The Shocking Aftermath: Real Housewives Couples Who Split After Reality TV Fame

Dorit Kemsley revealed that Kyle Richards had cautioned her against getting married again on the show, as several Real Housewives couples who had done so in the past ended up divorcing, adding to the notion of a "reality TV curse."

Dorit shared with Us that Kyle had mentioned how anyone she knows that has renewed their vows ended up getting divorced. Dorit admitted that Kyle's words have made an impact on her. Despite this, Dorit still believes that having a strong marriage is what truly withstands the challenges that come with being on a reality TV show like Housewives. On the other hand, Kyle addressed comments made about her marriage to Mauricio Umansky, prompted by RHONY's Jill Zarin, who suggested that Kyle may have concerns about their union.

"I believe she may have been influenced by the prevalent notion surrounding marriages and the Housewives, you know. However, our bond remains strong after nearly 25 years of marriage. I am grateful for your kind words, Jill."

Stephanie Hollman emphasized the significance of her relationship, marriage, and family as she discussed the absence of divorces among the Dallas cast in 2018. She believed that participating in the show should not overshadow what truly matters in life – her husband and children. By maintaining a clear perspective and prioritizing her loved ones, Stephanie was confident that one could successfully navigate the show without it consuming their entire existence, promoting a healthy approach.

However, the franchise faced its first instance of a cast member going through a divorce after the show's conclusion. Kary Brittingham announced her split from Eduardo Brittingham during the season 5 reunion in May 2021, which came as a shock to the viewers and the cast.

“Certainly, I am filled with fear and I acknowledge that I was indeed attempting to conceal my struggles. I feel a great deal of shame for my behavior and for my children witnessing it. I deeply regret it,” she expressed in reference to her actions during season 5. “I am grateful to my close friends for bringing it to my attention as it prompted me to closely examine the challenges I was facing.”

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Reality TV Curse: Every ‘Real Housewives’ Couple Who Filed for Divorce After Appearing on TV

Dorit shared with Us that Kyle had mentioned that anyone she knows who has renewed their vows has ended up getting divorced. Dorit added that these words have stayed with her. Despite the belief that there is a marriage curse on reality TV shows like Housewives, Dorit personally thinks that a strong marriage can withstand the challenges of time. In response to concerns raised by RHONY's Jill Zarin, Kyle addressed comments about her marriage to Mauricio Umansky.

Jill expressed her concern for Kyle and Mauricio, acknowledging that she believes they are a wonderful couple. However, based on her own experience with her late husband Bobby, she admits to feeling a slight sense of instability in their relationship after a few years. Jill hopes that Kyle will be able to address any potential issues before they escalate and impact her and Mauricio's relationship. In response to Jill's comments, the former child actress addressed the topic on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen the following month.

“I believe she may have been influenced by the superstition surrounding marriages and the Housewives," Kyle expressed. "However, our marriage has remained strong for nearly 25 years. I am grateful for your kind words, Jill."

For a significant period, The Real Housewives of Dallas stood as the sole franchise that had not encountered any divorces (until The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City premiered in 2020).

“Naturally, I experienced a great deal of fear and I believe I was definitely attempting to conceal the difficulties I was facing. I feel immense shame for my behavior, especially since my children witnessed it. I deeply regret my actions,” she expressed about her behavior during season 5. “I am grateful to my close friends for bringing it to my attention, as it prompted me to closely examine the challenges I was facing.”

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Monique Samuels and Chris Samuels

Monique and the former NFL player ended their more than a decade-long marriage when she filed for divorce in June 2023. Despite previously denying rumors of a split on social media in late 2022, the couple acknowledged that they were facing challenges during that time. The ups and downs of Monique and Chris' relationship were documented on Love & Marriage: DC earlier in the year. They have three children together named Christopher, Milani, and Chase.

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“Their marriage came to an end in May 2021, as Don't Be Tardy was canceled after eight seasons. Two years later, it was revealed that Zolciak and Biermann had decided to file for divorce, marking the conclusion of their nearly 12-year-long union.

According to an insider, the couple faced significant challenges due to financial burdens. The strain of tax debt and other financial stresses took a toll on their relationship, ultimately becoming the tipping point that led to the end of their marriage."

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Eva Marcille and Michael Sterling

The star of The Ultimate Girls Trip filed for divorce from Sterling in March 2023, bringing an end to their nearly five-year-long marriage. In the legal proceedings, she is seeking both legal and primary physical custody of their two sons, Mikey and Maverick. Fans will remember that Marcille tied the knot with Sterling during season 11 of RHOA, following her escape from an allegedly abusive relationship with the father of her daughter, Marley.

