, and is still running around here being negative,” Leakes said. “If you’ve had that much, you should be so positive and thankful that God has let you live through every disease in America. Cancer, stroke, thyroid, open-heart surgery, andstillliving? I can’t get over it. God is good, honey. She’s had it all!”

Zolciak-Biermann learned of Leakes' talk after castmate Shereé Whitfield called her up to tell her, which prompted theDon’t Be Tardystar to send a text to the group while they were in Barcelona.

“NeNe is sick and disgusting,” she wrote in the lengthy text, which came with video of the so-called “roaches” and a photo of Leakes' car parked in the handicapped spot. “And I’m not just speaking on the fact that she made fun of a SERIOUS health issue I had… But I am also speaking on the fact that she lives in a f– roach nest. For someone who has two beautiful kids and an amazing husband, she should be worried about karma. But this is coming from the same person who takes handicapped spots from the handicapped.”

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AN APOLOGY

Moses Robinson/Bravo

“I am so sorry for what has happened @neneleakes. We both know the truth, we both know that if I wanted to, I could have a law suit for the lies you have spewed, tweeting out fake texts, implying I am racist, attacking me physically, claiming my daughter tweeted negative about you and your home, we both know these are lies. I have reacted to it publicly and for that I am sorry,” she wrote onInstagram. “I should have risen above it.”

Zolciak-Biermann continued: “I personally will no longer engage with you on social media and perpetuate the hate. I am asking you to do the same. We are grown women with families. Enough is enough. I want us to move on.”

Leakes did not accept her apology, taking to Twitter to share her own thoughts on the matter. “Please file a lawsuit,” the formerFashion Policehostposted in a series of impassioned tweets, never directly naming her frenemy but alluding to Zolciak-Biermann. She added, “Anytime you wanna go to court, I’m happy to see you there because your lies have runneth over.”

“You can never WIN when you play DIRTY so throw in the towel!” she also tweeted, before seemingly mocking Zolciak-Biermann’s lip injections. “I mean, throw in the lips!”

17of 17A THOUGHTFUL GESTUREThough the two reality stars have had a longtime rivalry, which most recently exploded in and all-out war on the tenth season ofThe Real Housewives of Atlanta, Leakes and Zolciak-Biermannseem to be on good terms again. Shortly after revealing that husband Gregg has been battling cancer, Leakes received a care package, courtesy of her frenemy.“What can i say other than THANK YOU!,” Leakes wrote on Instagram in the caption to a photo of her haul, which included plushy bath robes, motivational books, and items from Zolciak-Biermann’s Kashmere Collection. “Thank you @kimzolciakbiermann for your thoughtful gift! Opening your box is like Christmas! Just all kinds of goodies 😂 😍.”

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A THOUGHTFUL GESTURE

Though the two reality stars have had a longtime rivalry, which most recently exploded in and all-out war on the tenth season ofThe Real Housewives of Atlanta, Leakes and Zolciak-Biermannseem to be on good terms again. Shortly after revealing that husband Gregg has been battling cancer, Leakes received a care package, courtesy of her frenemy.

“What can i say other than THANK YOU!,” Leakes wrote on Instagram in the caption to a photo of her haul, which included plushy bath robes, motivational books, and items from Zolciak-Biermann’s Kashmere Collection. “Thank you @kimzolciakbiermann for your thoughtful gift! Opening your box is like Christmas! Just all kinds of goodies 😂 😍.”

source: people.com