They have one of the strongest relationships in the Real Housewives universe — but is
it all coming to an end?
Here's why Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky's marriage may no longer be a match made in
heaven.
Before Kyle Richards gained notoriety as a reality television star, she was a successful
child actress who appeared regularly on series like "Little House on the Prairie."
She also had a co-starring role in the cult horror classic "Halloween" and several of
its sequels.
Despite her fame, Mauricio Umansky did not recognize Kyle when he approached her in 1994
at a West Hollywood nightclub.
He'd actually been told that Kyle was Demi Moore's sister, so he decided to ask her out.
He told The Knot,
"I figured if I couldn't get Demi Moore, I could try to get her sister!"
At the time, Kyle was a 20-something divorced mom of one and engaged to Michael Tuck, a
newscaster over 20 years her senior.
Still, she was charmed by Mauricio.
She told The Knot:
"He was just a sweet guy, and he loved my daughter.
And we like to do the same things.
We share the same interests and have common goals, and I think that's what really drew
us together."
She then went on to add:
"But the most important thing to me was how he was with my oldest daughter, Farrah."
When Mauricio asked Kyle if she'd be willing to convert to his religion, she did not hesitate.
She told You magazine:
"I was raised Catholic, and though I never felt religious, I liked the sense of there
being a higher power.
When I started learning about Judaism, I thought, 'I connect with this.'"
When it came to planning for the wedding, both admitted that Mauricio was not an active
participant.
As Kyle told The Knot,
"He did absolutely nothing.
He was a kid.
He got the ring and then was like, 'Okay, I'm out.'"
The couple said "I do" at the Bel-Air Country Club.
While speaking about the ceremony, Kyle told The Knot:
"Everyone had to wear kippahs on their head, and my family was like, 'Wait, what's happening?'
I looked over, and my brother-in-law, who's not Jewish, was in the mirror putting it on,
and I was like, 'Okay, this is a first for our family.'"
Kyle and Mauricio married in January 1996, several months earlier than they had initially
planned.
When the couple discovered that Kyle was pregnant, they moved the date up from April to January.
This way, Kyle would still be able to fit into her wedding dress.
During the same interview with The Knot, Kyle reflected on the experience of participating
in the hora, a traditional celebratory dance, with a baby on board.
She told the outlet:
"I can remember thinking, 'I am so worried about people lifting me up on a chair while
I'm pregnant and doing the hora.'
[...] But then I thought, 'Oh my God, I can not believe I'm doing this pregnant and being
lifted into the air.'"
Over the years, Kyle and Mauricio welcomed three daughters together: Alexia, Sophia,
and Portia.
For a time, Kyle considered having more children.
Back in 2012, when she was 43, Kyle revealed to Khloé Kardashian on her radio show:
"I want another baby, but I think my clock is ticking really loudly.
It makes my husband nervous because he says it depends on our AMEX bill each month.
Sometimes he says yes, sometimes he says no.
I want another one so badly!"
Ultimately, the couple did not end up having another child, but Kyle is holding out hope
for grandchildren.
Kyle admitted to The Daily Dish in June 2021:
"I want Farrah to get married while I'm young and I can be a young grandmother."
In addition to having a fabulous home in Encino, California, the couple also owns homes in
La Quinta, California, and Aspen, Colorado.
Mauricio has shared his particular fondness for Aspen — primarily the time he spends
there with his wife.
As he told The Knot,
"We truly love to hang out together.
You know, we have our house in Aspen, and it's become a real sanctuary for us.
It's definitely a place that Kyle and I use to go and tune out, and while we never fall
out of love, we go there to fall back in love, for lack of a different phrase."
While celebrating his and Kyle's 25-year marriage, Mauricio told ET in an interview:
"If you can survive a marriage on reality TV, you can survive it all."
"You've really got to start off with a really solid foundation.
Especially if you're going to be doing reality television."
Indeed, the couple had long been considered the epitome of a solid marriage in the Housewives
universe.
They each supported the other, personally and professionally.
In the past, Kyle and Mauricio have credited their marital success to spending quality
time together, having similar values and interests, and protecting their relationship.