Drew Sidora and Ralph Pittman

In February 2023, Pittman initiated the process of ending his marriage with the RHOA star. This decision comes after eight years of being married and three years since she became a cast member on the Bravo show. Throughout season 14, their struggles as a couple were documented, particularly when he was found to be "getting close with his assistant." This revelation was incredibly difficult for Sidora, as she expressed on the series.

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Cynthia Bailey and Mike Hill

Following her departure from RHOA, Bailey announced she and Hill had split after two years of marriage.

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Jen Armstrong and Ryne Holliday

Shortly after concluding her first season on RHOC in May 2022, it was widely reported that the plastic surgeon had initiated legal proceedings for a separation from her spouse. Armstrong, who tied the knot with Holliday in 2013, is now seeking both legal and physical custody of their three children, while also requesting visitation rights for her former partner.

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Lisa and Lenny Hochstein

Lenny was recently seen partying with model Katharina Mazepa, which led to confirmation from Lisa's husband that they were indeed getting a divorce. In a statement to Us in May 2022, he explained that his involvement with Katharina began after the decision to end their marriage had already been made. He requested privacy during this challenging time so that they could focus on their children, who are their top priority. The tumultuous separation between the Real Housewives of Miami stars was showcased on season 5 of the Peacock show.

Ashley Darby and Michael Darby

After appearing on The Real Housewives of Potomac for six years, Ashley announced her split from Michael.

"We have made the difficult decision to go our separate ways. We anticipate that there will be various speculations regarding the reasons behind our choice," the reality star shared with Bravo's Daily Dish in April 2022. "People may quickly assume that the intrusion of reality TV into our personal lives, the age difference between us, cultural disparities, or differences in parenting styles played a part in our diminishing love. While these factors may have influenced our relationship, no singular reason can be pinpointed as the sole cause of our mutual decision."

She further explained, "Our lives have taken divergent paths, and we hold different aspirations for the future. We both want one another to find true happiness and fulfillment, and we believe that we cannot achieve this together. However, we are aware that genuine happiness can only be attained by working together and devoting our hearts and souls to raising our two wonderful sons, Dean and Dylan. They will always receive love and support, as they were truly brought into this world out of love."

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Kary and Eduardo Brittingham

Following her entrance into the cast of RHOD in season 4, Kary revealed her separation from Eduardo two years later. The couple, who tied the knot in 2009, are parents to their daughter Isabella. (Additionally, Mary is the mother of Sofia, Olivia, and Alex from a previous relationship.)

“This past season has been incredibly challenging for me, and upon reflection, I have come to realize the immense pain and struggle I was enduring in my personal life. As I watched the season unfold, it became evident just how much I was hurting. The cracks in my marriage were becoming more apparent, although I was reluctant to acknowledge it,” she tearfully revealed during the emotional May 2021 reunion. “Once the show concluded, Eduardo and I had a heartfelt conversation, ultimately deciding that it was best for us to part ways. Our priority was ensuring our children were informed and supported throughout this process.”

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Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi

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Teresa and Joe Giudice

The Real Housewives of New Jersey cast members ended their marriage of two decades in December 2019. This revelation followed Joe's release from ICE custody in October, where he had been serving a 41-month sentence for fraud charges before being sent to Italy.

Teresa and Joe had a discussion about their future plans while they were in Italy with their daughters, and they mutually agreed that it would be better for them to separate, as neither of them wanted to maintain a long-distance relationship. According to a source, after the split, Joe has been dating in Italy while Teresa is currently occupied with taking care of their girls. Despite their separation, they hold no animosity towards each other and remain committed to co-parenting their children.

In October 2019, the former professional baseball player initiated divorce proceedings from the former star of Real Housewives of Orange County, just one day after commemorating their fifth wedding anniversary. Exclusive reports from Us unveiled Meghan's allegations of Jim's infidelity with their nanny, a claim that he refuted. The couple, who exchanged vows in October 2014, have three children together - daughter Aspen, and twin boys Hayes and Hart.

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Kenya Moore and Marc Daly

Two years after their private wedding during the break between seasons 9 and 10 of RHOA, Moore made the announcement of their separation in September 2019. In a statement to Us, she expressed deep sadness as she revealed, "It is with great regret that I inform my fans about my decision to divorce my husband Marc Daly. Given the recent and ongoing circumstances, I am no longer able to continue in this marriage. My utmost priority and devotion will always be to my daughter, Brooklyn, who is my precious miracle conceived out of love and unwavering commitment. I kindly request that our privacy be respected as we move forward."

