Gina Kirschenheiter hopes Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky’s flame will reignite despite their headline-making separation.
“I’m rooting for them because they’re so stinkin’ cute together, honestly,” the “Real Housewives of Orange County” star says on Pvnew’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast while promoting her own podcast, “Orange Country.”
“I believe in that couple,” she adds of the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” OG and her newly estranged spouse. “They’re both so hot!”
Like many fans of Richards, 54, and Umansky, 53, Kirschenheiter, 39, tells us she was “sad” to learn they had decided to separate following 27 years of marriage.
Pvnew confirmed the split Monday, hours before the duo released a joint statement via social media, admitting to a “rough” year together but denying speculation of a divorce.
“The most challenging one of our marriage,” the statement read in part. “But we both love and respect each other tremendously.”
Kirschenheiter — who navigated a public breakup from her now-ex-husband, Matt Kirschenheiter, in recent years before finding love again with beau Travis Mullen — applauds Richards for “being honest” about the state of her relationship with Umansky.
“They had the worst year of their marriage, and that happens, right? And that sucks. And I just feel so bad for them,” she says. “I hope they figure it out, and I hope that they come back together.”
People was the first to report Richards and Umansky’s separation Monday, with a source telling the magazine that they “have been separated for a while now.”
The insider noted that the two — who tied the knot in January 1996 and share daughters Alexia, 27, Sophia, 23, and Portia, 15 — “remain amicable as they figure out what’s next for them and their family.”
In the wake of their split news, Richards and Umansky have been spotted grabbing dinner in Aspen, Colo., where they also celebrated the Fourth of July. Umansky was noticeably still wearing his wedding band during the trip, but it was unclear whether Richards kept hers on.
Although it appears as if a reconciliation is possible, Gina says “it’s OK” if Richards and Umansky decide to part ways for good — no matter how great they look together.
“You just have to decide what’s right for you as a couple and as a family. And I really am starting to realize in my life that if you’ve been together for that long, you really can just value those relationships,” Gina says.
“It doesn’t have to be such a tragedy.”
“The Real Housewives of Orange County” airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock.
