ShereĆ© Whitfield: Kim Zolciak ‘trying to be strong’ as ‘hard’ 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
“Real Housewives of Atlanta” star ShereĆ© Whitfield shares her thoughts on Kim Zolciak’s divorce during an appearance on Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” 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 Zolciak’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 

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 “RHOA” castmate is “trying to be strong” 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
“I absolutely did not see it coming,” ShereĆ© says of Zolciak and Kroy’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
“I just donā€™t want to see it over for them two,” 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 “RHOA” 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.