Kenya has remained cryptic about her relationship status with Moore and Daly, even after the birth of their daughter, Brooklyn Doris, in November 2018. In a May 2020 interview with Us, she hinted that she is open to the possibility of having another child with her estranged husband.

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Gina and Matthew Kirschenheiter

Gina and Matthew, who have three children together, announced in July 2018 that they were ending their legal marriage after seven years. However, they made it clear that their friendship and commitment to co-parenting would continue. In a statement to We, they expressed their dedication to creating a happy and loving environment for their children, while also requesting respect and grace as they navigate this challenging process. Despite their separation, Matthew never appeared on the RHOC series.

In a surprising turn of events, Gina and Matthew reconciled in June 2019. An insider revealed that viewers of RHOC would soon learn the reasons behind their initial split and how they managed to find their way back to each other. Throughout their relationship, Gina and Matthew have maintained an amicable and friendly dynamic, despite occasional conflicts.

After expressing her gratitude for Matthew's role as a father and a supportive friend on his birthday, Gina received distressing news. She filed for a restraining order against Matthew shortly after his arrest for alleged domestic violence, although he has yet to face formal charges. Following the media attention surrounding these legal issues, it was confirmed that Gina and Matthew had once again ended their relationship.

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Danielle Staub and Marty Caffrey

After being engaged 20 times and going through three divorces, Staub's May 2018 wedding, which was documented by Bravo cameras for season 9 of RHONJ, ended in a surprising turn of events. In September 2018, we exclusively revealed that Staub was served with divorce papers, marking the end of her short-lived marriage. The news of their split came just a month after both Staub and her ex-spouse filed temporary restraining orders against each other, following an alleged altercation at her home.

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Phaedra Parks and Apollo Nida

Parks and Nida's marriage came to an end in October 2014 when Parks filed for divorce after almost five years together. Their divorce was finalized in September 2017, following a contentious battle over spousal support and property division. Meanwhile, Nida, who is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence for fraud after pleading guilty in 2014, found new love and got engaged to Sherien Almufti in 2016.

After engaging in arguments on the reality TV series RHOBH for nearly three seasons, Adrienne and Paul decided to end their 10-year marriage at the conclusion of season 3, which aired in 2012. Following their separation, which was officially filed in July 2012, the couple's divorce proceedings began in August of the same year. Adrienne accused Paul of abuse, a claim he denied, and an ongoing custody battle ensued. Ultimately, their divorce was finalized in November 2012. However, in recent years, it appears that the former couple has managed to mend their relationship. Paul shared with E! News in 2017 that they are "doing fantastic" and have successfully embraced co-parenting their sons.

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Yolanda Hadid and David Foster

In December 2015, Yolanda surprised fans and her fellow Housewives by disclosing the end of her marriage to the music producer due to her ongoing struggle with Lyme disease. After being together for five years, the couple officially divorced in October 2017. Surprisingly, David quickly moved on and became engaged to Katharine McPhee, who is 34 years his junior. Reflecting on their separation, David opened up about it in his July 2020 documentary, David Foster: Off the Record.

“How can I abandon a woman who is ill? The truth is, that is not the primary reason why I departed,” he stated. “There was another motive... but it had no correlation with her illness. I consistently hear comments like, ‘I recognize you, you're on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.’ And what I truly want to convey is, ‘Hey, I possess 16 freakin' Grammys, alright? I've sold over 500 million records. Forget about that show.’”

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Camille and Kelsey Grammer

Camille and Kelsey, who got married in 1997, announced their separation at the conclusion of season 1 of RHOBH, which aired in 2010. The Bravo star later accused the actor of persuading her to join the series in order to keep her "occupied in California while he was having an affair in New York." Kelsey, who has two children with Camille, subsequently married the woman he allegedly had the affair with, flight attendant Katye Walsh. The Frasier actor and Walsh tied the knot two weeks after his divorce from Camille was finalized and went on to have three children together. As for Camille, she married businessman David C. Meyer in 2018.

After dismissing split rumors during the first season of RHOBH, Taylor took the step of filing for divorce from Russell in July 2011, alleging domestic violence. Tragically, just a month later, Russell died by suicide. The couple had a daughter named Kennedy, and Taylor eventually remarried in 2014 to a lawyer named John H. Bluher.

