ShereĆ© Whitfield: Kim Zolciak ā€˜trying to be strongā€™ as ā€˜hardā€™ Kroy divorce gets messy

ShereĆ© Whitfield is sharing a hopeful update about her good pal Kim Zolciak as she navigates a messy divorce from estranged husband Kroy Biermann. 

ā€œSheā€™s dealing with a lot. She has a lot of kids and is just really trying to be strong for the kids,ā€ the ā€œReal Housewives of Atlantaā€ star, 53, says of her former castmate on an upcoming episode of Page Sixā€™s ā€œVirtual Reali-Teaā€ podcast. 

ā€œBut at the same time, youā€™re going through so much. And I was there with her,ā€ she continues, acknowledging her own public divorce from Bob Whitfield in 2007.

ā€œIā€™ve done it before. Itā€™s not fun and itā€™s not easy.ā€

Biermann, 37, filed for divorce from Zolciak on May 5 after 11 years of marriage. 

ShereƩ Whitfield
ā€œReal Housewives of Atlantaā€ star ShereĆ© Whitfield shares her thoughts on Kim Zolciakā€™s divorce during an appearance on Page Sixā€™s ā€œVirtual Reali-Teaā€ podcast.
Page Six
Kroy Biermann and Kim Zolciak
Biermann filed for divorce from Zolciak on May 5 after 11 years of marriage.
kimzolciakbiermann/Instagram

They share six kids: Kroy Jagger, 11, Kash, 10, and 9-year-old twins Kane and Kaia, plus Zolciakā€™s eldest daughters, Brielle, 26, and Ariana Biermann, 21, whom the former athlete adopted as minors. 

A source told Page Six at the time that Zolciak wanted to divorce Kroy ā€œmonthsā€ prior, but he beat her to the courthouse

ShereĆ© ā€” who served as a bridesmaid to Zolciak in her Nov. 11, 2011, televised wedding to the retired NFL player ā€” tells us that she never thought the pair would part ways. 

Kim Zolciak, Kroy Biermann and their kids
The now-exes welcomed four children together, while Kroy adopted Zolciakā€™s eldest daughters when they were minors.
kimzolciakbiermann/Instagram

ā€œI didnā€™t see it coming. I absolutely did not see it coming. I imagined Kim and Kroy old and [having] grandkids and never breaking up,ā€ she explains. 

ā€œI donā€™t think anyone saw that coming. They just seemed like the perfect couple, so I have talked to her and I know sheā€™s going through it. Itā€™s a tough time, especially when itā€™s so much and being public. Itā€™s hard.ā€

News of Zolciak and Kroyā€™s separation came on May 8, mere hours after TMZ reported that they owe the IRS more than $1 million. 

Kim Zolciak and ShereƩ Whitfield
ShereĆ© says her longtime pal and former ā€œRHOAā€ castmate is ā€œtrying to be strongā€ amid the messy public split.
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Insiders previously told Page Six that tension had been mounting for some time as the duo ā€” who previously fronted their own Bravo reality show, ā€œDonā€™t Be Tardyā€ ā€” allegedly dealt with more financial hardships behind closed doors. 

In the wake of their breakup, Kroy has accused Zolciak of having a ā€œgambling problemā€ and ā€œspending substantial time and marital fundsā€ on her alleged hobby.

Kroy also alleged in a police report that she punched him in the back of the head during a heated altercation last month. However, he did not have visible injuries and declined medical attention. He declined to press charges.

Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann
ā€œI absolutely did not see it coming,ā€ ShereĆ© says of Zolciak and Kroyā€™s separation.
kroybiermann/Instagram

Zolciak subsequently shared a cryptic post about manipulative people with ā€œtoxicā€ qualities.

ā€œManipulation is when they blame you for your reaction to their toxic behavior,ā€ the quote, which she posted to her Instagram Stories on May 24, read, ā€œbut never discuss their disrespect that triggered you.ā€

Adding to their present discord, Zolciak and Kroy have each requested sole legal and physical custody of their children.

Kim Zolciak, Kroy Biermann and their kids
The now-exes have each requested sole legal and physical custody of their children.
kimzolciakbiermann/Instagram

On Friday, the ā€œTardy for the Partyā€ singer seemingly relayed to fans that sheā€™s ready to move on by dropping ā€œBiermannā€ from her Instagram handle. 

Still, ShereĆ© teases that it may not be over for Zolciak and Kroy. 

ā€œJust because you filed ā€” because we ā€¦ saw the love they had for each other ā€” that doesnā€™t mean that itā€™s over,ā€ she explains. ā€œI donā€™t know if theyā€™ve had counseling. I donā€™t know how far theyā€™ve gone. I just donā€™t want to see it over for them two.ā€

Kroy Biermann, Sheree Whitfield and Kim Zolciak
ā€œI just donā€™t want to see it over for them two,ā€ ShereĆ© says of Kroy and Zolciak.
Getty Images

ShereĆ© ā€” who is currently romantically attached to ā€œLove & Marriage: Hunstvilleā€ hunk Martell Holt ā€” adds, ā€œI think sometimes you can work through it.ā€ 

As Zolciakā€™s divorce rages on in the public eye, ā€œRHOAā€ viewers are anticipating her upcoming cameo in Season 15. She left the hit Bravo reality show after five consecutive seasons in 2012. 

ā€œWe always have a good time,ā€ ShereĆ© teases. ā€œI canā€™t say too much, but youā€™ll see fun Kim!ā€

The Season 15 cast of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" posing for a promo shot
Page Six caught up with ShereĆ© as she promoted ā€œRHOAā€ Season 15.
AB+DM/Bravo

In the midst of filming her unscripted family series from 2012 until 2020, Zolciak returned as a ā€œfriend of the Housewivesā€ in ā€œAtlantaā€ Season 10 ā€” during which she memorably sparred with mainstays NeNe Leakes and Kandi Burruss. 

According to ShereĆ©, itā€™s time for Zolciak to reclaim her pitch. ā€œWe all know Kim Zolciak is good TV,ā€ she asserts. 

ā€œThe Real Housewives of Atlantaā€ airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.