Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise is known for its divorce curse. We’ve seen many of these cases on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills since it premiered in 2010. Even Harry Hamlin had his “divorce lawyer on speed dial” when his wife, Lisa Rinna joined season 5 in 2014. “I said to Lisa, ‘You can’t do this. Everybody who does that show gets divorced. It’s a horrible, horrible thing to do that show,” recalled the Mad Men alum. So it’s probably good Lisa exited the series in January 2023 after season 12.
Excluding Brandi Glanville—who came on the show while already processing her divorce from Eddie Cibrian, who had an affair with his now-wife, LeAnn Rimes—eight couples ended their marriages after starring on RHOBH. Three of them include yet-to-be-filed-or-finalized divorces, including Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky’s questionable separation after 27 years of marriage. Here’s a round-up of all the show’s marriage breakups.
8 Camille Meyer And Kelsey Grammer
Camille received a huge divorce settlement after Kelsey cheated on her with his current wife.
Camille left ‘RHOBH’ after seasons 1 and 2 but made guest appearances in seasons 3, 5, 7, and 13.
In season 1 of RHOBH, fans witnessed Camille’s 13-year marriage with Kelsey fall apart. As it turned out, the Frasier actor got the former Playboy model a spot on the show as a “parting gift” in 2010. Kelsey then stayed in New York where he carried on an affair with his now-wife, flight attendant Kayte Walsh. In February 2011, the divorce became official. Camille received a $30 million settlement. Appearing on Andy Cohen’s Then & Now in 2017, she said:
“Thank God I didn’t have a prenup. Thank you, Kelsey. I guess you loved me at one point.”
In 2019, Kelsey called Camille “pathetic” as he claimed that she asked him for divorce on the day of his mother’s funeral. “Honestly, I don’t really talk about her very much, because so much of her life is spent talking about me, and I just think it’s sort of pathetic,” he told In Depth with Graham Bensinger at that time. “A month after I had a heart attack, my mother died — 12 years ago now.”
He continued: “The day of my mother’s funeral, my third wife basically had an explosion about something. And started to tell me, ‘I’m out of this, I’m out of here.’ Again. ‘I want a divorce.’ Blah, blah, blah, which, we’d had the same conversation for eight years, and it was tiresome. I realized at that moment that I was done with her, that I was not gonna end up in this relationship for much longer. And somewhere under a year, I was done.”
Camille, who previously called Kelsey a closeted cross-dresser, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “This is not true. My parents were with us in the Hamptons when we received the news about his [mom’s] passing. We consoled him and flew back to LA to make arrangements for her funeral. It’s unfortunate that he is rewriting history.” The couple share two children together, a daughter named Mason and son, Jude.
On February 25, 2011, Kelsey married Kayte, just 18 days after his divorce with Camille was finalized. Camille is now married to defense attorney, David C. Meyer. They tied the knot in October 2018, most likely with a prenup as she promised herself after her first marriage.
Kelsey has a net worth of $80 million while Camille has an individual net worth of $50 million and a combined fortune of over $80 million with her current husband.
7 Taylor Armstrong And Russell Armstrong
Russell committed suicide after Taylor filed for divorce due to his being verbally and physically abusive.
Taylor left ‘RHOBH’ after seasons 1 to 3. She made guest appearances from seasons 4 to 6 before transferring to ‘Real Housewives of Orange County’ (a franchise first) as a season 17 “Friend of the Housewives”.
After filming season 2, Taylor announced that she had filed for divorce from Russell, citing verbal and physical abuse on July 1, 2011, after six years of marriage. Calling it a “difficult decision” back then, she had requested primary physical custody and joint legal custody of their daughter, Kennedy.
But by the end of that month, a company sued the couple for $1.5 million, accusing Russell of misappropriating funds Taylor allegedly helped him spend. Russell committed suicide two weeks after the legal scandal broke. In this timeline, you’ll see why some people think RHOBH might have influenced Russell’s tragic passing:
March 22, 2006 | Russell’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing from 2005—for failing to pay his $48,742 to American Express—was converted to Chapter 11. |
May 11, 2011 | Taylor denied rumors of their divorce, saying she and Russell were “both really committed to making their marriage work.” |
July 1, 2011 | Taylor filed for divorce after being physically abused by Russell “maybe 20 times” during their marriage, including when she was pregnant with Kennedy. |
July 15, 2011 | Taylor publicly announced her divorce filing. |
July 29, 2011 | Both Taylor and Russell were named in a $1.5 million lawsuit accusing the latter of “engaging in a pattern of self-dealing…designed to enrich” himself and his wife. |
August 15, 2011 | Russell committed suicide by hanging on the same day Bravo teased fans about showing Taylor’s struggle with “a loveless marriage” in season 3, which for her, meant “a lot more tears and a lot more pain.” |
August 16, 2011 | Russell’s ex-wife, Barbara Ann Armstrong blamed Taylor for his death: “I don’t care for her at all. I think she’s the reason for this.” |
March 18, 2019 | Taylor told Laura Wasser’s Divorce Sucks! podcast, “It had never crossed my mind in the past” that Russell would end his own life because “he was very narcissistic.” |
March 18, 2019 | As Taylor continued to remind Kennedy of good memories of her father, one time, she told the reality star, “Mommy, why would you miss a boy that screamed at you all the time?” |
6 Adrienne Maloof And Paul Nassif
Adrienne and Paul accused each other of violence during their divorce proceedings.