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Carlton and David Gebbia

Three years after her appearance on RHOBH, Carlton's husband David filed for divorce in November 2017. The couple, who had been married for two decades, have three children together: Destiny, Mysteri, and Cross.

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Vicki and Donn Gunvalson

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The disastrous limo ride. Fans may recall Tamra's explosive confrontation with Simon in a limousine during their journey to a party in season 5 of RHOC. It was during this intense moment that Tamra announced her desire for a divorce and hurled insults at Simon, labeling him a "nasty, vile person" and telling him to "go f—k" himself. Simon responded by filing for divorce in January 2010, alleging that Tamra had been verbally abusive, disloyal, and unfaithful. However, Tamra vehemently denied all these accusations. In a surprising turn of events, Simon was later arrested for domestic violence, although the charges were eventually dropped.

since her ex-husband's cancer diagnosis. Despite their divorce being finalized in 2011 with an agreement to share equal custody of their three children, Spencer, Sophia, and Sidney, Tamra's relationship with Sidney has been strained. The youngest daughter primarily resides with her father and publicly accused her mother of neglect in a detailed Facebook post. However, Tamra's marriage to Eddie Judge in June 2013 seems to have positively influenced her relationship with Simon. Furthermore, there have been noticeable improvements in Tamra's rapport with Sidney.

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Alexis and Jim Bellino

Five years after leaving RHOC, Alexis ended her 13-year marriage with husband Jim. Divorce papers filed in June 2018 cited irreconcilable differences as the reason. In a joint statement to We, the couple, who have three children together, James, Mackenna, and Melania, emphasized that there was no animosity or hostility between them. However, former RHOC costars Tamra Judge and Shannon Beador spoke negatively about the couple in the media, with claims that Jim would end up in jail. In response, Jim filed a lawsuit against the two women, seeking over $1 million in damages. The lawsuit is currently ongoing.

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Kelly and Michael Dodd

Kelly and Michael ended their relationship for the second time in September 2017, following Kelly's first two seasons on RHOC. In an interview with Daily Mail, Kelly expressed her decision, stating, "We've experienced ongoing issues for years, and I have reached my limit. I no longer wish to continue our marriage. It has become evident that we are unable to find common ground. It's in our best interest to part ways and focus on our daughter." Kelly had previously filed for divorce from Michael in 2012. The couple, who were married for 11 years, have a daughter named Jolie. Their divorce was officially finalized in February 2018.

Jeana and Matt, who were married for 23 years, ended their relationship in 2007 after appearing on RHOC together for three seasons. They have three children together. In October 2010, Matt received a one-year jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to his second DUI, as reported by the OC Register. At BravoCon in November 2019, Jeana confirmed that their divorce had been officially finalized after more than 20 years.

Less than a year later, news broke that Matt died in May 2020.

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Shannon and David Beador

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Lynne and Frank Curtin

Lynne made her debut on RHOC during seasons 4 and 5, but in 2012, after being married for 22 years, she took the decision to file for divorce from her husband, Frank. Despite expressing her excitement about her "new love" to Bravo in September 2017, Radar Online revealed in January 2018 that her divorce case was ultimately dismissed as Frank failed to appear in court or respond to her initial filing. Taking another step forward, Lynne filed for divorce for the second time in April 2019.

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Bethenny Frankel and Jason Hoppy

Frankel first introduced Hoppy to fans during season 3 of RHONY. Their relationship quickly progressed, leading to an engagement and their appearance on the spinoff series titled Bethenny Getting Married?. The show, which later became known as Bethenny Ever After, followed their journey for three seasons from 2010 to 2012. However, after four years together, Frankel and Hoppy decided to part ways in 2012, leading to a long and contentious divorce process that was finally concluded in July 2016. Throughout this time, they faced numerous financial and custody battles, all centered around their daughter Bryn. In August 2018, two years after the divorce was finalized, Frankel sought primary custody of Bryn, prompting concerns from Hoppy's lawyer about her parental judgement. Tragically, this request came just a week after Frankel's on-off boyfriend Dennis Shields passed away from an alleged overdose.

Luann and Count Alex de Lesseps

Luann and Alex ended their 16-year marriage in 2009, coinciding with the completion of two seasons of RHONY. During the show's duration, several Housewives alleged that Luann and Alex had an open marriage, a claim that the former countess vehemently refuted. Their past union gained media attention once again in July 2018 when Alex and their two children filed a lawsuit against Luann, citing a breach in their divorce agreement.

