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How long has Kyle Richards been sober? 'RHOBH' star accused of starting 'whisper campaign' against Sutton Stracke, dubbing her 'alcoholic'

Fans of the show called Kyle Richards 'cruel' for the way she treated Sutton Stracke and labeled her a 'bully'

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA: Episode 6 of 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Season 13 witnessed another showdown between Kyle Richards and Sutton Stracke. Kyle, who has been sober for one year and four months, was called out by viewers for trying to label Sutton as the "alcoholic" of the group.

Crystal Kung Minkoff and Dorit Kemsley paid Kyle a visit in the November 29 episode of 'RHOBH', telling her what a fantastic job her business manager was doing. In the episode, Kyle mocked Sutton's mimicry of Erika Jayne at the elevator doors.

Then Kyle went on to claim that something is wrong with Sutton. Dorit finally declared, "Well, we know Sutton is a drinker."

At the same time, on the other side of the town, Sutton, while having dinner with Garcelle Beauvais, told her about her encounter with Kyle and claimed that she believed the incident with Erika at the elevator doors in Vegas was staged. Garcelle concurred. Sutton then expressed her displeasure that Kyle backed Erika.

Then Sutton began to investigate Kyle's marriage. She told Garcelle that she noticed that Kyle wasn't wearing her wedding ring, but rather a diamond and sapphire band.

Sutton then pointed out that everyone is aware of the rumors surrounding Kyle and Mauricio Umansky's marriage, but no one is willing to address them.

During Kyle's THC dinner party, Sutton believed it was a good moment to take Kyle away for a conversation in another room while everyone was taking their seats.

Sutton then told Kyle that the reason she appeared "off" when Kyle arrived at her house was that she had just learned that her ex was relocating to London and intended to take their son with him, and he also expected Sutton to follow. The ex is now going alone, while Sutton and the boy remain in LA.

Kyle responded by saying, "You want sympathy for a move that isn't going to happen, and she's getting more money because you'll have the kid all the time."

As Kyle mocked Sutton's revelation, Sutton became irritated because Kyle wasn't taking the news in the manner Sutton intended. Kyle then claimed that Sutton was making an excuse, stating that her co-star always makes excuses when she "behaves this way."

Sutton, according to Kyle, is a sloppy drinker who then makes excuses for her conduct, which Kyle has been dealing with since she started partying with Bethenny Frankel.

On X, fans wondered, "“That B***h” Kyle about Sutton. I don’t get why Kyle is mad when she was the one being a b***h to Sutton." Another user chimed in, "This sober kyle is rlly giving drunk kyle gaslighting sutton ab her miscarriage. SHE hasnt changed one bit." 

One fan noted, "Sutton is on Kyle’s heels about the separation rumors. So Kyle is going to start a whisper campaign that Sutton is an alcoholic….typical Kyle." A fourth viewer gasped, "Wowoowowoow Kyle is now accusing Sutton of having an eating disorder and she is alcoholic to deflect from her marriage issues. That’s super low."

Other viewers recalled, "The way Kyle demeaned Sutton and minimized her very real issues with her ex was abject cruelty. She deserves scorched treatment from Mo as karma. The S1 bully is back."

One person further wrote, "I cannot understand the absolute lack of empathy from Kyle when Sutton told her about the issue with her ex. Suttons behavior makes so much sense given what she was going thru. Kyle is gross and mean and NOT Suttons friend. At all."

'RHOBH's Kyle Richards claims sobriety affected marriage to Mauricio Umansky

Kyle can see the flaws in her marriage more clearly than ever before. On the November 15 episode of Bravo's 'RHOBH', the star discussed her struggle with being sober.

Kyle's BFF Dorit attempted to understand her motive for giving up booze and for bringing about health and fitness changes over a lunch date in Las Vegas.

"Do you think this whole not drinking and distancing yourself for a minute was to try to protect yourself get control?" Dorit inquired, referring to Kyle's Season 12 brawl with Kathy Hilton.

She added, "Because, obviously, you have the trauma of falling out with your sister. That's traumatic."

"I'm not a psychologist, but maybe so," Kyle said. "I feel like I need to be really clear right now with everything."

Dorit, on the other hand, claimed that she missed drinking cocktails and letting loose with her co-star on vacation, as they've done in so many previous seasons of the program. However, Kyle pointed out that her newfound sobriety is not a phase.

"Before, I would have felt like, 'Well, I have to go have drinks because everyone expects that from me to go and have fun,'" the 54-year-old said. "I don't feel like I need to do that anymore. This is who I am, just take it or leave it."

The topic then shifted to Kyle's persistent marital problems with her husband of 27 years, Mauricio, and what caused their recent split.

"I think a lot of it has to do with... I expected more from him for what I was going through," Kyle said of her family's upheaval last season.

"Also, probably, you know how he loves to go drink. There's a lot of business events where I'm supposed to go and be the wife and be supportive. And sometimes it's like, I don't want to go to these parties."

The Bravo personality underlined in a confessional how her new alcohol-free lifestyle had impacted her relationship with the real estate millionaire.

"Mo is in sales, and a big part of that is putting yourself out there and being social," she stated, "and I'm at a place in my life where I don't want to do that. I would much rather be home reading than going to an event, especially when I don't drink anymore."

'RHOBH' star Sutton Stracke enjoys cocktails at 10 am

Sometimes a lady needs a drink — and it's not necessarily at 5 pm. Sutton shared the odd time of day she pours her first Piscine during a radio interview. And, just so you know, cocktail hour begins early at the famed hostess' home.

"I have a drinking regimen that I do," Sutton said when asked about her drinking habits on Behind the Velvet Rope.

"At around 10 [am], I think that's OK for your first cocktail of the day. And then ... I try to ... it's just consistency through the day. Then I'm nicer."

She continued, "You know what they say: When you monitor what time you're allowed to drink, that means you have a drinking problem. Why can't you have a drink at 10? What makes 5 o'clock so special? Give 10 am the love, too! ... Just have it. Don't deny yourself right now, no."

'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Season 13 airs on Wednesdays at 8 pm ET on Bravo.