Yahoo Lifestyle Kyle Richards Gives Separation Advice to Teddi Mellencamp: 'You Have to Tune Out the Noise' (Exclusive)
"She's watched me go through this and she knows," Richards says of Mellencamp being there amid her own separation from Mauricio Umansky
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Kyle Richards (left) and Teddi MellencampKyle Richards' door is always open for Teddi Mellencamp.
In an exclusive sit down with PEOPLE, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills mainstay, 55, weighed in on her former costar's divorce from Edwin Arroyave and shared a piece of wisdom based on her personal experiences with a public separation.
"I obviously speak to Teddi all the time," Richards says, noting that she was aware Mellencamp, 43, had been going through a "difficult" time. "Obviously it's sad no matter what ... And unfortunately I can give some advice for living through this in the public eye."
The Halloween Ends actress says the most heartbreaking thing about separations are how they affect the children.
"It doesn't matter if the kids are little or they're grown," she explains, before referencing her own separation from husband Mauricio Umansky. "My girls struggled a lot with our separation even though they're grown."
When it comes to any advice she may have for Mellencamp, Richards says, "She can lean on me and show up at my door anytime she wants, no matter what time of night it is."
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(L) Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky"She's watched me go through this and she knows," she adds. "So, I think you can just, you just have to focus on your kids ... You have to tune out the noise."
The Bravolebrity recalls back to the headlines and "mistruths" that circulated following the news of her separation from Umansky and encouraged Mellencamp to block out any rumors.
On July 3, PEOPLE confirmed the duo’s decision to separate after 27 years of marriage. The two share daughters Alexia, Sophia, Portia and Farrah, whom Richards welcomed in a previous marriage.
"Kyle and Mauricio have been separated for a while now but are still living under the same roof,” a source close to the pair shared at the time. “They remain amicable as they figure out what’s next for them and their family."
As for Mellencamp, the reality star filed to divorce Arroyave after after 13 years of marriage on Nov. 1, just one day before she publicly announced the news on social media.
According to documents obtained by PEOPLE, Mellencamp listed irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split and marked their date of separation as Oct. 20. She requested primary legal and physical custody of their three kids — Slate, 12, Cruz, 10 and Dove, 4 — as well as spousal support and attorney fees from Arroyave.
A week after her filing, Arroyave responded to her petition and requested the court give the former couple joint custody and block Mellencamp's ability to receive spousal support but award him the same support.
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Edwin Arroyave and Teddi MellencampHe further cited their prenup, stating: “The parties' Premarital Agreement sets forth the terms regarding the amount and duration of spousal support to be paid.”
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In her Instagram post on Nov. 2, Mellencamp announced that she and Arroyave were separating and emphasized the importance of putting their children first through the transition.
“After a great deal of care and consideration, I have made the difficult decision to file for divorce,” the reality star wrote in her statement. “My priority is my children and ensuring that every care is taken with their privacy and wellbeing throughout this new chapter.”
"Making a public statement is not something I wanted to do,” she continued, “But in an effort to protect my family from undue speculation and rumors, I have felt being open, honest, and vulnerable is the best path forward.”
