RHOP Star Mia Thornton Separates from Husband Gordon Thornton: ‘Family Is My No. 1 Priority’ (Exclusive)

Mia Thornton and husband Gordon Thornton have split after 11 years of marriage, she tells PEOPLE exclusively.

“Like all marriages, ours had its ups and downs,” he says The Real Housewives of Potomac star, 38. “Right now, Gordon and I are separated, but my family is my number one priority, and I’m committed to doing whatever it takes to make sure we’re okay.”

“We ask that you respect our privacy and give us time and space to figure things out,” she adds.

Mia and Gordon, 70, have been married since March 2012 and have a son, Jeremiah Carter, 8, and a daughter, Juliana, 6. In addition, each of them has one child from previous relationships.

The couple’s marital woes are expected to play out in season eight RHOP, which premieres on November 5 on Bravo. PEOPLE exclusively premiered a trailer that hinted at trouble between the two, with Mia admitting that she once “found a divorce lawyer” during a rough patch in their relationship.

She also tells co-star Ashley Darby that she “maybe” married Gordon for his money.

Famous couples who broke up in 2023

Shannon Finney/Bravo via Getty

Viewers first met the couple when she joined the franchise in Season 6. She and Gordon met at a strip club charity event in 2003.

“The reason we became friends is because we were partners and were on the same board for a non-profit raising money for Haiti,” Mia said Hey! News 2021 “We raised money for a cause.”

“One of the ladies, one of the original founders of the organization, worked there – not as an entertainer, but in the administration office, so she used the space to raise money,” she continued. “They serve steak dinners and the proceeds go to the organization.”

Mia Thornton from ‘RHOP’ shares cancer scare: ‘Tomorrow is not promised’

As for their family, Mia often shares pictures of them on Instagram, and in the past has praised Gordon for being “such a POWERFUL positive influence on our kids.”

“I admire the way you love, nurture and empower our babies to be the best version of themselves,” she wrote in June. “Thank you for loving us and being a great dad!”

The couple are also grandparents four times over. “Gordon is 32 years older than me and we have grandchildren,” she said Hey! News. “We have four beautiful granddaughters. Two are adults heading into the world of college and two are in elementary school. Of course, I feel like the younger two are actually my own granddaughters because I actually helped name them.”

Mia added: “I was there to be there for their birth and stuff, but it was great. We have such a blended family. His kids are amazing. His daughter calls me for advice, so it’s really great. It’s only natural. “

Paul Morigi/Getty

‘RHOP’ Season 6 Supertease Introduces Newcomer Mia Thornton and Teases Wendy Osefo’s Marital Troubles

The couple also run a chain of chiropractic clinics called The Joint Chiropractic, although last October Mia accused Gordon’s brothers of “removing his access to the company’s bank account” while the two were “out of the country”.

“Pray for our family,” she added in a now-deleted Instagram post from October 2022, per Page six.

Mia then revealed in January that the couple had to move out of their home due to “unforeseen circumstances”.

“This was bittersweet because we expected to live in a big house for at least 3 years while we decided to build/buy, continue to rent who knows, but due to unforeseen circumstances, our big space was cut short,” she wrote on Instagram. “One thing about me, I never stay down long. Minor problem!”

She explained on RHOP season 7 reunion in February that she and Gordon were “literally living off our savings” and were now living in a rented penthouse in North Bethesda, after giving up their previous properties they owned.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Real Housewives of Potomac can be streamed in its entirety on Peacock before the show returns to Bravo on November 5th at 8pm ET.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education