During the highly anticipated season 13 premiere of the Bravo show "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," the tension between Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky was so palpable that fans could almost cut it with a knife.
In the Wednesday, October 25th episode's finale, Kyle, aged 54, surprised Mauricio, aged 53, by unveiling her two additional tattoos, bringing her total count to five. This unexpected revelation sparked an uncomfortable argument between the couple.
"I thought you only had three tattoos," Mauricio expressed in surprise. Kyle retorted, "Maybe you should pay closer attention to my body."
The Agency founder claimed to have "sufficient" tattoos, but Kyle disclosed her intention to possibly obtain "another" one. "Five tattoos are quite a number," Mauricio added. "I won't permit any more of those."
Kyle retorted, "You were unaware of the number I already had... If I desire another one, I shall obtain it. It is my own body."
Despite Mauricio's attempts to discourage her from acquiring additional tattoo designs, Kyle asserted to her spouse that he does not "possess a say" in the matter.
"I've reached a point in my life where I no longer feel the need to justify myself to anyone, including you," Kyle stated. "I went from obediently following my mother's instructions to becoming a mother myself and striving to be a positive role model for my daughters. It's disheartening to realize that even when you do everything right, things can still fall apart."
In July, we confirmed the separation of Kyle and Mauricio after being married for 27 years. During the same month, the Bravo stars, who have been together since 1996, addressed and dismissed rumors of a divorce but acknowledged that they faced a challenging period in their relationship.
Fans have speculated that there is a connection between Kyle and country singer Morgan Wade because of their matching tattoos - a heart on Kyle's wrist and an inked "K" on Morgan in the RHOBH trailer. However, both Kyle and Morgan have firmly denied any romantic involvement, maintaining that they are nothing more than friends.
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Mauricio revealed to Us earlier this month that he and Kyle are currently focused on improving their relationship.
"We are actively working on our marriage and navigating through the challenges," he informed Us. "Despite the prying eyes of the public and constant inquiries, we have not given up. The truth is, when a couple is facing the difficulties that we are currently experiencing, time is what we truly need."
Their marital difficulties will be documented on season 13 of RHOBH, which was filmed earlier this year.
"We've had a challenging year, Mau and I. He's been constantly busy with work, and I've been occupied as well," Kyle confessed in her confessional during the premiere on Wednesday. "When you have to plan a meeting just to go over your schedules, you know there's a problem."
Kyle admitted that she is currently experiencing a challenging period in her life, partly due to feeling disconnected from Mauricio. During her confessional, Kyle expressed that the tattoo argument serves as a significant indication of their lack of quality time spent together. She further emphasized that in the past, Mauricio would have noticed even the smallest details about her, such as a freckle on her body, whereas now he remains unaware of her two additional tattoos.
Kyle stated that she no longer needs to be accountable to anyone during their dispute. She firmly expressed to Mauricio, "I want you to understand, I am absolutely certain about my stance. I'm not rebelling; I am simply extremely certain."
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs on Bravo Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.