Kyle Richards is breathing a sigh of relief after having a difficult conversation with her four daughters about her 'evolving sexuality.'
The 55-year-old Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star — who previously admitted she was 'terrified' to have the conversation — revealed to People that she felt 'loved' and 'supported' by her children after opening up to them.
She has been under pressure to share more details about her sexuality as rumors have swirled in recent years of a lesbian relationship between herself and the country singer Morgan Wade, 29.
Kyle shares her oldest daughter, 36-year-old Farrah Aldjufrie, with her ex-husband Guraish Aldjufrie, and she and her estranged husband Mauricio Umansky later welcomed three more daughters: Alexia, 28; Sophia, 24; and Portia, 15.
'The fact that there were so many rumors out there, I took that opportunity to have that conversation with my daughters to be able to say to them, "Listen, we know what's being said, but this is where I stand and how I actually feel, and I'm sharing this with you because I've always led by example,"' she explained.
Kyle Richards, 55, revealed how her four daughters reacted to her disclosure about her 'evolving sexuality' in a new interview with People, following rumors of a lesbian romance with the country singer Morgan Wade (pictured, R)
she felt 'loved' and 'supported' by her children after opening up to them. Seen with daughters Farrah Aldjufrie, 36; Alexia, 28; Sophia, 24; and Portia, 15
She added that she wanted her children to know they could always turn to her for 'hard conversations' while being secure in the knowledge that 'they're going to be loved and accepted no matter what.
She added that her daughters are her 'best friends,' and said she 'wanted to share that with them out of respect for them.
Part of what made her hesitant to discuss the topic of her sexuality was the fact that she was 'raised a certain way with certain beliefs,' but once she became cognizant of that it became easier for her to change how she felt.
'Regardless of whether it's getting a tattoo at my age or my sexuality, whatever it is, I was like, you know, I have my own thoughts and my own beliefs on this,' she said.
Despite her fears about her daughters' reactions, everything turned out better than she could have hoped.
'The reaction I was met with just blew me away with all four of my daughters, and I felt so loved and so supported,' she shared, adding that it was one of the moments that made her 'most proud' to be a mother.
'They just want me to be happy,' she gushed. 'They're like, "We just want you to be happy and that's all we care about."'
She continued: 'I said something to my daughter Alexia, I said, "Well, you know, I'm just trying to think what's practical," and she said, "You don't have to be practical anymore."'
That led to an epiphany for Kyle.
'I was like, "Wait a minute, hold on a minute. I don't have to be practical, OK,"' she recalled thinking, adding that her daughters are 'still are my best friends and biggest supporters.'
They urged her to examine old-fashioned beliefs she grew up with and gave her permission to not be 'practical.' Kyle raved that her daughters are her best friends
Kyle noted that Morgan isn't signed up to appear on RHOBH — and doesn't want to; pictured together in 2022 in Nashville
Rumors of a romance between the two women spread, particularly after Kyle and her husband Mauricio Umansky separated late last year
Kyle — whose half-sister Kathy Hilton recently weighed in on whether she's ready to start dating again — has been swept up in rumors of a lesbian romance with the country singer in recent months.
They only escalated after Kyle and Mauricio separated late last year.
Afterward, she and the singer were nearly inseparable, and they even went as far as get matching heart tattoos and wear matching rings.
The lady friends poked fun at the rumors in August 2023, when Kyle starred in Morgan's steamy video for Fall In Love With Me.
The reality star played a love interest to the hitmaker, and the two women even shared a steamy kiss.
But the two haven't been seen together much in recent months.
While speaking to People, Kyle said that Morgan is 'not signed up to be on the [RHOBH]' and 'doesn’t want to be part of the show.'
She also stressed that opening up about her sexuality was about her own development, and not related to other people.
Kyle and Morgan have matching heart tattoos and wear matching rings, which ramped up speculation; seen in April 2023 in LA
The rumors ramped up after Kyle appeared in Morgan's steamy Fall In Love With Me music video in August and shared a kiss with her
'I addressed it on the show this season because I am an open book and I want to be as honest as I can about myself,' she said.
'It's not because it's anyone's business but because it actually is freeing to me to be honest and is sort of a therapy in a weird way doing the show and having to address these things.'
That said, Kyle still 'thought it was important because of all the speculation that was out there.'
The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills returns for its latest season on Bravo on Tuesday, November 19, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
