Viewers of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills always enjoyed Mauricio Umansky during his time on the series. He was engaging, funny, and driven, and his bromance with PK Kemsley was everything. Over the years, fans invested their time not only in watching the series but also in following Mau and Kyle Richards’ relationship. They were the Bravo couple that stood the test of time. The exception to the Bravo divorce curse. But after 27 years, something happened between the duo, and they decided a separation was for the best. Now Mauricio went from husband of the year to the number one villain in the group, and he isn’t even a full-time cast member.
Mauricio Umansky was “passive-aggressive” according to RHOBH’s Jennifer Tilly
It was only a matter of time before Erika Jayne inserted herself into the drama. During her friendship with Kyle, she was always a good support system for the OG. And the moment Mauricio’s eyes started to wander, she was there to call him out. While speaking on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills After Show, Erika made it clear she was Team Kyle. The Rollercoaster singer revealed she was upset for her friend when Mau replaced an office photo of Kyle with one of his Dancing with the Stars partner. “I did not like this. I don’t like it now, I don’t like it then. That is not cool. I’m sorry. Well, you know what, I’m not sorry. I’m not sorry. I don’t like it … If you’re looking Mau, I still don’t like you for doing that. I’m sorry, all sh*t aside, put it in the back.”
Even newbie Jennifer Tilly agreed, noting, “That is shots fired. That is deliberate. That’s like a passive-aggressive thing ’cause he’s got to know that she is going to walk into his office at some point and see that and get some sort of message. That is very cold-blooded [and] harsh … Especially since there was some sort of kerfuffle about the dance partner.”
The other RHOBH cast members are also calling out Mauricio Umansky’s bad behavior
Garcelle Beauvais stood up for Kyle, and the two have had a rough season. The Coming to America actor called the photo move “bullsh*t. Replace it with a picture of you and the kids, not a picture of you and your dance partner.” Erika went on to say that “her husband has clearly moved on.” Kathy Hilton shared that seeing the photos for the first time made her feel “strange. Sad.” Even Andy Cohen made a point to ask Kyle about her issues with Mau during the RHOBH reunion. The Agency owner has made it really easy to be painted as the villain, yet Kyle is still defending him.
For years, Mau’s fidelity has been questioned during his time on the series. No stories have ever come out, but Bravolebs and fans alike have wondered if he has always been faithful. By refusing to share his side of the story, fans are forced to write their own narrative about what went down between the duo. Mau’s ability to play the media into catching saucy snaps makes him a great villain. As Sutton Stracke noted, paparazzi weren’t just waiting at the tropical airport.
Should RHOBH’s Kyle Richards have stood up for herself more?
I believe most Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fans would agree that Kyle should have made more of an effort to stand up for herself. She seemed too shy to interject her real opinions into the matter, essentially letting Mau skate by on a sheepish apology. She shared on the After show that, “He apologized, and he felt horrible. And, you know, he got a tongue-lashing from the four other Kyles.” According to Kyle, she doesn’t “feel angry … [But] when I saw those photos, it was very jarring at first because, to me, in my mind, that’s my husband of all these years. How weird to see him with another woman at all.”
Fans aren’t buying that the mother of four wasn’t angry with the public embarrassment. She has stated more than once that she and Mau will still have a good friendship after their process is finalized. But for many, it feels like Kyle could be living in a dream world. Mau is out and about living his very single life. And what’s Kyle doing? For now, it looks as if she is sitting and waiting for him to make the next call when she should be the one taking control. Fingers crossed we get Mau making cameos next season, as it will be interesting to see what shenanigans he plays up next.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is available to stream on Peacock and can be viewed on Hayu in the UK and Ireland.
