Kyle Richards Says She Was the Driving Force Behind Separation from Husband Mauricio Umansky

"It originated from me," the 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star said on Wednesday's episode of 'Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen'

Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky's separation after 27 years of marriage was her idea, she said on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.

In her first interview since PEOPLE exclusively broke the news of their strife in July, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 54, admitted to Andy Cohen that she was the driving force behind the change to their marital status.

"It originated from me, I’ll say," said Richards, who was appearing on the episode with best friend and former RHOBH star Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave.

Richards and Umansky, 53, have been married since January 1996. The pair, who first met at a nightclub in 1994, share daughters Alexia, 27, Sophia, 23 and Portia, 15, as well as Farrah Brittany (née Aldjufrie), 34, from Kyle's first marriage to ex Guraish Aldjufrie.

A source close to the estranged couple told PEOPLE in July that the pair "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 a joint statement posted to Instagram.

Related: RHOBH: Mauricio Calls Out Kyle's 'Rebellion' Phase as She Grows 'Irritated' and 'Disconnected' from Marriage

Fans got to see part of that tough year play out on RHOBH's season 13 premiere Wednesday, including a tense conversation in which Richards admitted to feeling "disconnected" in their marriage. "I mean, sometimes you’re married and they can do no wrong. Other times, they breathe and you want to punch them," she explained in confessional. "Right now, I’m irritated."

On WWHL, Richards opened up more about the state of their relationship, explaining that the two are currently living on separate floors in their California mansion. "I let him stay in the primary bedroom ‘cause it’s very masculine and the upstairs floor’s like the glam and there’s like, a bed," she said. "And I was like, ‘What am I going to do? Put him in a room with flower and pink and velvet? No."

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."

Asked what the biggest misconception is about the separation, Richards said that "the thing that I hear the most that bothers me so much is that we are doing this just for ratings."

"What human being would do that to their children? To their family?" Richards asked. "I mean, that is just… Obviously those people are very ignorant, but it’s so annoying. I mean, I love you guys [at Bravo] and the show, but not that much."

Later in the show, the Halloween star noted that her sisters, Kathy Hilton and Kim Richards have been especially supportive. "[They've just told me] that we love you and we’re here for you," she said. "Kathy’s like, you know, 'I’m always here for you and I know you have anxiety and I love you.' "  

In the trailer for the new season of RHOBH, which briefly resumed filming after the separation made headlines, Kyle’s costars said they were shocked to hear about her and Umansky. "I had no idea!" Dorit Kemsley exclaimed to her husband Paul "PK" Kemsley, who recalled having dinner with Umansky and that The Agency realtor “never said they were separated."

Sutton Stracke admitted she believed Kyle was “lying” about the details and even told Garcelle Beauvais she believes she’s "in denial" about the status of her marriage.

Questions also surfaced in the trailer about Kyle's friendship with country singer Morgan Wade, Stracke pointing out that "Kyle's not wearing a wedding band," and Kemsley asking Wade why she had the first letter of Kyle's name tattooed on her body.

Cohen too asked about Wade on Wednesday's Watch What Happens Live, Kyle calling Wade "absolutely one of my best, best friends in the world."

"We’re all very close," said Kyle, explaining she and Mellencamp Arroyave, 42, both met Wade at the same time and communicate every morning on a group chat with their other friend, Jen. "We all wake up very early — Teddi, Jen, Morgan, myself, we’re up at like, 4am, it’s ridiculous, to work out. We have that in common. So that was the first text every day. And we all became very, very close."

As for rumors that the two were romantically involved, Kyle said that she only thought that speculation spread because of Wade's appearance. "If she didn’t have all those tattoos, people would not say that. I mean, I’m with my friends all the time, they don’t pay attention," said Kyle, before joking that she and Mellencamp Arroyave also heard similar gossip about their friendship. "Although they did say that about us. We were accused of this as well. But anyway..."

Related: RHOBH Trailer: Kyle Richards Sobs and Morgan Wade Steps on the Scene as Separation News Shakes the Group

Earlier this month, Umansky opened up to PEOPLE about navigating difficult times in the couple’s long marriage. “We’ve been married for 27 years,” the Dancing with the Stars contestant said. “We’re having a bit of a rough patch.”

He added that “sometimes life throws you different things” and “you’ve gotta work through it.” His marriage to Richards — the first 26 years of which were “amazing” — is no different.

“She and I currently are separated, but we are not throwing in the towel,” he shared. “We’re not just saying that to say that. We actually are not yet throwing in the towel.”

As for what he wants fans and the public to know about the situation, Umansky said, “It’s very difficult to be in the public eye and have so much inquisition when you’re going through something tough.”

He continued, “My wife is just being looked at so intensely and it’s really not fair. She’s just a person. She’s an amazing human, she’s my best friend and she does not deserve to be so judged of everything she does.”

Related: Mauricio Umansky Declares His 'Love' for Morgan Wade After Wife Kyle Richards Played Up Romance Buzz

Umansky has since been spotted getting cozy with his DWTS partner, Emma Slater.

"I was taken aback," Kyle said on WWHL about photos of the two holding hands. "Yes, that was very hard to see. Yeah that was, I mean, yes, that hurt my feelings. ... I love him very much and we are amicable but that really did hurt me."

She wasn't able to confirm, however, whether the two were romantically involved. "Well the thing is this: I don’t know if anything’s happened yet, but obviously there’s something there," the actress shared. "I mean, holding hands like that?... I just don’t think you hold hands like that."

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The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs Wednesdays (at 8 p.m. ET) on Bravo. Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen airs Sundays through Thursday evenings (check local listings).

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