Thanksgiving celebrations for the family of Mauricio Umansky and Kyle Richards were thrown into disarray this week after news of the property mogul's cosy night out with a younger reality star broke mid-feast.
Family Gathering Overshadowed by Paparazzi Photos
Umansky, 55, and his ex-wife Richards, 56, who announced their separation in June 2023, had gathered amicably for the holiday with their three daughters – Alexia, 29, Sophia, 25, and Portia, 17. Also present were Alexia's husband, Jake Zingerman, and Richards' eldest daughter, Farrah Aldjufrie, 37.
The family dinner, however, took an awkward turn when daughter Sophia discovered photos of her father from the previous evening. The images showed Umansky dining at the exclusive Hollywood restaurant Craig's with FBoy Island star CJ Franco, 34.
The paparazzi shots captured Umansky wrapping his arms around Franco from behind, kissing her cheek, and nuzzling her shoulder outside the venue. The story was published on Thanksgiving Day itself, catching the family completely off guard as they sat down to eat.
"Dad, What The F*** Is This?"
Umansky recounted the tense moment to Page Six. "That [story] was released during Thanksgiving dinner, which kinda sucked," he admitted. "So we’re all having Thanksgiving dinner, and Sophia’s like: 'Dad, what the f*** is this?' I’m like: 'What are you talking about?'"
The real estate CEO was quick to downplay the nature of the encounter to his family, insisting Franco was simply a friend. "CJ’s my friend. It’s just that simple," he explained. "The photos look more cozy or more whatever than what the reality is. Like, we’re friends."
This incident follows a plea from his daughters regarding his post-split dating life. In a recent interview with People, Umansky revealed their advice: "Dad, we want you to be happy. We want you to enjoy yourself, but be age-appropriate." They also expressed a wish for him to avoid being photographed on early dates.
A Pattern of Age-Gap Links Since The Split
Since parting ways with Richards, the longest-serving star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Umansky has been linked to several women significantly younger than him. These include models Klaudia K and Nikita Kahn, both in their mid-thirties.
In the same People interview, published just three days before his dinner with Franco, Umansky confirmed he was firmly in his single era. "I'm alone. I'm single. I'm dating," he stated. The former couple have not yet filed for divorce and maintain a close bond as co-parents.
For her part, CJ Franco rose to fame on the HBO dating show FBoy Island in 2021. She was previously engaged to Underworld director Len Wiseman, 52, but recently announced on Instagram that the pair had separated, stating no infidelity was involved.
Richards, meanwhile, has never confirmed persistent rumours of a romantic link with country singer Morgan Wade following her separation from Umansky.