Kyle told The Knot in 2021,
"Fitness is a very big part of our lives and our relationship.
We'll go hiking or paddleboarding or biking, and we really enjoy that time together.
[...] I always say that he pushes me outside my comfort zone, and I keep him safe and alive,
so we're a good combo."
"I think that we're a really good team.
We're complete opposites."
Mauricio added that although they are both very busy, he and his wife try to never be
apart.
"Whatever we did worked and we don't want to mess with a good thing."
Kyle and Mauricio have brushed off many rumors about his alleged infidelity over the years.
Shortly after the debut of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," a story in Star magazine
alleged that Mauricio paid for the services of a transgender escort and their partner.
According to the magazine, Maurico also requested that the two dress up as police officers.
According to Daily Mail, then-stars of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" Lisa Vanderpump
and Brandi Glanville approached Kyle with the cheating rumors that reportedly almost
prompted her to leave the show.
However, when E! asked Lisa to corroborate the story, she flatly denied it.
More recently, Mauricio and "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" castmate Dorit Kemsley sparked
rumors of an affair after she gave him a kiss on the shoulder.
"There's something about Dorit that just gets me."
Another former star of the show, Dana Wilkey, used the opportunity to stir things up by
sharing a meme on her Instagram.
The post angered Dorit, who wrote in the comments,
"Is something wrong with you woman?
Or are you just so miserable in your life you have nothing better to do?
You're definitely one of the thirstiest people I've ever seen, I guess it's just as simple
as that?"
It's not just Mauricio who's been accused of cheating — Kyle has also been the subject
of such gossip.
Country singer Morgan Wade is the suspected third member of the love triangle for a couple
of reasons.
First and foremost, the two only met in 2022 but have been spending lots of time together.
Kyle wrote in an Instagram caption on the day they met:
"The most unlikely of friendships some may think but kinship knows no boundaries."
Since then, the two have appeared together on red carpets and are suspected of sharing
matching heart-shaped tattoos.
Wade's former girlfriend, "Temptation Island" alum Kady Cannon, told Page Six that while
she was also confused about the women's relationship, she didn't want to speak out of turn.
Cannon said to the outlet:
"The only people who can speak on Morgan and Kyle's relationship or friendship or whatever
you wanna call it — and to whatever degree that is — are Morgan and Kyle, and that's
it."
In July of 2023, People reported that Kyle and Mauricio were separating after more than
27 years of marriage.
For viewers of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," there were certainly no obvious signs
that anything was amiss in the couple's relationship.
A source alleged to the outlet:
"Kyle and Mauricio 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."
The news was particularly shocking based on how loving and supportive the two have been
during the entirety of the series' run.
After celebrating their 25th anniversary, the couple shared nothing but positive vibes
for their future.
Kyle told Bravo Insider:
"[Our anniversary] means so much, and it's something that we're both incredibly proud
of."
"Happy anniversary my love."
"I love you."
Mauricio also shared his enthusiasm about the couple's marriage, telling the outlet,
"Yeah, I mean, this means a lot.
You know, to be quite honest, it feels easy and doesn't feel like it's been that long.
So it's been great and beautiful.
And, you know, I definitely intend to spend the rest of my life with her.
So hopefully, it'll be at least another 25 years, and maybe another 50."
After the firestorm of press regarding the couple's split, Kyle and Mauricio took to
Instagram to address the situation.
With the post appearing on both of their accounts, they wrote on July 4, 2023:
"In regards to the news that came out about us today ... Any claims regarding us divorcing
are untrue.
However, yes, we have had a rough year.
The most challenging one of our marriage.
But we both love and respect each other tremendously."
"I think that when you have something great and people see that.
The happier you are, the more they kind of come after it."
Although the couple denied that divorce was in the cards, the issue of separation was
not addressed.
Although the couple requested privacy, Kyle fueled the fire with a subsequent Instagram
Story that was captioned,
"Parting is such sweet sorrow."
In yet another interesting move, Kyle was spotted with several friends at Craig's, a
West Hollywood hotspot known to be teeming with paparazzi.
Since Craig's is widely recognized for attracting celebrity clientele, it seems odd that Kyle
would go there, given her plea for privacy.