Kim Zolciak’s divorce from Kroy Biermann has deeply affected her, as revealed in a preview of Surreal Life: Villa of Secrets’ July 23 premiere. During a therapy session and breathing exercise, the former Real Housewives of Atlanta star broke down in tears over her crumbling marriage. In a confessional, she expressed, “As I’m practicing the breathing exercise, I just couldn’t stop crying. It’s something I really needed.” Kim candidly shared her emotional state with her fellow cast members, including Johnny Weir and Macy Gray, admitting, “I’m a mess.”

The exercise helped Kim realize she feels unsupported during this challenging period. She opened up about her role as a protector for others but feeling overlooked in return. “I protect everyone else,” Kim disclosed, noting her children with Kroy, Brielle, Ariana, KJ, Kash, and twins Kaia and Kane, “and I don’t feel like anyone is really protecting me, from my parents to my husband.”

In a confessional, the 46-year-old explained why she finally felt ready to share her true emotions with others.

“I don’t know how to let go,” Kim said, “and then especially be that vulnerable in front of seven, I say strangers, but I feel safer with them than I do if I was to do that with Kroy. That’s sad.”

She further told her costars, “The fact that I can let go here and feel safe here, not even at home, is just crazy. You know, I’ve been a mom since 18, so you gotta stay strong.”

And when it came to joining the MTV reality series, Kim previously told E! News she saw the opportunity as an escape from her relationship drama at home.

“It was awesome,” she shared. “That was my goal, to recenter myself and take a break and kind of get out of this and get into a new environment. To think and gain some clarity. It was very hard to leave my kids, but it was it was a very nice break.”

Though she and Kroy both filed for divorce in May 2023—stating that their 11-year marriage was “irretrievably broken”—the pair called off their divorce two months later. However, by August, they decided to call off their reconciliation and once again filed to divorce.

Surreal Life: Villa of Secrets premieres tonight, July 23, at 9 p.m. on MTV.

And keep reading to see everything that’s gone down during Kim and Kroy’s messy breakup.

The ring no longer meant a thing to Kim Zolciak when she filed for divorce from Kroy Biermann after 11 years of marriage on May 8.

According to documents obtained by TMZ, the couple’s date of separation was listed as April 30, with The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum saying their marriage is “irretrievably broken with no hope of reconciliation.”

Kim—who shares Kroy Jr., 11, Kash, 10, and 9-year-old twins Kane and Kaia with the former NFL player, and is also mom to Brielle, 25, and Ariana, 21—also requested primary physical custody of the kids and joint legal custody, per the docs.

Instagram

One day after Kim’s filing, Kroy made his own custody play when he also submitted a request for sole legal and physical custody of their four children.

Per legal documents obtained by E! News, Kim was served a summons requiring her and Kroy to complete a domestic intake worksheet that monitors the treatment of their kids over 30 days.

While both stars were still residing in their Georgia home when they announced their divorce, Kroy asked in his filing to be “awarded exclusive, temporary and permanent use and possession” of the property as well as any others he purchased while they were married.

Instagram

On May 16, the Don’t Be Tardy star filed a motion requesting her ex undergo drug testing. In documents obtained by E! News, Kim alleged she has seen Kroy “smoking marijuana, and she has serious concerns for the safety and well-being” of their kids. Per the docs, Kim requested a five-panel hair follicle drug screen so that the court can determine custody arrangements for the children. She also asks that Kroy not cut his hair before the screening.

Kroy has yet to respond to her request. E! News has reached out to his attorney for comment and has not heard back.

Instagram

On the same day she filed her request, Kim shared a cryptic message about relationships on social media.

“The highest form of love is consideration,” a quote shared to her Instagram Stories read. “When someone thinks about how things would make you feel. Pays attention to detail. Holds you in regard when making decisions that could affect you. In any bond, how much they care about you can be found in how much they consider you.” She then added the 100 emoji.

Instagram

Kim took to Instagram to share another arcane message about relationships on May 24.

A quote reshared to Kim’s Instagram stories read, “Manipulation is when they blame you for your reaction to their toxic behavior, but never discuss their disrespect that triggered you.” Below the quote in all caps Kim wrote, “Read that again…”

The couple’s contentious split has not only taken their fans by surprise, but also Kim and Kroy’s former boss Andy Cohen.

“I was very surprised,” the Watch What Happens Live host admitted on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live May 9. “That was not the news I ever expected to get. They seemed so much in love and just together. I mean, they were a couple that, yeah, I thought they were in it for the long haul.”

Instagram

Amid the divorce drama, Kim’s eldest daughters Brielle and Ariana—who Kroy legally adopted after marrying the Bravolebrity—penned messages to their mom for her 53rd birthday.

“You are the strongest woman I know!!!” Ariana wrote alongside an Instagram Stories snap of her and her mom at the beach on May 19. “Thank you for all you do! I am so proud of you mom! cheers to 53.”

As for Brielle, she shared a photo of herself alongside her mom drinking wine to her Instagram Stories, writing, “Happy birthday mom! I love you so much!”

Prince Williams/Wireimage

Weeks after filing for divorce, Kim made things Instagram official by dropping her married name from her social media platforms.

Kim debuted her new handle while teasing her return to RHOA. Alongside a photo of her posing with fellow series originals Lisa Wu, DeShawn Snow and Sherée Whitfield, Kim wrote in the June 8 post, “See you soon.”

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Just two months after announcing their split, Kim and Kroy decided to give their marriage another chance.

The RHOA alum filed papers July 7 to dismiss their divorce case, according to Georgia court documents obtained by E! News. Meanwhile, the former NFL star’s attorney, Marlys A. Bergstrom, told E! News that “the parties are dismissing their divorce action and attempting a reconciliation.”

The news came days after Kim and Kroy were photographed walking to church together with their four younger kids.

Instagram

Days after calling off their divorce, Kim proved the ring once again means a thing by rocking her wedding ring in a July 11 Instagram Story.

Paras Griffin/GC Images

The couple’s attempted reconciliation unfortunately failed. On Aug. 24, Kroy filed for divorce again, according to TMZ. Stating their marriage is “irretrievably broken,” he wants sole legal and sole physical custody of their four kids moving forward, and is asking for child support as well as alimony.

Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Ongoing Marital Relations

On Sept. 25, Kim filed a new motion to dismiss Kroy’s second petition for divorce alleging she and her husband of 11 years are still sleeping together amid their ongoing breakup.

“Contrary to the claims made in the Petition for Divorce, the parties have engaged in marital sexual relations on multiple occasions since the filing of the Petition for Divorce,” the Bravo star claims in legal docs obtained by E! News, “and most recently on or about September 7, 2023.”

Instagram/Kim Zolciak

Anniversary Date Night

Despite their ongoing split, Kim and Kroy reunited to celebrate their 12th wedding anniversary on Nov. 11 over an intimate Italian dinner.