RHOP’s Ashley Darby Gives Update on Luke Romance, Talks Candiace Feud, & Robyn and Gizelle

Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo

Ashley Darby reveals her “defining moment” in the friendship with Robyn Dixon and Gizelle Bryant. She also discussed her romance with Luke Gulbranson, and the current feuds on the Real Housewives of Potomac. As of now, the cast is divided over misconduct allegations, cheating rumors, and the apparent end of friendships.

Ashley, who is divorcing her husband Michael Darby, began exploring a romance with a fellow Bravolebrity – Summer House‘s Luke Gulbranson – after expressing her interest in him on Watch What Happens Live.

Regarding Luke, Ashley shared she’s seen him “four times” since they met at BravoCon, and she’s preparing to see him again in New York.

“It’s been about two months now that we’ve been talking, so we’re just taking it slow and getting to know each other and talking on the phone more than anything else,” said the star, in an interview with Today.

“He and I are very different, being from Minnesota and D.C. We have different cultural backgrounds. We have different interests, he’s the on-the-go mountain man, and I’m a pretty city girl. So it’s really cool how we’re able to share a lot about ourselves, and even in some of our differences, we find so much commonality,” she explained.

Switching to the show, Ashley revealed when things “went off the rails” in her relationship with Candiace Dillard Bassett.

“What we mostly fight about is men … where things really went off the rails with me and Candiace was her talking about my marriage,” said Ashley, who then alluded to her own allegations against Candiace’s husband Chris. “Now similarly, we’re in a situation where how she feels about some information about Chris has caused her to have feelings toward me.”

“So it just seems like maybe if we can extract the men from the equation (of conversation), Candiace and I can find some common ground. … I think some time has to pass for the things that she said about me and the things I’ve said about her to sort of heal over a little bit. It’s like a scab, and then we pull the scab off. We just need to let it heal and don’t fool with it. I think it’s possible. I just don’t know when it will happen,” Ashley continued.

She also teased more drama regarding Karen Huger‘s rumored affair.

“That definitely is going to be delved into more,” said Ashley. “Some people may have some evidence and more comes to light that brings more attention to the discussion. Of course, the grand dame answers accordingly.”

Concerning her friendship with Gizelle and Robyn, the star addressed their “defining moment.”

“We talk so much, we hang out, they’re my close friends,” she shared. “I think people group up sometimes as mean girls, but honestly, for me, a defining moment was when I had my son Dean, both Robyn and Gizelle went so far out of their way to support me and be there for me when I was dealing with my postpartum depression.”

Ashley then threw some shade at the other castmembers, saying, “I’m not sure if any of the other girls were there for me like that.”

Regarding a potential reconciliation between Robyn and Karen (who are currently feuding), Ashley confessed she’s “not holding [her] breath.”

RHOP Live Viewing – This is also the live viewing thread for tonight’s new episode of the Real Housewives of Potomac season seven, so feel free to comment and chat below as the new episode airs at 8/7c on Bravo.