- Karen and Ray are living separately and struggling to make their 32-year marriage work after growing apart.
- Gizelle believes Ray has been Karen’s emotional anchor and worries about her regressing without him.
- Though Gizelle and Karen had heated arguments this season, Gizelle’s anger stems from caring deeply about her friend.
After apologizing to Wendy Osefo and Tia Glover for her shady behavior this season, Gizelle Bryant is showing an unexpected side by supporting another Real Housewives of Potomac co-star facing a difficult time: Karen Huger.
Here’s what Gizelle Bryant had to say about Karen Huger and her husband’s marital woes.
During an interview with Us Weekly, published Oct. 20, Bryant opened up about her feelings regarding Karen and her husband, Ray Huger, as the longtime couple navigates marital troubles in Season 11 of the Bravo reality series. On Sunday’s episode (Oct. 11) Karen revealed on the show that she and Ray were “living separately” and “struggling” to make their marriage work.
“That makes me sad. I definitely want Karen and Ray to work things out,” Gizelle, 56, told Us Weekly while promoting Season 11 of The Real Housewives of Potomac.
“I think they need each other,” she continued.
Karen previously revealed she and Ray were living “separately” and had “grown apart.”
Karen, 63, previously discussed the state of her marriage during an interview on Way Up With Angela Yee, published Oct. 12. During the conversation, the Grande Dame admitted she wasn’t sure whether Ray was ready to be with her now that she has healed and is “clear” following her 2025 DUI.
Her comments came after Angela Yee asked Karen about Ray’s eyebrow-raising remark in the Season 11 trailer, in which he suggested that “non-sober Karen might’ve been more fun.”
The couple’s relationship struggles have also played out on screen. During the Season 11 premiere, Karen revealed that she and Ray had “grown apart,” confirming they were living separately after several castmates noticed she had been without her wedding ring for at least a month.
Later in the episode, Karen acknowledged that the couple was “struggling.” Their tension became especially apparent when she expressed frustration over Ray quickly leaving their home rather than taking the time to sit down and enjoy a cup of tea with her.
Despite the challenges, Karen hasn’t given up on her marriage. As of 2026, she and Ray have been together for approximately 32 years, having tied the knot in 1996, according to Bravo. During Sunday’s episode of Watch What Happens Live, Karen also told host Andy Cohen that she and Ray were “still working on” their relationship.
Gizelle, meanwhile, is hoping the couple can overcome their differences. The Reasonably Shady podcast co-host expressed concern about what a potential separation could mean for Karen, stressing the important role Ray has played in her life.
“I think that Ray has always been Karen’s rock,” she said. “I don’t want to see Karen not have her rock and regress.”
Gizelle also praised Karen for allowing viewers and her castmates to see a more “vulnerable” side of her this season.
“She, I think, is a little bit more open to share her life and to share where she is,” the podcast co-host continued. “She can tell her story, but there are issues with Ray there. I think she’s leaning a little bit more on the ladies, which she’s never really done before.”
Gizelle also offered insight into why she and Karen Huger got into a screaming match this season of #RHOP.
Meanwhile, fans hoping to see a better relationship between the two Potomac OGs may have reason to remain optimistic. When the Season 11 trailer dropped in September, viewers watched Gizelle and Karen engage in a heated screaming match. However, Gizelle suggested the confrontation isn’t as serious as it appears, hinting that the drama came from a place of love.
“It is because I care about Karen that I was so angry,” she told Us Weekly. “I think in the past I would not have been so upset, but I’ve very much been a friend to Karen. I’ve shown up for her, and I felt like she wasn’t giving me that in return.”
As the season unfolds, viewers will see whether Karen and Ray can find their way back to each other and whether Gizelle and Karen can put their differences aside.
What do you think of Gizelle Bryant’s show of support for Karen and Ray Huger? Thoughts?
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