Why Did Kyle Richards, Mauricio Break Up? Did She Cheat With Morgan Wade?

The end of an era. Since the news of their separation, Bravo fans have been wondering: Why did Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky break up and what is the real reason for their split? Kyle, who has been a cast member on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills since Season 1, and Mauricio married on January 20, 1996.

Mauricio was Kyle’s second husband after her marriage to her first husband, Guraish Aldjufrie, in 1988. Kyle and Guraish, who share a daughter Farrah Brittany, separated in 1990 and divorced in 1992. Kyle and Mauricio welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Alexia, in 1996. Their second child, a daughter named Sophia, was born in 2000. Their third and final child, a daughter named Portia, was born in 2008. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight in 2021, Kyle and Mauricio talked about the pressure The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills put on their marriage. “If you can survive a marriage on reality TV, you can survive at all,” Mauricio said. “There’s no question.”

Kyle added, “It’s certainly not what we expected. I mean, I was an actor all my life and my family had been in the public eye, but we never expected this turn. I never expected to do reality television and what that would do to our lives. But we definitely face some challenges, because I think that when you have something great — and people see how happy you are — the more they kind of come after it. So, you know, people always say to me, ‘You should write a book on how to have the best relationship.’ As soon as I do that, people want to come after me. So now it’s like, you get more protective, but it’s definitely made us stronger. We’ve learned just to be even more protective of our relationship, and appreciate it.”

After 27 years of marriage, news broke of Kyle and Mauricio’s separation in July 2023. So why did Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky break up? Read on for what we know about why Kyle and Mauricio broke up and the reason for their split.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is available to stream on Peacock.

March 13, 2024: Paris Hilton slams Mauricio for using their family name

Paris Hilton spoke out about Mauricio Umansky’s comments about her father Rick Hilton. “My father is a consummate gentleman and has always taken the higher road,’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘He would never speak negatively about his family — especially in the press. Frankly we are all sick of him using the Hilton name every chance he gets to plug his lame show. It is enough already..”

In his show Buying Beverly Hills, Mauricio talked about trying to be a partner at Hilton and Hyland where he “got kind of f—.”

He recounted, “And when I say: “f***ed,” you know, like, today I’m happy, but there was 100 agents at Hilton & Hyland. They did a billion dollars for the first time a year, I was 19.6% of their production, and I went to Rick and said: “I’d really like equity, right? And to be a partner.”

“Then I went home,” he continued. “I talked to Kyle, I go: “This is really gonna cause a lot of stress between you and your sister and your family, and I don’t wanna do this move of leaving and starting a company if you’re not comfortable.’”

February 20, 2024: Kyle denies Mauricio cheated

In the finale of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which aired on February 21, 2024, Kyle teared up as she talked about her separation from Mauricio. She reiterated that cheating had nothing to do with their split.

“There’s literally nothing to do with anybody else,” she told her co-star, Erika Girardi. “This is really just about Mo and me. It’s not about our family. It’s not about external family. It’s not about another person – on his side or my side. This is just about Mo and me.”

She hinted that they may have grown apart, explaining: “When we first met, we were really opposites. Complete opposites. And that worked. I always would joke and say – if it wasn’t for me, he would be dead, because I keep him safe. And if it wasn’t for him, I would never take chances in life,” the mother of four continues as she chokes up. “And that worked. And also like — we always grew. Because we’ve been together since our early twenties.”

Erika said Kyle should be proud because their marriage lasted “a really long time”, to which Kyle’s tears began to well. “I know. And it is very admirable and it’s always been something I’m very proud of.”

“You should still be proud, Kyle,” said Erika, to which Kyle said: “I’m not proud right now,” explaining that her marriage breakdown has been a “letdown” to everyone. “For me, for him, for the kids, for people who don’t even know us. I mean complete strangers are like, ‘We looked up to you guys and you made us believe in true love,’ ” Kyle continued.

Erika said: “You have to make yourself happy. You’ve raised these girls. You’ve been a good wife to this man. You’ve been a great sister, a great daughter, but if you’re not happy inside – whatever that means for you — you must take that time and find out what you need, and where you need to go with this life,” she advises her longtime friend. Kyle concluded, wiping tears away: “And if we can’t work it out?”

November 7, 2023: No prenup

On November 7, 2023, TMZ reported that Kyle and Mauricio didn’t have a prenup and they have no plans to go down the divorce road. “There’s a fortune on the table if that apparent slip of the tongue becomes reality … although sources with direct knowledge tell us neither Kyle nor Mauricio has lawyered up,” the tabloid said. “Multiple sources tell TMZ … Kyle and Mauricio are not directly talking about ending their marriage, but we’re told the thought is certainly present … so the division of assets is something to consider, assuming they decide to cross that bridge.”

November 5, 2023: Kyle cries at BravoCon

While at BravoCon 2023, Kyle Richards teared up while discussing her separation from Mauricio, Page Six reported. “This is not my idea of my fairy tale, clearly,” she said during Sunday’s panel in Las Vegas. The emotional reality TV star also mentioned how “a lot of people” have been urging her to “fix everything” with Umansky and to “pull it together.” She added: “Obviously, that’s what I want.”