Adrienne left ‘RHOBH’ after seasons 1 to 3, but made guest appearances in seasons 5, 6, 8, and 10.
Ahead of season 3, Paul filed for legal separation from Adrienne after 10 years of marriage in July 2012. Citing “irreconcilable differences”, he also asked for joint physical and legal custody of their three sons: Gavin, and twins Christian and Colin. At that time, the latter told Radar: “I’m so sorry that this is happening but my children are my life and sometimes we need to do what’s best for them.”
“It’s an unfortunate situation but, I have to have my kids’ best interest at heart.”
Fans thought it was an amicable split until divorce proceedings started, and the couple accused each other of violence. Paul accused Adrienne of being “unpredictable”, “physically violent”, and “toxic” to their children. She allegedly “verbally and physically abused him in front of the children, undermining his authority by calling him a ‘moron’, ‘idiot’, ‘dumb’, and ‘stupid’,” per People.
A source close to Adrienne claimed that Paul was just as abusive. “Physically, all Adrienne has ever done is defend herself,” they said. In the reality star’s statement, she said her ex-husband had “a violent temper and often ‘shoved’ her to the ground, ‘pulled’ her hair and ‘yelled’ at her.”
Adrienne added that the Botched star “carries a gun in his briefcase, which he leaves unlocked … [and] the children are afraid of him.” People then reported Paul eventually turned in his licensed gun—which he owned “primarily to protect his sons from death threats that might affect their multimillion-dollar inheritance”—to the Beverly Hills Police Department. In August 2013, the couple reached a divorce agreement and decided to focus on co-parenting their children.
An ironclad prenup protected Adrienne’s $300 million fortune during her divorce from Paul, who’s worth $40 million.
5 Yolanda Hadid And David Foster
David reportedly told Yolanda, “Your sick card is up,” when he left her amid her Lyme Disease battle.
Yolanda starred in ‘RHOBH’ from seasons 3 to 6.
In 2011, Yolanda and David tied the knot after five years of dating. The following year, the Dutch model joined RHOBH for its third season. At that time, the mother of Bella and Gigi Hadid had just been diagnosed with Lyme Disease, which the cast of the series initially doubted. Unfortunately, David’s supportive nature through Yolanda’s illness on TV was a farce.
Before filing for divorce in 2015, the musician reportedly told Yolanda, “Your sick card is up.” The divorce was finalized in 2017. In her memoir, Believe Me: My Battle With the Invisibility of Lyme Disease, Yolanda wrote about her health’s impact on her marriage to David, saying:
“He lost his wingman, his partner in crime, and I fell as if he’s starting to get impatient with my recovery. I understand that even brief periods of illness can strain important relationships in your life. A chronic condition like mine, one that has consumed years of our lives, poses enormous challenges.”
In his 2020 Netflix documentary, David Foster: Off the Record, the Canadian record producer denied Yolanda’s claims. “How can I leave a sick woman?” he said while refusing to state the real reason of their split. “The fact of the matter is that was not the reason I left. It was for a different reason—which I will never disclose—that had nothing to do with her being sick.” He then hinted that being on RHOBH might have been a factor.
“My wife at the time wanted to do the show,” David shared. “I didn’t want to be the guy to say no.”
David was first spotted with Katherine McPhee in May 2017 while he was still finalizing his divorce from Yolanda Hadid. They got married in June 2019.
4. Carlton Gebbia And David Gebbia
Carlton and David still live together for the sake of their kids after their separation.
Carlton Gebbia was fired from RHOBH after her season 5 stint.
Known for her sex dungeon and her Wiccan faith, which sparked tensions with Kyle Richards, Carlton was probably ahead of her time during her one-season stint on the show in 2013. So four years later, fans expressed their support when she announced her separation from David in August 2016. The two got married in 1997. They have two daughters, Destiny and Mysteri, and a son named Cross.
“It was never a verbal decision between him and I. It just sort of happened naturally. It was a gradual breakup of our relationship over a period of time,” Carlton told People at that time . “This man was my soulmate for 20 years and never would I have imagined this. He was my everything, but we’ve been together a long time.”
