In a surprising twist, Mauricio Umansky has reportedly swapped out a cherished photo of his estranged wife, Kyle Richards, for one featuring Emma Slater, his former partner on “Dancing With the Stars.” The revelation came from “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Sutton Stracke during a conversation with Kathy Hilton and Erika Jayne on a recent episode of Bravo’s hit reality series.
Stracke shared her concerns after speaking with Richards, who appeared visibly upset over the substitution. “After I talked to Kyle, she seemed a little down,” Stracke revealed, hinting at the emotional fallout from the change in Umansky’s home office in Beverly Hills. “There was a story she told me about a picture,” she added, leaving little doubt about the impact it had on Richards.
Sutton claimed that Umansky, who is 54, had taken down the image of the 55-year-old Richards and replaced it with a picture of Slater, 35, his partner for Season 32 of the popular dance competition. While Stracke didn’t mention Slater by name, it was clear who she was referring to.
Hilton’s reaction was one of disbelief: “Are you serious? It would be one thing to take [Richards’ picture] down. But then to put [Slater’s] up? Come on.” Jayne echoed her sentiments, questioning the logic behind such a decision: “Why are you replacing a picture of your wife with your ‘Dancing With the Stars’ partner? All that’s gonna do is make people talk more. It doesn’t help, it actually hurts.”
Later in the episode, Richards addressed the photo situation directly. When Stracke visited her and raised the topic, Richards candidly stated, “Yeah, it feels weird that my picture was taken down too.” This admission underscores the emotional weight of the situation for Richards, who has dealt with speculation about her relationship with Umansky since their separation was made public in July 2023.
The rumors surrounding Umansky and Slater intensified during their “DWTS” run, particularly when they were spotted appearing affectionate during a dinner in Beverly Hills. At the time, Richards expressed her hurt feelings regarding the photographs, confirming that she found the situation difficult to process. In response to the dating buzz, Umansky and Slater clarified on social media that they were not romantically involved but had formed a strong friendship through their shared experience on the show.
As the dynamics continue to evolve, fans are left wondering how this ongoing narrative will unfold, especially with Richards and Umansky navigating the aftermath of their lengthy marriage. With this unexpected photo swap, it seems that the conversation around this celebrity couple isn’t going quiet anytime soon.