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Luann de Lesseps and Tom D’Agostino

The focus of this fragment is on Tom. Despite D’Agostino being caught in a compromising situation with another woman at the Regency in New York City during the eighth season of RHONY, and despite receiving warnings from other Housewives, de Lesseps still chose to marry D’Agostino on New Year's Eve in 2016 in Palm Beach. However, their marriage only lasted seven months before they decided to call it quits. It is worth noting that after de Lesseps' arrest on Christmas Eve in Palm Beach in 2017, she attributed her behavior to the quick end of her marriage with D’Agostino.

Ramona and Mario Singer

Ramona and Mario's divorce was one of the most shocking in the history of RHONY. After six seasons of the series, they decided to call it quits. Despite efforts to reconcile, Ramona filed for divorce in January 2014. However, in August 2014, she reportedly discovered that Mario had reconnected with his mistress, leading her to proceed with the divorce proceedings. It took more than 20 years of marriage for their divorce to be finalized, which eventually happened in September 2016. Throughout their marriage, they had one daughter, Avery.

The twosome proved to be on better terms in 2020 as the quarantined together amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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Jules and Michael Wainstein

After one season of RHONY in 2016, Jules made the decision to end her marriage with Michael after eight years and two children. She accused him of infidelity, while he claimed that she had physically assaulted him in 2012. Both parties vehemently denied these allegations. Jules was taken into custody in 2020 for reportedly assaulting Michael in the presence of their son, Jagger, and daughter, Rio. She pleaded not guilty and their divorce was finalized later that same year.

NeNe and Gregg ended their marriage in 2011 after being together for 14 years and appearing on three seasons of RHOA. However, the couple, who have a son together, later reconciled and their second wedding was documented on a RHOA spinoff called I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding in 2013.

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Cythnia Bailey and Peter Thomas

Fans witnessed Bailey and Thomas' engagement unfold in season 3 of RHOA. After six years of marriage, the couple decided to part ways in the summer of 2016. Their divorce was finalized in 2017, and throughout the series, the former model candidly shared her experiences, including the challenges of reentering the dating scene.

Williams and the former football player were married for two years before their separation in 2013. She expressed feeling "blindsided" by Stewart's decision to file for divorce, having learned about it through social media. Following their divorce in the same year, reports indicated that Williams received minimal assets in the settlement. Stewart, on the other hand, shared with Steve Harvey in October 2016 that he had "no regrets" about his appearance on RHOA during the fifth season.

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Lisa Wu and Ed Hartwell

Two years after being a full-time cast member on RHOA for seasons 1 and 2, Wu's marriage to her husband of five years came to an end. In August 2011, she filed for divorce from Hartwell, her former backup dancer and the father of her son. The divorce was finalized in 2012.

DeShawn's stint on RHOA was short-lived, as she only appeared for one season in 2008. However, it appears that her time on the show had lasting consequences. In 2010, after 12 years of marriage, DeShawn and her husband Eric decided to end their relationship. They have three sons together.

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Dina and Tommy Manzo

In June 2020, court documents obtained by Us revealed that Tommy is currently facing federal charges for his alleged involvement in orchestrating an attack on David in 2015.

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Joanna Krupa and Romain Zago

Following their tumultuous relationship and subsequent wedding, which was extensively documented on RHOM for two seasons, the couple decided to part ways in May 2017, just shy of completing four years of marital bliss. A mere nine months after finalizing their divorce, the model found love again and became engaged to Douglas Nunes in March 2018. Their joyous union culminated in a beautiful wedding ceremony held in August of the same year.

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Tareq and Michaele Salahi

In September 2011, the well-known couple who infamously crashed a White House party decided to end their marriage after being together for eight years. This separation occurred one year after the RHODC show aired its first and only season. The divorce proceedings were eventually concluded in August 2012.

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Cat and Charles Ommanney

Cat and her photographer husband ended their marriage in 2010, shortly after less than two years of being together and during the airing of RHODC. Cat revealed in an interview with Parade.com that their relationship deteriorated while they were filming the show.

A fourth couple from the Housewives of D.C. decided to part ways in 2012, as Mary filed for divorce from Rich after being married for 26 years. In a statement to Page Six two years after the first season of RHODC aired, she expressed her sadness and decision to end the marriage. "While I hold a deep respect for my husband and wish him all the best, we have grown apart," she stated. Mary emphasized her primary focus on ensuring an amicable process, prioritizing the well-being and happiness of her five children above all else.

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Stacie Scott Turner

Stacie and Jason separated in February 2012 after 14 years of marriage and one season of RHODC. They share two children.