Dorit Kemsley has made no secret of the fact that she has been going through it on recent seasons of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” after a 2021 home invasion in which armed men threatened her and her two children. On Season 13 of the series, which began on Oct. 25, she’s shown on camera that she’s been struggling in her marriage to Paul “P.K.” Kemsley as a result of his lack of empathy for her, and his seeming refusal to understand her PTSD. Shortly after the show premiered, In Touch reported that they had split — and the Bravo gossip machine went into overdrive.
At BravoCon on Nov. 4, Kemsley spoke with Variety about where things stand. “You go through marriage 13 years together, you’re going to have some ups and downs — but we’re working through it. And luckily we are still together, depite rumors and hearsay that suggest otherwise,” she says. “Listen, it’s important for me that if I’m going to do the show that I am who I am. And sometimes you’re vulnerable, and you’re going through challenges in your life.”
Kemsley brought up the subject herself, after being asked what it’s been like to watch this season, given that Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky, the show’s central couple — who are close friends of the Kemsleys’ — have separated. “I had suspicions there were things going on with Kyle, but I wasn’t really sure,” Kemsley says. “I had had my own issues in my own marriage with P.K. Not quite the same like Kyle and Mo — really, post-home invasion, PTSD definitely played a role.”
Kemsley also addressed one of the burnings questions that arose from the season premiere of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” On top of having experienced the home invasion, Kemsley revealed on the show that she had been targeted by three men in a supermarket robbery after withdrawing $10,000 cash for Christmas gifts last year.
Many, including former “RHOBH” castmate Camille Meyer (née Grammer), wondered why Kemsley would withdraw so much cash for shopping, and leave it sitting her purse in a grocery cart.
“The cash was actually for bonuses,” Kemsley clarifies to Variety. “It was bonuses for staff at the house. When you answer that question a few times in [the confessional] they kind of pull out the simplest answer.”
Next up for the Beverly Beach designer is a previously announced stage role in a pantomime production of “Peter Pan,” mounted at the London Palladium. Kemsley is taking on two roles: Mrs. Darling, mother to central kids characters Wendy, John and Michael, as well as a mermaid.
“I even have a little singing part,” Kemsely said. She’ll receive vocal coaching from friend Boy George (as she has in a past season of “RHOBH”), who will also portray Captain Hook in the June 2024 run of the show.