“That was very hard to see,” theReal Housewives of Beverly Hillsstar, 54, toldAndy Cohen, in her first interview sincePEOPLE exclusively broke the news in July that she and Umansky had separated after 27 years of marriage.
“Yeah that was, I mean, yes, that hurt my feelings,” Richards continued, after confirming to the Bravo host that she was upset. “I love him very much and we are amicable but that really did hurt me.”
“The things is this: I don’t know if anything’s happened yet but obviously there’s something there,” she added.
Kyle Richards on ‘Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen’.Bravo
Bravo
Richards' friendTeddi Mellencamp Arroyave, who was appearing onWWHLalongside her formerRHOBHcostar, suggested that Umansky and Slater wanted to be seen. “They’re in Beverly Hills,” she said. “It’s not like they’re in some remote location! They’re in the middle or Beverly Hills. You know photographers are going to follow you!”
“Listen, I love him very much and we are amicable but that really did hurt me,” she said.
Her pain didn’t stop her from supporting her estranged husband, though. “I also voted for them. Yeah, I did,” she said. “I even sent the proof to the family chat. I did my votes and I sent the screenshot to the chat.”
Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater.ABC/Andrew Eccles
ABC/Andrew Eccles
Perhaps ironically, Umansky’s dance on Tuesday’sDWTSwas in honor of Richards, who he said supported him during his “most memorable year.”
That year, 1996, was “a year of change” for Umansky. He had just gotten married to Richards and they had just welcomed their first child together — daughterAlexia, now 27. The three were living in a two-bedroom condo withFarrah Brittany(née Aldjufrie), now 34, from Kyle’s first marriage to ex Guraish Aldjufrie.
Things took a turn when Umansky was fired from his job and was no longer able to provide for his family. “I felt like an absolute failure of a human,” he said, noting that Richards had to clip coupons for them to survive and eat. “It was an extraordinarily emotional moment in my life.”
His now-estranged wife ultimately encouraged him to get into real estate, where Umansky said they “rose up” and got back on their feet. Looking back on the challenges he overcame, he shared that it served as “motivation to never be in a position where I can never put food on my table again.”
“Tonight’s Dance on [DWTS] is about life and how it’s not always perfect,” he wrote ahead of the performance on Instagram, alongside a gallery of throwback photos of his family and rehearsal pics from the show. “When you think it’s impossible to move mountains and you’re at your lowest moment and you think all doors are closed, you need to rise up and rise unafraid and move mountains.”
Richards and Umansky, 53, have been married since January 1996. In addition to Alexia and Farrah, the pair share daughtersSophia, 23 andPortia, 15.
A source close to the Richards and Umansky told PEOPLE in July that the estranged couple “have been separated for a while now but are still living under the same roof. They remain amicable as they figure out what’s next for them and their family.”
At the time, Richards and Umansky denied rumors they were getting divorced but admitted to having a “rough year” in ajoint statementposted to Instagram.
Earlier this month, Umanskyopened upto PEOPLE about navigating a difficult period in their27-year marriage, saying that though they’re “having a bit of a rough patch,” they’re “not yet throwing in the towel.”
Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky attend the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 31st Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 12, 2023.Michael Kovac/Getty
Michael Kovac/Getty
OnWWHLWednesday, Richards said that their separation was her idea. “It originated from me, I’ll say,” she stressed, before explaining that the two are currently living on separate floors of their California mansion.
She also spoke out about how her children reacted to the news, saying that it was “really, really devastating” for their “whole family” at first.
“Our phones were blowing up, our kids were crying and wouldn’t leave the house. It was really, really difficult,” said Richards. “But now they’re much better and they’re really strong. They’re just so together and so smart and they’ve been my best, best, best friends. I could not be more proud of them. They’re just amazing human beings. Thank God I have them through this.”
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source: people.com
