Next Gen NYC’s Gia Giudice is defending Ariana Biermann’s flirty connection with Charlie Zakkour.
“I did know everything that was going on. I think it was kind of that normal thing that you go through after a breakup, where you’re like, let me explore all my options,” Gia, 25, exclusively shared with Us on Wednesday, August 12. “There was no malicious intent behind it. It was really her just being like, ‘I’m out here. I’m single. I’m hot,’ and she’s getting attention from all these guys. And I mean, who doesn’t love attention?”
This season on Next Gen NYC, cameras have rolled as Ariana, 24, adjusted to her new single life after breaking up with Hudson McLeroy.
Although the Bravo star has been spending time with new cast member Liam Obergfoll in recent episodes, viewers learned on Wednesday’s show that she’s also been flirting with Charlie, 31.
“She was just exploring,” Gia explained. “And you know, I think you’ll come to see where that brought her, and how she felt about it. But I think it was all just newly single energy and just exploring.”
During Wednesday’s episode, Charlie opened up about his relationship status with Ariana to close friend Shai Fruchter.
Despite previously telling Hudson, 24, that he has “no intention” of sacrificing his friendship for Ariana, Charlie admitted things have taken a turn.
“[Ariana] came out of the gate saying, ‘I wouldn’t touch him with a 10-foot pole. If anything, that triggers me to be like, ‘Well, look at how wrong that was,’” Charlie said. “Obviously, that’s a shot at my ego, and I want to defend it.”
He continued, “I think my friendship, flirtation, whatever with Ariana is perfectly genuine. If anything, I’m trying to hide the details of it from the show. Not the other way around. She’s reluctant to play ball in front of the cameras, but she’s going to be extra reluctant to play ball in front of Liam.”
As fans keep watching to see what unfolds with Ariana and Charlie, Gia seems to understand why things have gotten flirty.
“I think when Charlie wants to be a charmer, he’s a charmer,” she said. “There are times where you absolutely love him. There are times where you could disagree with him. I think every person has different sides to them, different emotions and he definitely did a better job of expressing himself this season.”
Next Gen NYC airs on Bravo Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET. Stream new episodes the next day on Peacock.
