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Ashely Darby dubbed 'failed sugar baby' after Mia Thornton calls 'RHOP' costar 'gold digger' with no 'alimony' from Micahel Darby

'RHOP's Ashley Darby affirms that she will only get child support for the children she shares with Michael Darby and that she will not be receiving alimony

POTOMAC, MARYLAND: Mia Thornton accuses Ashley Darby of looking for riches rather than love. Wendy Osefo and Nneka Ihim confront Mia on the March 3 episode of 'The Real Housewives of Potomac' for earlier alleging Ashley was a "gold digger," and fans don't think it was very successful gold digging on Ashley's part.

Mia does not contest the claims and explains why she assumed Ashley had married for money, thus keeping her plans to divorce her estranged husband Michael Darby private.

"Last year, you were TikToking all around, and you were like, 'Yeah! Getting a divorce!'" she says. "I think you're not getting it right now because you married Michael for his money."

When Ashley becomes defensive, she shifts the blame onto Mia and questions whether she married her husband, Gordon Thornton, for his money. As she defies Ashley's questions, the other Housewives rally around Mia, recalling her prior statements that Gordon was "broke" and she couldn't have married for money.

"I'm 100 percent completely honest with you guys," Mia adds before referring to Ashley. "I think that you should be honest with yourself."

Candiace Dillard Bassett joins in during a confessional, claiming she "might be okay with nasty long balls for a little bit longer if it meant I could, you know, go to Dior."

"I just think she's jealous because Mia thought she was gold digging, but she really got fool's gold," Ashley says in a different confessional. "Okay? My s--- was real and authentic, and she got some pyrite."

While the Housewives discuss how much she would earn from her divorce, Ashley says that she will not receive alimony and will instead be given child support for the children she shares with Michael. Ashley goes on to describe how she and Michael share their finances for their children, Dean and Dylan.

"Michael and I both pay for the children, so when it comes to their schooling, clothes all that stuff, we both contribute to that," she says to the camera. "I will say Michael does contribute to my car, at least for now."

When producers question if they still have a joint account, Ashley acknowledges that she still has access to a credit card that Michael says she can use for "emergencies" but isn't "comfortable using." "We do have a joint account, and that joint account I use for the children -- even for the groceries I take out of that account... and Uber Eats," she goes on to say.

Fans however on X, quickly took to trolling Ashley as they writes, "Ashley is really the one to talk about FOOL’s gold?" Another user chimed in, "Ashley has never had access to Michael’s money like what kind of gold digging is that? No bags, no cars, no jewelry, no properties or accounts to her name. What was the point of laying with that man if in the end you’re not getting anything out of it." 

One person also tweeted, "Ashley, Mia actually got the better deal! YOU got fools gold and no access! Michael has all the money and making YOU pay." A fourth user added, "Ashley isn’t a gold digger, she’s Michael’s child now I really hope Ashley finds her independence."

One person quipped, "ashley had a whole ass sugar daddy and played her cards all the way wrong." "It's so funny how some people thought Ashley was the ultimate hustler when it turns out Michael has her by the forehead. A failed sugar baby if I've ever seen one lol!" joked another. 

Are 'RHOP's Ashley Darby and Michael Darby divorced?

Based on Ashley's bio for 'RHOP' Season 8, the status of her divorce is a bit of a mystery to the rest of the cast. Ashley's prospective divorce is still a heated issue among the women as she settles into her new house with boys Dean and Dylan.

In her biography, she states that as she contemplates the life of a single mother and the financial challenges that lie ahead, she questions how she will support her family."

"I don't know what this is. As I mentioned, I did this meditation retreat, and one of the things that I meditated on was: What is my issue? What is it? So I've decided I'm going to talk to my lawyer and really try to get it going," Ashley revealed while at BravoCon 2023.

"I've just been a little bit complacent about it, if I'm honest, because there are benefits to being married."

"Emotionally, there's none. I think he's moved on; I've moved on, but I don't know. There's just some sort of emotional underlying attachment," she confesses.

"There are some benefits, professionally and financially, that he and I have. It's not big, but there are reasons that it's beneficial for us to be married. But [the] reality is we just have to pull the plug and just do it."

'RHOP's Ashley Darby co-parents twin boys with ex Michael Darby

Meanwhile, Ashley says they're "still navigating" co-parenting their two children after the breakup, though she thinks "parallel parenting" is a better phrase for their situation.

"I think that's probably a more adequate approximation of where I am. We're not divorced yet, so as we're still navigating that," she explains.

"I want to say that we're on better terms than we are, but unfortunately, we're just not. That's the way the cookie's crumbling."

The Bravolebrity continues, "So we're parallel parenting, and thankfully, both of us are very involved in the children's life. They don't see any difference. All they know is that they have two houses, and they get to have double the toys. So that's been good, but we really don't really have a relationship at all."

Is 'RHOP's Ashley Darby dating Vernon Davis?

At one of the group lunches, Karen Huger provided an update on her current health concerns. She mentioned that she was working with a trainer to address her small carotid artery blockage.

"I'm starting off with weight training," Karen explained, and Mia inquired as to when the rest of the group would be able to meet her trainer. Karen later revealed that her personal trainer is retired NFL star Vernon Davis.

"Vernon is my friend, and he said, 'Well, Karen, I'm going to take you through the training," Karen stated why she hired the former professional athlete as a trainer.

"Is he single, because Ashley—you know," Gizelle Bryant inquired, and Ashley acknowledged that she already had a relationship with Vernon.

"OK, so Vernon and I are friends," Ashley revealed.

"So there's nothing that's transpired between Vernon and I, but we have flirted. The first time I met him was, actually, I was with Michael at Fight Night, like eight or nine years ago, and then I saw him at your party. So he came out and hugged me and was like, 'So good to see you.' And I was like, 'Good to see you too, boo.'"

"We just talk on Instagram a little, that's all," she explained, showing Nneka Ihim her DMs. "That's all; it's just a little. That's all it is."

However, several of the other women were not certain that was "all" there was. "Ashley turned a whole shade of pink," Karen recalled during a confessional in the episode. "She was blushing..."

"I don't think I've ever seen Ashley like this," Gizelle expressed in her own confessional. "This is like a little seventh-grade crush."

Bravo airs new episodes of 'The Real Housewives of Potomac' Season 8 on Sundays at 8/7c. The next day, episodes will be available for streaming on Peacock.