Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater Shut Down Dating Rumors After Hand-Holding Pics: ‘We Are Really Good Friends’

Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater correct dating rumors amid his split from wife Kyle Richards.

In an Instagram Story video shared on Thursday, Umanksy and Slater shot down speculation about their relationship after they were photographed leaving a sushi restaurant in Beverly Hills on Sunday.

Photos obtained from TMJ appeared to show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 53, i Dancing with the stars pro, 34, smiling and laughing as they held hands after leaving the facility.

Wanting to “deal” with speculation, The DWTS the partners appeared in the video and claimed they were simply “really good friends” after bonding during grueling rehearsals for the show.

Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater on his Instagram Story.

Mauricio Umansky/Instagram

Mauricio Umansky teases DWTS Tribute to wife and children after buzz about cozy photos with partner Emma Slater

“We’re not dating,” Umansky began. “We are really good friends. We’ve been dancing together for six weeks, four hours a day, every day.”

“It’s intense, like you really create a very, very special bond and I think we have similar personalities,” Slater agreed, noting that their relationship is “extremely supportive.”

“We’re definitely there for each other and that’s wonderful. It’s a great thing,” she added.

“You know, just to clarify, we went to a restaurant for sushi right after the rehearsal. We were in rehearsal clothes. A lot of the stories are wrong,” the real estate mogul continued.

Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater in ‘Dancing with the Stars’.

Christopher Willard/ABC

Mauricio Umansky says he and Kyle Richards ‘aren’t throwing in the towel’ despite ‘tough situation’ (Exclusive)

Umansky explained that the duo had been preparing their routine for the “Most Memorable Year” night, which became “very intense” and “very emotional.”

“We talked about the week over dinner, and when we got out of dinner, we recapped and I reached out to grab Emma’s hands,” he said. “And she grabbed my hands and then we went, you know, to the car just recapping and summarizing.”

“The paparazzi caught, you know, that moment and it became a deflated moment,” he added before ending the video with hopes of “crashing” Argentine tango this week.

Mauricio Umansky says he’s ‘taking it one day at a time’ with Kyle Richards — but ‘we’re both happy’

The duo’s clarification comes hours after Richards appeared on Wednesday’s episode of the show Watch what’s happening live and addressed photos of her husband holding hands with Slater, admitting she felt “taken aback”.

“That was really hard to see,” the 54-year-old reality star told host Andy Cohen.

“Yeah, it was, I mean, yeah, it hurt my feelings,” Richards continued, after confirming to the Bravo mogul that she was upset. “I love him very much and we are good, but it really hurt me.”

Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky.

Jesse Grant/Getty

Kyle Richards was ‘hurt’ to see Mauricio Umansky holding hands with Emma Slater: ‘Obviously there’s something there’

In July, PEOPLE confirmed that Umansky and Richards had separated after 27 years of marriage. The couple later issued a joint statement on Instagram saying they had faced the “most challenging” year of their nearly three-decade relationship.

“Regarding the news that came out about us today… All claims of a divorce are false,” the statement read. “However, yes, we have had a difficult year. The most challenging in our marriage. But we both love and respect each other very much.”

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“No one was wrong. While we are in the public eye, we ask that we be able to deal with our issues privately. While it may be fun to speculate, please do not create false stories to fit into a further corrupt narrative,” they continued, thanking people for their love and support.

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Source: HIS Education