Charlie Zakkour is the bad boy of Next Gen NYC. He can be crass and insensitive, but boy, does he make great reality television. The man is the Real Housewives children’s biggest OP, and the show would be way more boring without him. He may not be relatable, he may not be likable, but he is a necessary evil.
Charlie’s bad behavior has been a topic of discussion among fans. Some viewers are enjoying his antics; others cannot stand him. A recent episode gave us a deeper look at his backstory and provided more context about his … um … difficult (?) personality. He didn’t have the most stable upbringing, and it may explain some of his recent behavior.
Let’s dive into Charlie’s complicated relationship with his parents.
Charlie Zakkour’s relationship with his parents explained
Charlie opened up about his unconventional relationship with his parents in Episode 3 of Next Gen NYC. The Bravo star explained that his mom, Elizabeth “Liz” Williams, raised him until he was ten, but she couldn’t provide a stable environment for him, so he went to go live with his dad, Anwar Zakkour. Charlie revealed that he and Anwar do not have a typical father-son relationship, comparing him to Logan Roy in the HBO series Succession. Yikes.
“My dad is the dad from that show. Just how badly one of the sons wants his approval and how little he gives a f*ck,” he said. According to his LinkedIn, Anwar Zakkour is a private investor and former senior investment banking executive who has worked for J.P. Morgan, Bank of America, and Citi. With a resume like that, it’s no wonder Charlie feels pressure to live up to his father’s expectations.
Charlie Zakkour’s parents have both appeared on Next Gen NYC
Charlie described his parents as somewhat absent from his childhood, but they’ve both made an appearance on Next Gen NYC. In one scene, Charlie grabs lunch with his mom and her boyfriend, Ivor. The two seem to be on good terms, but Charlie expresses some lingering resentment towards his mom in a confessional. He shares that growing up his mom was hesitant to stand up to his father, telling viewers she feared the consequences of going against him.
“In fear of her receiving repercussions from being against him, she would sort of leave me to fend for myself,” he said.
At one point, Liz mentions a drawing Charlie did as a child that left viewers a little concerned. The picture showed the many ways Charlie wanted to … end his dad’s life? His mom joked about the picture but fans felt differently. Is this man in therapy? I hope so. That seems like a lot of trauma to unpack.
Could Charlie Zakkour’s Next Gen NYC behavior be because of his parents?
Charlie isn’t the most likable character on Next Gen NYC. When he’s not making crude comments about wanting to sleep with Brooks Marks’ sister, he’s starting beef with his co-stars over N.O.T.H.I.N.G. He’s the epitome of the spoiled, rich kid trope and it’s rubbing some fans the wrong way.
“Who does he think he is?” one Reddit user asked. “A wanna be James Spader character from the 80’s? LOL.”
Charlie’s upbringing may be a reason for his attitude on Next Gen NYC. He grew up with a ton of privilege, sure, but it doesn’t sound like there was a lot of stability or comfort around him. He’s been candid about feeling pressure from his father and unsupported by his mother. His latest blowups may be his way of dealing with his family issues. Most of the cast of Next Gen NYC has supportive, loving parents. I can’t help but feel a little sorry for him. Even if he’s not your favorite person, every reality TV show needs a villain, and he’s a great one. He’s kind of like the Chuck Bass of Next Gen NYC, and I’m here for it!
Next Gen NYC is available to stream on Peacock and Hayu in the UK and Ireland.
TELL US – WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CHARLIE ZAKKOUR ON NEXT GEN NYC? DID EPISODE 3 MAKE YOU HAVE MORE COMPASSION FOR HIM OR IS HE STILL THE VILLAIN IN YOUR EYES?
