It’s safe to say Ashley Darby and Michael Darby’s relationship made waves on Bravo since the debut of The Real Housewives of Potomac.
The Maryland-based franchise premiered in 2016, less than two years into Ashley’s marriage to Michael. Her costars were quick to question their union as Ashley is 29 years younger than her spouse. On season 2 of the series, the couple struggled to navigate opening their restaurant Oz.
“Michael and I do have this age difference. He’s 29 years older than me. And he has so much business experience that I think that he kind of forgets that I don’t necessarily have all those years,” Ashley told The Daily Dish in 2017. “And so, he has these expectations of me to be this strong, confident, self-assured businesswoman when really I’m still navigating the ropes. I’m still learning as I go. And yes, I’m definitely going to make some mistakes. So stepping into this role of being responsible for people’s livelihoods and having budgets with a lot more zeroes on them has been a learning experience for me, to say the least, so it does cause some issues for Michael and me and really made us think about why we were doing this. We didn’t do this restaurant to tear ourselves apart; we did it to bring us together.”
During the season 2 reunion of RHOP, which aired in July 2017, Ashley revealed she had moved out of her home with Michael as they spent time apart. “She’s in her 20s,” Michael said during the episode. “She’s feeling out who she is going into her evolving life and future. And I’m at my age, coming through the end of my career, looking to all kinds of things that are very different from some of the things I am looking for.”
Months after their initial separation, the twosome reconciled and went on to welcome two sons, Dean (born in July 2019) and Dylan (March 2021). Things were hardly smooth sailing, however, as Ashley admitted to the duo having an unconventional marriage and Michael was accused of sexually harassing a Bravo cameraman, which he denied.
The duo officially called it quits ahead of the premiere of season 7 of RHOP, with Ashely announcing they had split after “almost 8 magical years” of marriage.
“We have decided to separate. We are aware that there will be many speculative views as to why we have made this decision,” she said in a statement in April 2022. “People will be quick to assume that the causes were too much intrusion by reality TV into the most personal parts of our lives, age gap issues, cultural problems, or child-rearing differences. Pieces of all these may have affected our pure love for each other, but no one reason is the root cause of our mutual decision to go our separate ways.”
Scroll through for a timeline of the pair’s ups and downs:
The twosome exchanged vows on May 15, 2014. Courtesy of Ashley Darby/Instagram
In between filming seasons 2 and 3, Ashley moved into an apartment in Arlington, Virginia. As they worked through their issues — and ran Oz — she held out hope that they would reunite. “He’s my person,” Ashley told People in July 2017. “We’re taking the time to evaluate exactly what we expect from our relationship and if both of us can give each other what we need. We still really care about each other, so the foundation is there. It’s just a matter of repairing some of the faults in the foundation.” They reunited by the end of the year. Courtesy of Ashley Darby/Instagram
News broke in September 2018 that Michael was suspended from RHOP after a crew member accused the former restaurant owner of groping him. “There were a number of alleged witnesses who said it did not happen. The peace order request by the alleged victim was also denied. There was simply nothing that happened, and nothing here,” Michael’s attorney, Mike Rowan, said in a statement at the time. The misdemeanor charges were dropped due o “insufficient evidence” that October, but the that didn’t stop the scandal from playing out on the reality show. Larry French/Bravo
Ashley gave birth to their first son, Dean, in July 2019. Courtesy of Ashley Darby/Instagram
Ashley shut down speculation about Michael’s sexuality during season 4. “I just don’t understand why everyone is so fixated on trying to make Michael look like he’s gay. He’s not gay. … He doesn’t hook up with guys,” she said, denying that Michael made a comment about wanting to hookup with a man. Courtesy of Ashley Darby/Instagram
During the season 4 reunion of RHOP, Michael denied the cameraman’s allegations of sexual misconduct again. Robyn Dixon subsequently claimed during the September 2019 special that she’d heard Michael had “grabbed a couple of our producer’s butts as well” during season 1. Michael denied the allegations. Karen Huger’s husband, Ray Huger, then alleged that he witnessed Michael “grab” Andy Cohen’s “butt at the reunion” the year prior, but the pair were “kidding around.” Michael called that comment an “unfounded accusation,” while the host said that he didn’t “remember” Michael grabbing him. Cohen added: “I’m sure I was fine with it. The show went well, I love you guys.” Gregory Pace/Shutterstock
After footage of Michael with another woman surfaced in May 2019 and Candiace Dillard alleged during a September 2020 episode that Michael was spotted at a strip club, Ashley explained details of their nontraditional marriage. “Strangely, Michael venturing out the way he did has allowed me to finally be expressive about how we have done this together, and it’s a big relief,” she said on the RHOP aftershow in November 2020. “I’ve made jokes and I’ve referenced it in the past to the women. Either they didn’t take me seriously, or they were just like, ‘Ah, that Ashley!’ But now that this has happened with Michael, they want more details.” Courtesy of Ashley Darby/Instagram
It was revealed on season 5 of RHOP that Michael and Ashley had a prenup that “expired after five years of marriage.” She explained her desire to look into a postnuptial agreement during a September 2020 episode. “Now, in the event of a divorce, I will receive 50 percent of our assets,” she said in a confessional. “And now, I think it would be good for us to have a postnuptial agreement because a postnup would outline things that I would be guaranteed to get — no arguing, no disputing — and essentially would speed up the process in the event of a divorce.” Courtesy of Ashley Darby/Instagram
The duo became parents again in March 2021 when Dylan was born. Courtesy Ashley Darby/Instagram
As season 6 of RHOP was airing, the twosome were plagued with cheating rumors again. “Both Ashley and I go out. Sometimes we go out together; sometimes we go on our own, and so I went out and had a good time,” he said on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in August 2021. “Of course, there’s fans all over the place and they came up and said hello. But you know, I’m always going to have pictures taken of me in places — I really don’t care anymore. I have a good time, and I love this woman dearly. And we’re together forever.” Ashley added at the time: “We are doing things differently this time postpartum, and we’re having more fun this time than we did last time. So I think I’m keeping him happy at home." Courtesy of Ashley Darby/Instagram
Ashley confirmed their split in April 2022 after an insider told Us Weekly that she “was going around saying that her marriage is ending, and she’s about to be on the dating market” at costar Karen’s RHOP: Karen’s Grande Dame Reunion premiere party. “We are now both at very different stages in our lives and have different goals for our futures. We both want the other to achieve true happiness and fulfillment and feel that we cannot do this together,” she said in a statement. “We also know that true happiness can only be achieved by continuing to work together and putting our hearts and souls into raising our two beautiful boys, Dean and Dylan. They will always feel loved and supported, for they were truly created out of love. As this is a personal matter for us, we appreciate everyone who has been a part of our journey and ask for your continued support by respecting us as we go through this emotional situation.” Charles Sykes/Bravo
Ashley seemingly proved the pair were on good terms with a Father’s Day message for Michael. "I am so thankful to you for the father you are to these two incredible boys,” she wrote via Instagram, “The way your eyes light up whenever you see them really touches my heart. Happy Father's Day, Mickey!" Courtesy Ashley Darby/Instagram
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