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The Real Housewives of Potomac (RHOP) season 7 aired a brand new episode on Sunday, October 30, 2022, at 8 pm ET on Bravo. The one-hour episode featured cast members navigating personal relationships, friendships, professional commitments, and marital issues, creating significant drama throughout the course of the episode. One of the focal points this week was Ashley and Michael Darby's divorce.
On this week's episode of RHOP, Ashley discussed putting out a public statement about her and Michael's separation. However, before she could do that, someone allegedly leaked the information to the press and the audience got to know about the former couple separating. She was stunned at the decision becoming public without her permission and Michael was out of reach by the end of the episode.
Fans, however, failed to believe the storyline. One tweeted:
The official synopsis of the episode read:
"Robyn hosts a Family Fun Day for everyone and their kids, but leaves out one of the ladies; Gizelle and Mia are unimpressed by Robyn's hosting skills; Karen falls unexpectedly ill after she catches sight of Charrisse."
Ashley decides to put out a public statement about her divorce with Michael Darby on RHOP
Ahead of putting out a public statement on tonight's episode of RHOP, Ashley discussed the matter with fellow cast members Mia and Charrisse. She confirmed that her separation with Michael was a mutual agreement. Ashley added that she was having a hard time trying to process the separation.
Later on in the episode, Ashley discussed releasing a public statement about their decision to separate. She aimed to put all the rumors to rest.
In a confessional, she said:
"Michael and I both feel it's important to release a public statement because there would be so many assumptions and people just jump into their own conclusions. . . And specially considering the things that Michael had done in the past. . .We just decided to get in front of it and put it out there for ourselves."
Her publicist warned her that even after putting the statement out on social media, the RHOP star should mentally prepare herself for all the trolls and criticism around Michael and his wrongdoings in the past, leading up to their divorce.
By the end of the episode, Ashley was seen speaking to her publicist on the phone about someone who had leaked the news of her separation with Michael to a blog before she could put out the statement. She said:
"Without coming from me directly, it looks so much worse...and it looks like, there's all this, like, conflict and, like, that's just not the case, you know."
The publicist suggested that she put out the statement as soon as possible as the damage had already been done and that it didn't look bad on the RHOP star. Ashley also revealed that Michael wasn't responding to texts or calls.
The publicist then said:
"All of the stuff I'm seeing..they're praising you. But they're definitely demonizing Michael, and I know that, that's not what what you want."
In a confessional, Ashley said:
"I feel backed into a corner. I am concerned about how Michael is going to react."
The RHOP star then decided to put out the statement without talking to Michael, although she knew the former couple had a strategy in place and that he would be mad after getting to know about the statement being out without his permission.
Fans react to RHOP star Ashley and Michael's separation getting leaked
Fans took to social media to respond to the chaos with Ashley and Michael's divorce. They failed to believe the storyline that was displayed on the show.
Season 7 of RHOP has witnessed the ladies bringing in intense heat and drama this year. There is only more to come as the cast members get embroiled in controversies, rumors, and altercations. Viewers will have to tune in to find out what's in store for them this season.
The next RHOP episode will air next Sunday, November 6, 2022, on Bravo.
