Kyle Richards Speaks Out: Unraveling the 'Strange' Explanation Behind Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater's Hand-Holding Drama - lulu

   

Kyle Richards has mixed feelings about her estranged husband Mauricio Umansky’s explanation for why he and Emma Slater were caught holding hands.

The “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star, 54, said Saturday on the “Two Ts in a Pod” podcast from BravoCon 2023 that she feels “undecided” about the situation.

“But listen, we are separated,” she told her pal Teddi Mellencamp, who hosts the podcast alongside Tamra Judge. “So, we’re allowed to do what we want.”

“It’s just, you know, strange to see. I don’t know,” the Bravolebrity added, seemingly struggling to accurately describe her emotions.

“We were married almost 28 years. So, that’s hard to see.”

Pictures of Umansky, 53, and Slater, 34, holding hands in Los Angeles first surfaced on Oct. 23.

Kyle Richards on Two Ts In A Pod podcast

Kyle Richards told pal and podcaster Teddi Mellencamp she feels “undecided” about Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater’s hand-holding drama.two.ts.inapod/Instagram

Kyle Richards on Two Ts In A Pod podcast

“But listen, we are separated,” the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star added. “So we’re allowed to do what we want.”two.ts.inapod/Instagram

Kyle Richards on Two Ts In A Pod podcast

“It’s just, you know, strange to see. I don’t know,” she continued.kylerichards18/Instagram

The dance partners then addressed the romance speculation via an Instagram Story on Oct. 26.

“We do want to address this story, this whole thing, going out and about whether or not Emma and I are dating — whether we went out on a date,” they began. “For full clarity, we are not dating.”

Umansky and Slater claimed their daily rehearsal schedule allowed them to become super close over a six-week period and that they have a “special bond.”

Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater

The “Dancing With the Stars” Season 32 partners took to Slater’s Instagram Story to deny dating rumors on Oct. 26.theemmaslater/Instagram

The real estate mogul then directly addressed the hand-holding photos, saying they were taken after they grabbed sushi together.

“When we came out of dinner, we were recapping and I reached out to grab Emma’s hand, and she grabbed my hand, and we, you know, walked to the cars just recapping and summarizing and then the paparazzi caught that moment. It’s become a blown-out moment,” he claimed.

Richards admitted days later on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” that she was “taken aback” by the photos.

Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater

The dance partners noted that while they have a “special bond,” they are not more than friends.theemmaslater/Instagram

“That’s very hard to see … that hurt my feelings,” she said on the Bravo talk show at the time.

Andy Cohen asked whether she felt there might be a spark between the dance partners, and Richards replied that there could be.

“I just don’t think you hold hands like that [if you’re friends],” she theorized.

Mauricio Umansky and Kyle Richards

Richards and Umansky confirmed their separation in late September after months of breakup rumors.Instagram/@mumansky18

Richards, who has repeatedly denied rumors that she’s dating singer Morgan Wade, also said on “Two Ts in a Pod” why her circumstance is different than her estranged husband’s situation.

“I’ve seen people say, ‘Oh, but you’ve been running around with your friend.’ First of all … there’s no weird pictures of me with anybody on the internet at all,” she bluntly stated.

Richards then confirmed she encouraged her ex to compete on “Dancing With the Stars,” but said Umansky’s chemistry with Slater isn’t “easy” for her to see.

Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater

The real estate mogul and Slater were spotted holding hands in Los Angeles in October.ABC via Getty Images

“I really wanted him to do well and I voted for them every week, and you know, I was very supportive,” she explained. “With that said, it’s a lot, you know, it really is.”

Richards said even though she and Umansky are “allowed to do what [they] each want to do,” she opined that they should keep it “under wraps.”

Kyle Richards smiling

“That’s very hard to see … that hurt my feelings,” Richards said on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.”

Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky attend the Elton John AIDS Foundation's 31st Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 12, 2023

Richards and Umansky have been married since 1996 and share three biological children.Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation

Umansky confirmed on Sept. 29 he and Richards decided to separate after months of breakup rumors.

However, he exclusively told Page Six just days later that their love story is not completely over.

“We’re struggling. We’ve been very open about it,” the Agency founder noted. “We’re separated, [but] we’re not throwing in the towel yet.”

Source : pagesix.com