The Real Housewives of Potomac's Ashley Darby divorcing husband Michael two years after separating
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- Darby was linked with Summer House's Luke Gulbranson after 2022 separation
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The Real Housewives of Potomac star Ashley Darby has filed for divorce from husband Michael Darby.
The Maryland-born beauty, 36, and her spouse, 65, separated in April of 2022 after more than seven years of marriage, TMZ reported after reviewing legal records Wednesday.
The separated couple, who wed in May of 2014, are parents to sons Dean Michael Darby, five, and Dylan Matthew Darby, three, who they will split custody of in their divorce agreement.
Michael told TMZ that he and Ashley, who had a prenuptial agreement in place, have come to 'an amicable and fair settlement.'
The breakup has been the driving force in storylines on the Bravo show, with Ashley addressing the imminent legal split on multiple occasions.
Ashley, following the separation announcement, moved out of a place she shared with Michael and began seeing Luke Gulbranson of Summer House fame at the end of 2022.
The Real Housewives of Potomac star Ashley Darby, 36, has filed for divorce from husband Michael Darby, 65. The former couple pictured in 2021
The breakup has been the driving force in storylines on the Bravo show, with Ashley (pictured last month in London) addressing the imminent legal split on multiple occasions
Ashley has 'maintained that she's dating but hasn't publicly debuted a new relationship since' she was seen with Gulbranson, TMZ reported.
Ashley said on Watch What Happens Live Sunday that she would delve further into detail on the matter for the Potomac franchise's reunion show.
Ashely told Page Six earlier this month that she has dealt with a flurry of emotions in the wake of her marriage to Michael falling apart.
'It’s hard out here, OK?' she said. 'I wish that I could put a time stamp on it that everyone wants me to in relation to this divorce. It is so emotional for me. It’s a point of grieving.
'I even went through a little bit of a depression of, like, thinking about where my life is now versus where I thought it was going to be and coming to terms with that.'
Ashley in April of 2022 released a statement to The Daily Dish confirming that she and her spouse had parted ways after more than seven years of marriage.
'Almost eight years ago, when Michael and I said "I do," we anticipated sharing every single day together from that moment forward,' Ashley said. 'Unfortunately, that is not our current reality. We have decided to separate.
'We are aware that there will be many speculative views as to why we have made this decision. 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.'
In a 2022 Instagram post featuring her statement, Ashley wrote that 'it’s been almost 8 magical years' of marriage
Ashley, following the separation announcement, moved out of a place she shared with Michael and began seeing Luke Gulbranson of Summer House fame at the end of 2022
Ashley said that the aforementioned factors might have impacted their 'pure love for each other, but no one reason is the root cause of our mutual decision to go our separate ways.
'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.'
'While our romantic bond is broken, we will always love and respect each other,' Ashley said. '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.'
In an Instagram post featuring her statement, Ashley wrote that 'it’s been almost 8 magical years' of marriage.
The pair initially met 13 years ago when she was working at the L2 Lounge in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C., and she asked him about exploring an internship at his company, she told Bravo in 2016. She eventually asked him out when she got a position with his company and they were engaged less than a year later.
Michael, who is in the restaurant and real estate business, in September of 2018 was suspended from the Bravo show after he was accused by a cameraman of groping him.
He was charged in connection with felony assault and misdemeanor improper sexual conduct, but the charges were later dropped as result of a lack of evidence.
The breakup has been the driving force in storylines on the Bravo show, with Ashley addressing the imminent legal split on multiple occasions
Ashley has been a regular on the Bravo series since its debut in 2016
Michael denied the allegations, telling FOX 5 D.C. that he was 'completely exonerated' and 'completely cleared' following an investigation by authorities.
'I didn't do it,' he said, adding that a pair of witnesses his accuser named in the incident later said that they hadn't seen anything. 'Obviously his side of the story wasn't true.'
The chain of events made for a storyline on RHOP's fourth season, as he was alleged to have made a sexually-driven remark about cast member Robyn Dixon's husband Juan Dixon, which was witnessed by Robyn, co-star Candiace Dillard-Bassett and husband Chris Bassett.
Ashley addressed other marital issues the pair faced - such as cheating allegations brought up on the show - while speaking with E! News in February of 2022.
'We definitely have had our share of issues [and] some of them have been very public,' she said. 'Ultimately, I think that it's reminding myself that Michael is the person I chose to spend my life with.
'So, if I can look at him and still love him, still care about him, forgive him and want to keep going with him. Then that's when I can't let what other people say affect me, because the reality is they're not living my life. They're not married to my husband.'
Ashley added, 'When I remember that, it centers me and I'm like, "Yes." But it's certainly not an easy thing.'
Michael, who is originally from Melbourne, Australia, was previously in a marriage for 20 years before a 2010 split, and father to two children from that union.