October 25, 2023: Kyle reveals who initiated the split

Appearing on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Wednesday, October 25, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star spoke about who initiated their now-infamous split. “It originated from me, I’ll say,” Richards, of their breakup following the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 13 premiere.

She also said that they’re still living under the same roof, just obviously sleeping in separate beds. “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 shared. “And I was like, ‘What am I going to do? Put him in a room with flowers and pink and velvet? No.”

Kyle explained that the news of their split sent devastating shockwaves through the family. “Our phones were blowing up, our kids were crying and wouldn’t leave the house. It was really, really difficult,” she said. “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.”

October 24, 2023: Mauricio dedicates Dancing With The Stars performance to Kyle

Mauricio Umansky joined Dancing With The Stars Season 32 and made a touching post dedicated to his family for his October 24 performance on Instagram. “Tonight’s Dance on @dancingwiththestars is about life and how it’s not always perfect and 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,” Umansky wrote, alongside a photo carousel that included stills from his and Slater’s modern dance routine and throwback snapshots of himself and Richards. “My time was 1996 when Kyle and I got married and Alexia was born,” Umansky’s caption continues. “We had Farrah and Alexia. I was 26 when I was fired from my job and was broke. Kyle was my rock and together we rose up and we rose up 1000 x and we moved mountains a lot of them. It’s been an incredible journey. Tonight’s dance is dedicated to Kyle and my Family.”

September 29, 2023: Mauricio Denies & Later Clears Up That He Is Separated From Kyle

In an interview with The Agency Dallas’s Red Mic podcast, Mauricio said, “We were dealing with our own things, kind of, super quietly and internally, just our own issues,” he said, per Page Six. “I mean, certainly, we’re not separated. We’re not divorced at this point. We are not any of that stuff.”

He continued, “You know it’s been an amazing 26 years and it’s been a difficult one year. Most marriages have bad months, bad weeks, bad years.”

He also told TMZ that his “relationship is all friendship and business, and that’s it.”

September 2023: Mauricio Reveals Where They’re At In The Relationship

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Mauricio revealed that his family (including Kyle) will be supporting him “100 percent” while he competes on Dancing With the Stars. He told the outlet, “You know, we’re hanging in there, we’re working through all of our things, which everybody knows about, and we’re just taking it day by day.” He continued, “We’re trying not to let the press influence us and all of the social media and all of the stuff that’s going on. So we’re trying to just ignore that and figure that ourselves.”

July 2023: Kyle and Mauricio respond to cheating rumors

July 2023: Kyle and Mauricio respond to cheating rumors

Kyle and Mauricio responded to cheating rumors in a joint statement on their Instagram accounts on July 4, 2023, in which they also denied they were divorcing. “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 statement read. “The most challenging one of our marriage. But we both love and respect each other tremendously. There has been no wrongdoing on anyone’s part. Although we are in the public eye, we ask to be able to work through our issues privately. While it may be entertaining to speculate, please do not create false stories to fit a further salacious narrative.”

For Fourth of July, Mauricio also posted a series of Instagram photos of his family celebrating the holiday, including a picture of him and Kyle together, as well as a snap of them with their daughters, Alexia and Portia Umansky. “Happy Independence Day. Hope everyone is having a great day :)” he captioned the post.

The statement concluded, “Thank you for the love and support. Kyle & Mauricio.”

July 2023: Allison DuBoi responds to Kyle and Mauricio’s separation

Allison DuBoi, a medium featured in “The Dinner Party From Hell” episode on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 1, responded to news of Kyle and Mauricio’s separation in a tweet on July 3, 2023. Allison, who inspired Patricia Arquette’s character in the NBC show Medium, was notorious in the episode for telling Kyle that she and Mauricio would eventually break up. “He will never emotionally fulfill you — ever. Know that,” she said. “He will never emotionally fulfill you, but you will stay with him, and he will take care of you, and as soon as the kids are bigger, you’ll have nothing in common.”

At the time of Kyle and Mauricio’s separation, their daughter Alexia was 27; their daughter Sophia was 23; and their daughter Portia was 15. Kyle’s daughter Farrah with her first husband, Guraish Aldjufrie, was 34. “There’s gonna be a division that occurs,” Allison continued. “Make sure that you put the walls down for other females coming into [your] life, I feel like you talk to males more easily than to females.”

After the news of Kyle and Mauricio’s separation, Allison tweeted, I don’t wish Kyle ill, I hope she finds what she’s looking for. I guess I’m the only one who “saw” this coming. People kept telling me I was picking up on Camille’s divorce NOT Kyle (Okay you armchair psychics can sit down now). Mic drop #rhobh #medium.”

July 2023: Kyle and Mauricio separate

News broke of Kyle and Mauricio’s separation on July 3, 2023. “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,” a source told People at the time.

