Kyle Richards, star of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, is speaking out about her recent separation from husband Mauricio Umansky after 27 years of marriage. In an interview on the Today show, Richards revealed that there were underlying issues in their relationship that had been put on the back burner for a long time. She explained, “You know, you’re pregnant and you’re breastfeeding. And then it was working and juggling the kids and you kind of forget about it, and then it resurfaces again.”
The tragic death of Richards’ best friend, Lorene Shea, in 2022 also played a role in reevaluating her life and marriage. Richards shared that losing her best friend changed her perspective and made her look at things differently. She said, “I think I just kind of came to a breaking point, honestly. And I’ve gone through a lot. I lost my best friend, and I think that really does change you and makes you look at things differently.”
The couple, who share four daughters, had not yet shared the news of their separation with their children when they began filming the current season of RHOBH. Richards expressed the difficulty of balancing her job of sharing her life on the show with Umansky’s desire for privacy. She said, “I have a job to share my life, and to be honest. And I always have been. And he wasn’t really ready to share that, so that was very challenging for me to balance that.”
Currently, Richards and Umansky still live under the same roof but in different rooms. They split their time between their various properties. Richards emphasized that they are still friendly when they are together as a family but admitted that she doesn’t know what the future holds, including whether she will return to the series.
Richards also opened up about feeling a lack of support from the cast of RHOBH, with the exception of castmate Erika Jayne. She mentioned that her sisters, Kim Richards and Kathy Hilton, have been supportive despite a recent estrangement from Hilton.
The news of the separation comes shortly after the release of the trailer for season two of Umansky’s real estate series, Buying Beverly Hills, on Netflix. In the trailer, Umansky is seen speaking with his daughters and explaining the reason behind the marriage not working out. He tells them, “I had an amazing 26 years with your mom, an amazing 26 years. I wanted to do everything possible to just save it.”
Richards’ journey through her separation will be addressed in the upcoming three-part reunion of RHOBH. The trailer for the reunion teases that she will discuss her separation, her and Umansky’s future, and her relationship with musician Morgan Wade. Fans can tune in to Bravo on February 28th at 8 p.m. ET/PT to watch the reunion.
Despite the challenges and heartbreak, Richards remains hopeful for the future. She admitted, “My dream was to be married forever and grow old with this person. I did not want to be in this position, trust me.” As she navigates this new chapter in her life, Richards continues to prioritize her own happiness and personal growth.
