Kyle Richards Reportedly 'Hurt' By Mauricio Umansky Replacing Her Picture With His 'DWTS' Partner
By Afouda Bamidele on November 27, 2024 at 11:15 AM EST
Kyle Richards may be separated from Mauricio Umansky, but that doesn't mean she won't be displeased by a new woman in his life.
The "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star recently made waves for getting "hurt" by her estranged husband's decision to replace her picture with that of his former "Dancing With The Stars" partner, Emma Slater.
Mauricio Umansky and the pro dancer sparked dating rumors in 2023 while on the competitive dance show; however, they denied being romantically linked. It is unclear if their relationship status has changed, but Kyle Richards does not seem happy with the possibility.
Kyle Richards Is Displeased By Mauricio Umansky's New Picture On His Desk
During episode 2 of the 14th season of "RHOBH," Sutton Stracke revealed that Umansky had replaced Richards' picture with Slater's. She dropped the bombshell allegation while talking to co-stars Kathy Hilton and Erika Jayne.
She claimed Umansky had taken down his photo with Richards that once graced his home office desk and switched it with an image of him and Slater. The Bravolebrities were stunned by the photo swap, with Stracke claiming their pal was "hurt" by the change.
"I mean, at that point, for me, I'm like, 'Bye, Mauricio.' But I don't think Kyle did that. I just think she was hurt and kind of hopeful. Hurt and hopeful," Stracke said, noting the photo swap would have been the final straw for her if she was in Richards' shoes, per BRAVO.
'RHOBH' Stars Slam Umansky For 'Passive Aggressive' Photo Swap
Richards' co-stars did not hold back their anger against Umansky, with Hilton exclaiming: "Are you serious? It would be one thing taking it down. But to then put that up? Come on."
Jayne, who previously competed on "DWTS," revealed she owned an 8x10 photo of her and her "very handsome" dance partner. However, unlike Umansky, the picture would never be found hanging in her home.
Jennifer Tilly believed the photo swap was "deliberate" and called out Richards' estranged beau for being "passive-aggressive." She stressed that he knew their pal would eventually walk into his office and see Slater's picture on his desk.
Garcelle Beauvais echoed similar sentiments, claiming there were better options if Umansky did not want Richards' picture in his office. "Replace it with a picture of you and the kids. Not you and the dance partner... That's not OK. That's bullsh-t," she declared.
How Does Richards Feel About Umansky's Move?
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Kyle, who wasn't present when Stracke broke the news, shared how she felt about Umansky's photo swap on the program's "After Show." Although she understood why he might have removed her picture, it did not make it less painful.
"Didn't love that. I understand to a certain degree because — no, I only understand part of this, hold on — because that's his desk, and right in front of his face is an 8x10 of him kissing my cheek, staring at him all day," she said, adding:
"So I can understand him not wanting to stare at that if it hurt him or, you know, was difficult for him and putting that away. But did you need to put up that photo? [ ... ] It was a really dumb thing to do, honestly."
The Bravolebrity Wasn't Happy With The ‘DWTS’ Duo's Dating Rumors
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Following their time on “DWTS” season 32 in 2023, Umansky and Slater maintained a close relationship. They reportedly bonded over their respective separations, with the pro dancer ending her ties to Sasha Farber in 2022.
Although their bond sparked dating rumors, the pair repeatedly claimed their relationship was platonic. However, when the paparazzi caught them holding hands, Richards was forced to address her feelings about the speculated couple.
On “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” the TV personality confessed she was displeased seeing Umansky and Slater’s lovey-dovey pictures. “I was taken aback,” Richards began, adding:
“That was very hard to see. Yes, that hurt my feelings... I love him very much, and we are amicable, but that really did hurt me.”
Kyle Richards Removed ‘Wife’ From Her Instagram Bio
Although Richards has not filed for divorce from Umansky, she has fed the no reconciliation narrative with her actions. The Blast reported that she removed her “wife” status from her Instagram bio in July.
The title previously held a prominent spot between “mom” and “actor,” leaving her updated bio as “Mom, actor, author, producer, animal lover, a RHOBH, CAA.” The change comes two months after Richards ditched her estranged husband’s last name.
In May, her social media pages changed from “Kyle Richards Umansky" to "Kyle Richards." The name-drop occurred amid reports of Umansky's decision to leave their shared home for a bachelor pad. He allegedly bought a luxury condo in the same building as Matt Damon's multi-million dollar unit.
Will Mauricio Umansky address why he removed Kyle Richards’ picture from his desk?