The latest episode of The Real Housewives of Potomac has sparked a fresh wave of drama, with Kyle Richards taking aim at fellow Housewife Ashley Boalch Darby for apparently flirting with her estranged husband, Mauricio Umansky. The incident unfolded during Wednesday's broadcast, setting the stage for a cross-franchise confrontation that has left fans buzzing.
Aspen Encounter Sparks Controversy
The scene was set in the luxurious mountain town of Aspen, Colorado, where Darby and a group of friends were enjoying an all-girls' getaway. Upon spotting Umansky, Darby was heard remarking, 'he's a single man now', a comment that would later draw sharp criticism from Richards. The 55-year-old real estate mogul, who remains legally married to Richards, was in Aspen where the estranged couple still jointly own a lavish $13.6 million four-bedroom property.
Wing Woman Pressure and Immediate Shutdown
After Umansky revealed his availability for the evening to the group, fellow Housewife Stacey Rusch took on the role of 'wing woman', actively encouraging Darby to make a move. However, Gizelle Bryant swiftly intervened, expressing concerns about a potential 'Beverly Hills Potomac showdown'. Bryant firmly declared, 'No, Mauricio is off limits to all of us', effectively putting an end to the interaction.
In a private confessional, Bryant revealed her own strong attraction to The Agency founder, secretly gushing, 'Mauricio would definitely be somebody that I spent some quality time with horizontal.' She expanded on these feelings during the RHOP After Show, making a startling confession: 'If Mauricio wasn't connected to Kyle, I would have already had sex with Mauricio. I would have definitely pounced on him. He gets the panties for sure!'
Richards' Blistering Response
Unaware that Bryant had expressed far more explicit interest, Richards directed her criticism squarely at Darby during a recent hour-long Amazon Livestream. The former child star, who has only seen a trailer of the episode, expressed her disbelief at the situation.
'I mean, if she was flirting, that's weird,' Richards scoffed. 'I would never - I was talking about this yesterday - be able to date anybody that any of the women, Housewives, dated or were married to. That's just weird. I don't know. And I'm like, "You're embarrassing yourself doing that on camera." And he just bumped into them, by the way.'
Mixed Messages and Behind-the-Scenes Communication
Richards did acknowledge that Bryant had reached out to her immediately after the encounter, texting to explain they had run into Umansky. 'She texted me right away because she felt uncomfortable,' Richards revealed. 'She was like, "Just so you know, we ran into Mauricio," and I was like, "All good." I mean, I couldn't care, you know. Everyone can do what they want. I just thought "that's embarrassing." I don't know. Like I said, I didn't see it though so I shouldn't really comment.'
Reflecting on what has been dubbed 'flirt gate', Darby expressed her own frustrations, wishing Bryant had 'chilled out' and not labelled her a 'hot mess' in front of Umansky. 'Why try to make me look bad in front of him?' the 37-year-old Miss District of Columbia 2011 questioned.
Complex Relationship Histories
The drama unfolds against a backdrop of complicated personal histories for all involved:
- Richards and Umansky separated in 2023 after 27 years of marriage but have yet to file for divorce
- The amicable exes share three daughters together - Sophia (25), Alexia (29), and Portia (17)
- Richards also has daughter Farrah (37) from her previous marriage to Guraish Aldjufrie
- Darby has two young sons from her eight-year marriage to Australian restaurateur Michael Darby, which ended in 2022
- Bryant has three daughters from her seven-year marriage to pastor Jamal Bryant, which concluded in 2009
Previous Controversies and Future Appearances
This is not the first time Umansky's post-separation behaviour has drawn attention. Richards has previously accused him of being 'indiscreet' and entering his 'ho era', citing public displays of affection with various women including FBoy Island alum Celisa 'CJ' Franco, Russian actress Nikita Khan, and Instagram model Klaudia K.
In a particularly notable incident, the Skims brand ambassador appeared in Morgan Wade's music video for Fall in Love with Me in 2023 - just one month after her separation from Umansky - featuring intimate scenes including kissing and sharing a bubble bath.
Fans can expect to see more of this unfolding drama in season 15 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which continues to air on Bravo. Additionally, Richards is set to guest star as Celeste in the ten-episode fourth season of David E. Kelley's legal drama The Lincoln Lawyer, premiering on Netflix in February.
The Aspen incident highlights the complex web of relationships and loyalties within the Real Housewives universe, demonstrating how personal boundaries continue to be tested even after separations, with cameras capturing every awkward moment for entertainment consumption.