The British designer also acknowledged the show’s divorce curse. “I have heard about the Housewives curse, my experience with Bravo and the show actually made my relationship with David stronger,” she added. “He has always had my back, but this was like a different animal. We had a partnership and worked really well together.” After their split, the ex-couple still lived “under the same roof for the wellness of their children” before finalizing their divorce in August 2018.
Carlton reportedly amassed her $100 million net worth from the businesses he ran alongside her ex-husband, including Gebbia Custom Estates, StockCross Financial Services, and management of NBA and NFL players.
3 Erika Jayne And Tom Girardi
Erika and Tom’s divorce is yet to be finalized after she filed in 2020 amid his embezzlement scandal.
Erika Jayne joined ‘RHBOH’ in season 6.
In 1999, 28-year-old Erika Jayne married then-60-year-old Tom Girardi. He famously represented Erin Brockovich in her case against Pacific Gas and Electric in 1993—a year after Erika gave birth to her only son, Tommy Zizzo, from a previous relationship. On the show, the pair looked like they had a happy marriage despite their controversial age gap. So everyone was surprised when the XXPEN$IVE performer filed for divorce in November 2020.
Erika is currently worth $5 million while Tom’s $264 million net worth is down to $100,000 following his fraud cases.
The following months, fans called the separation a “scam” amid Tom’s embezzlement lawsuit. By March 2021, Erika was also named in at least five lawsuits against her estranged husband. A judge eventually found no evidence of wrongdoing on the singer’s part after she was alleged of aiding and abetting in Tom’s $2 million lawsuit. The latter was recently deemed competent to stand trial despite being diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
2. Kyle Richards And Mauricio Umansky
Kyle is now “more than ready to divorce” Mauricio after he was seen kissing another woman.
Kyle is the only season 1 OG left on ‘RHOBH’.
Kyle and Mauricio got married in 1996 when they were both in their mid-20s. For the longest time, fans believed the show’s OGs would never be victims of the divorce curse. But as it turned out, season 1 medium, Allison DuBois, may have been right when she warned Kyle during a chaotic dinner that Mau had “will never fulfill” her because they had “nothing in common.”
“He will never emotionally fulfill you—ever. Know that,” Allison said at that time. “He will never emotionally fulfill you, but you will stay with him, and he will take care of you. And as soon as the kids are bigger, you’ll have nothing in common.”
In April 2023, the couple denied rumors of them getting divorced. But a source eventually revealed “Kyle and Mauricio have been separated for a while now but are still living under the same roof” in July 2023. In season 13, fans saw their relationship end, including Kyle’s sudden close friendship with Morgan Wade that sparked rumors of a lesbian romance. Around that time, Mau also discussed the split with her daughters in Buying Beverly Hills season 2.
“Your mom came and she talked to me and said, ‘I think I need space,'” he said, tearfully. “She said to me, ‘Listen, the rules are: you go out, you date, you do whatever it is you want to do. I’m not going to be asking you what you’re doing, I don’t want you to be asking me what I’m doing. We are separated.”
By May 2024, Kyle and Mau were no longer living together. The Halloween star admitted it’s now so “quiet” in her home after getting used to a full house with their daughters, Farrah, Alexia, Sophia, and Portia. Two months later, an insider told People that “no one is rushing to get a divorce”.
They said they were taking the time to figure out “how to establish their individual lives while remaining connected as a family.” But after The Agency founder’s recent kissing sighting with another woman, a source claimed Kyle is now “more than ready to divorce Mauricio” and “take him to the cleaners!”
Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky didn’t have a prenup when they got married. They each have an estimated net worth of $100 million.
1. Dorit Kemsley And PK Kemsley
Dorit and PK have separated but are still “committed to working” on their marriage.
Dorit joined ‘RHOBH’ in season 7.
In October 2022, Erika said PK and Dorit were the next RHOBH couple headed for divorce on Watch What Happens Live. It started some drama between the housewives in season 13. “To see you behave like that was deeply hurtful,” Dorit told her co-star. “What you said about PK and I was mean-spirited.” Erika thought she was being too sensitive. As it turned out, it just hit too close to home. The couple confirmed their separation in March this year, via their Instagram Stories.
“To safeguard our deep friendship and maintain a harmonious environment for our children we have made the mutual and difficult decision to take some time apart and reevaluate our relationship while we prioritize our children,” they wrote in their joint statement.
The news came after Dorit’s struggle with PTSD following her 2021 home invasion. In season 13, PK lamented to their therapist that “there are elements” he didn’t “consider [as] PTSD.” He asked, “The reality is, when does high maintenance blend with PTSD?” During the saeason, Dorit notably asked PK to cut back on his travels and stay in L.A. because it made her feel safe.
Dorit and PK have two children together: a son named Jagger and daughter Phoenix.