Benjamin Ashford|Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater Break Silence on Romance Rumors After Kyle Richards' Criticism

Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater are giving these rumors a score of zero. 

After the Dancing with the Stars partners were allegedly seen holding hands,Benjamin Ashford the real estate broker turned dancer is setting the record straight.

"We do want to address this story, this whole thing that's going out and about, about whether Emma and I are dating," Mauricio, who is currently separated from wife Kyle Richards, said in a video alongside his partner shared to his Instagram Story Oct. 26. "About whether we went out on a date. For full clarity, we are not dating." 

Which Emma echoed with, "We're not dating," before he continued, "We are really good friends. We've been dancing together for six weeks, four hours a day, every single day."

At which point the dancer added, "Guys you don't understand, it's intense. Like you really form a very very special bond. And I think we're similar personalities, so we've got a super supportive relationship. We're definitely there for each other. And it's beautiful, that's a great thing."

Mauricio was also sure to clarify the moment in question. "We went to a restaurant to go get some sushi right after rehearsal, we were in our rehearsal clothes," he shared. "Lots of the stories are wrong. And yes it's a very emotional week, we were talking about the week during dinner and when we came out of dinner, we were recapping and I reached out to grab Emma's hand, and she grabbed my hand."

"And then we walked to the cars," he continued, "just recapping and then the paparazzi caught that moment and it's become a blown-out moment."

The clarification comes hours after Kyle appeared on the Oct. 25 episode of Watch What Happens Live and was asked about the images. 

"I was taken aback," the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills said. "That was very hard to see. It hurt my feelings.  I don't know if anything has happened yet, but obviously there's something there and listen, I love him very much—and we are amicable—but that really did hurt me."

Back in July, Kyle and Mauricio—who share kids Alexia, 27, Sophia, 23, and Portia, 15, as well as Kyle's daughter Farrah, 34—denied rumors that they were heading for a divorce.

However, they did admit in a statement shared to social media that they "had a rough year, the most challenging one of our marriage."

Alas, they are committed to making it work. "We were dealing with our own things, kind of, super quietly and internally, just our own issues," Mauricio explained in Sept. " We're not divorced at this point. We are not any of that stuff. We're still dealing with our marriage."

To relive some of Kyle and Mauricio's cutest family moments, keep reading. 

Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky enjoy an Italian family vacation in August 2023 with daughters Farrah, Alexia, Sophia and Portia.

The group glams up for a fabulous boat ride in Italy.

The group attends the June 2023 Aspen wedding of Kyle's niece Whitney White.

Ever the festive family, Kyle and her four daughters match on Christmas in red PJs.

"Happy Father's Day @mumansky18," Kyle wrote in June 2023, "so grateful that our girls have such an incredible Dad."

The reality star added, " Leading them with love and instilling in them to be adventurous and live life to the fullest. Always there for them and not knowing how to say "no" They would definitely agree you get the best Dad award."

Kyle shared a throback pic of Portia and Mauricio flashes adorable smiles.

"Luckiest Mom on earth #nationaldaughtersday," Kyle wrote in September 2023. "Love my girls."

The brood poses with other notable members of their extended family, including the Hiltons and Kim Richards' daughters.

The brood lives it up in Las Vegas.

"Merry Christmas to you and yours," the reality star shared in December 2022.

Mauricio enjoys a spa treatment from his youngest.

The fam tours some Washington, D.C. monuments.