Kyle Richards Addresses *Those* Photos of Mauricio Umansky: "I Was Taken Aback"

After photos of Mauricio Umansky being out with dance pro, Emma Slater, amid his latest career move made headlines earlier this week, Kyle Richards addressed the photos in which they looked like they were holding hands head-on when she stopped by the Bravo Clubhouse in the days after the photos made the news.

Kyle Richards responds to photos of Mauricio Umansky holding hands with Emma Slater 

Kyle spoke about the photos during her appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Oct. 25, the same day as the Season 13 premiere of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. "I was taken aback. That was very hard to see," she said. "Yes, that hurt my feelings... I love him very much and we are amicable but that really did hurt me."

From there, Kyle also shared why she took down an Instagram supporting Mauricio's latest career endeavor amid the news, but she offered up new insight into it all in the WWHL clip above.

Mauricio addresses the photo with Emma Slater

In a post shared to Instagram on Oct. 26, via E! News, Mauricio shared the backstory on the photo: 

 "We went to a restaurant to go get some sushi right after rehearsal, we were in our rehearsal clothes," he said. "Lots of the stories are wrong. And yes it's a very emotional week, we were talking about the week during dinner and when we came out of dinner, we were recapping and I reached out to grab Emma's hand, and she grabbed my hand."

"And then we walked to the cars just recapping and then the paparazzi caught that moment and it's become a blown-out moment," he added.

Where Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky Stand Today in Their Marriage

Photo: Bravo

In the same week the photos lit up the internet, Mauricio posted a tribute to his life with Kyle ahead of his performance.

He wrote that the dance paid homage to "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. My time was 1996 when Kyle and I got married and Alexia was born, 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."

The Season 13 of premiere of RHOBH quickly delved into the issues in Kyle and Mauricio's marriage amid the speculation that they have separated (Kyle later confirmed the separation during her WWHL appearance on Oct. 25).

In a confessional interview featured in the Season 13 premiere episode, Kyle explained, "Mo and I have had a challenging year together. He has been working non-stop [and] I've been working. When you have to schedule a meeting to go over your schedule, you know it's a problem."

Ahead of the premiere, Kyle also reflected on the emotional season ahead and how she feels now that fans will get to follow her on this journey.

"13 years… Here we go again. Each season always brings surprise twists and turns," she said. "This season more than ever. I am normally one to isolate when I am struggling, so navigating through this time in my life while cameras were rolling was challenging to say the least. I am grateful that are plenty of fun times too. Ultimately that has been what has kept me coming back year after year. That and my relationships with the people that make RHOBH. Cast and crew. So, now it’s time to sit back and watch (and for me to relive these moments. Good and bad.) As always, thank you for watching. And thank you for coming along on this wild ride we call life."

You can see more of Kyle and Mauricio and follow their journey together on Season 13 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Bravo and the next day on Peacock.