June 2023: Farrah doesn’t tag Kyle in a photo with Mauricio

Kyle’s daughter, Farrah Aldjufrie, didn’t tag her in an Instagram post with Mauricio from a photo at Farrah’s cousin Whitney Davis’ wedding on June 24, 2023. Farrah is Kyle’s first daughter from her relationship with her ex-husband, Guraish Aldjufrie, whom she was married to from 1988 to 1992. Farrah also works for Mauricio’s real estate company, The Agency, and stars with him on Netflix’s reality TV series Buying Beverly Hills. Whitney is the daughter of Kyle’s sister and former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills co-star, Kim Richards.

Farrah’s Instagram post included a group photo with both Kyle and Mauricio, however, she didn’t tag Kyle and only tagged Mauricio. “Can’t wait to hear the story behind why your mom isn’t tagged,” commented Instagram user @life_of_ashli. Instagram user @evanreality wrote, “Why do you have a pic with Mauricio but not with your fiancé? And why does your mom not have a pic with Mauricio?”

June 2023: Kyle and Morgan Wade spark dating rumors

Kyle and country singer, Morgan Wade, sparked dating rumors in June 2023 after Instagram account @RealityFace16 created an Instagram Story highlights compilation with alleged evidence of the affair. Among the evidence were Kyle and Morgan’s matching heart tattoos, which Kyle called special on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 11 reunion. “This heart is..umm a heart and it means something to me,” Kyle said.

@RealityFace16 also referenced an Instagram Live Kyle and Morgan did with Kyle’s sister, Kathy Hilton, who said, “We have a little secret,” which the account believed to be a relationship between Kyle and Morgan.

April 2023: Mauricio responds to rumors he cheated on Kyle

Mauricio responded to rumors he cheated on Kyle in an episode of the “Two T’s in a Pod” podcast in April 2023. “We’re not getting divorced,” he said. “I mean, it’s so dumb.”

He also confirmed that rumors he cheated on Kyle were a storyline on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 13.. “That one stupid story that came out there, and then the girls all, you know, decided to talk about it on the Housewives, and so now it’s a storyline,” he said. “So there’s definitely some stories out there, and Kyle and I address it, and we’ll take it from there. It is what it is.” He continued, “It was addressed by the girls. They bought it up. They really bought it up to Kyle.”

He also told the podcast that the storyline “kind of sucked” because Kyle’s RHOBH co-stars knew “what’s actually going on” but chose to give screentime to the rumors. “In order to be on these shows, you got to grow some thick skin,” he said.

April 2023: Kyle and Mauricio walk last red carpet together before separation

Kyle and Mauricio walked their last red carpet together before news of their separation at the Homeless Not Toothless Gala in April 2023. A source told Page Six in July 2023 that the two were “very affectionate” at the event and there were no signs that Kyle and Mauricio were having marriage issues.“He seemed very happy to be spending the evening with Kyle,” the insider said.In an interview with Page Six at the event, Kyle responded to rumors she and Mauricio were divorcing due to a “stupid picture” of her leaving the gym without her wedding ring i February 2023. “A, I haven’t been wearing my big diamond ring, because there’s a lot of crime these days and I’m like, ‘I’m not comfortable,’” she said “And B, I had just come from the gym lifting weights, so I was like, ‘That thing sparked that?’”She continued, “When this stuff would come up before, I would like, cry and I was devastated. But now, I’m more like, ‘OK, I’ve done this before. Let’s do this. Bring it on. Come on. Let’s see what you got for me here.’”Kyle also confirmed that the rumors were a storyline on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 13. “Obviously, you don’t love that because when the show airs in six months, I will be dealing with this and people are going to be talking again and more fake stories and lies,” she said. She continued, “I am in my unbothered era when it comes to that. That is for sure.”

August 2022: Dorit responds to rumors Mauricio cheated on Kyle with her

Kyle’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills co-star, Dorit Kemsley, responded to rumors Mauricio cheated on Kyle with her in August 2022. The rumor came after Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Dana Wilkey posted a photoshopped movie poster of Mauricio and Dorit on Instagram with the title: “An Affair to Remember.” “The fans can’t stop talking about this! Thoughts?” Dana captioned the post.

Dorit, who is married to husband PK Kemsley, commented on the post slamming Dana for spreading the rumor. “Is something wrong with you woman? Or are you just so miserable in your life you have nothing better to do?” she commented.

“You’re definitely one of the thirstiest people I’ve ever met. I guess it’s just as simple as that? Kyle and Mau are our friends and my kids call them uncle and auntie. Do you think this is ok for my kids to see when it’s a disgusting lie?”She continued, “If this is the only way you can make a buck then so be it but at least have some decency and stop trying to peddle false narratives especially when you know there is ZERO truth behind it and your whole motive is to just hurt people for no reason. It’s sad, pathetic and bound to bite you in the ass inevitably.”

Dorit also denied the rumors in an interview on Watch What Happens Live in September 2022. “I mean, what do you think I feel?” “Honey, listen, when something is so ridiculous, you just kind of discount it,” she said. “It’s something that sticks a chord only because Mau, PK, Kyle and I, we’re friends together and it is such a nothing and to have someone start those vile rumors, it’s gross.”  Dorit, who told host Andy Cohen that she didn’t want to “give air to” the rumor, also called the speculation “annoying as F.” PK, who was in the audience for the episode, also joked, “When she’s got steak, why would she want a cheeseburger?”

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