Aviva Drescher Defends Jill Zarin's Halftime Rant as "Stupid, Not Racist"

Former 'Real Housewives' co-star says Zarin's comments were misguided but not hateful.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Aviva Drescher, a former cast member of 'The Real Housewives of New York City', has come to the defense of her friend and co-star Jill Zarin, who faced backlash for her controversial comments about Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime performance. Drescher insists that while Zarin's remarks were "completely stupid" and "came off as completely racist", she does not believe Zarin is actually a racist person.

Why it matters

Zarin's comments sparked a major social media firestorm and led to her being fired from an upcoming 'Real Housewives' reboot show on E!. Drescher's defense of her friend highlights the complexities of calling out perceived racism versus understanding intent, and the potential consequences public figures can face for insensitive statements.

The details

In an interview on the "Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel" podcast, Drescher addressed the backlash against Zarin, saying "I've never thought of Jill to be racist and that was really the thing that stung." Drescher acknowledged that Zarin's comments "came off as completely racist" but argued "it was just a completely stupid comment" that "didn't come from a hateful place." Drescher made clear she has a "hard line" when it comes to racism and would never work with someone she believed to be racist.

  • Jill Zarin posted - then deleted - her controversial comments about the Super Bowl halftime show on Super Bowl Sunday (February 12, 2026).
  • Zarin's comments were later reposted on X (Twitter) and sparked major backlash.
  • Zarin was subsequently fired from an upcoming 'Real Housewives' reboot show on E!

The players

Aviva Drescher

A former cast member of 'The Real Housewives of New York City' who has been friends with Jill Zarin since 2011.

Jill Zarin

A former 'Real Housewives of New York City' cast member whose recent comments about the Super Bowl halftime show sparked controversy and led to her being fired from an upcoming 'Real Housewives' reboot show.

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What they’re saying

“I've known Jill since 2011, since I joined 'Housewives.' Even though we didn't work together, we became friendly. I've never thought of Jill to be racist and that was really the thing that stung. That was just the most awful about her tirade.”

— Aviva Drescher (Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel)

“That was just the kicker, and I think it was just a completely stupid comment. It came off as completely racist, but I don't think she's racist. I don't think it came from a hateful place. It was completely stupid.”

— Aviva Drescher (Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel)

“I would never think about doing a show with somebody who I thought was racist.”

— Aviva Drescher (Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel)

What’s next

It remains to be seen if Jill Zarin will face any further professional consequences or backlash for her controversial comments.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the fine line between calling out perceived racism and understanding intent, as well as the potential career repercussions public figures can face for insensitive statements, even if they are not believed to be truly racist. It also underscores the importance of celebrities and public figures being mindful of the impact their words can have.