Who is Ashley Darby dating? 'RHOP' star admits to 'having fun' with 'friend' from 15 years ago

'RHOP' star Ashley Darby has met a new beau, but she's not quite ready to describe their relationship
PUBLISHED MAR 18, 2024
'RHOP's Ashley Darby claims she's slowly 'wading through' her divorce and 'having fun' in her new romance (Instagram/ashleyboalchdarby)
'RHOP's Ashley Darby claims she's slowly 'wading through' her divorce and 'having fun' in her new romance (Instagram/ashleyboalchdarby)

POTOMAC, MARYLAND: This season of 'The Real Housewives of Potomac' is coming to an end shortly. Of course, Ashley Darby has been a major issue because she and her husband, Michael Darby, have failed to file for divorce.

She is now talking about her relationship with a man from the past, as well as her official divorce. The 'RHOP' star recently spoke with PEOPLE about dating again after splitting up with 'Summer House' actor Luke Gulbranson.

'RHOP' star Ashley Darby quarantine for pink eye (Instagram/@ashleyboalchdarby)
'RHOP' star Ashley Darby had known her "friend," whom she chose not to identify, for a considerable amount of time (Instagram/ashleyboalchdarby)

Ashley says she is seeing someone, but she would not term it a relationship.

Ashley said, "I have a friend. We’ve only been talking for about four months."

She added, "I'm still learning what dating means in this world. There’s a lot of terminology that I’m trying to get the feel for. But we’re having fun."

Ashley then talks about how she met the new person she is "talking" to several years ago. In fact, she knew him before she met Michael.

This new guy is also closer to her age. He's 49, and she's 35.

She revealed, "I was at a Friendsgiving party, and the party was about to end, and he walked through the door, and I was like, 'Holy…' — one of those moments. So yeah, he asked me out. We went out the next day for dinner."

'RHOP's Ashley Darby claims she's slowly 'wading through' her divorce and 'having fun' in her new romance (Instagram/ashleyboalchdarby)
At 49, this new man is closer in age to 'RHOP's Ashley Darby than 64-year-old Michael Darby.
(Instagram/ashleyboalchdarby)

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

In terms of when she will divorce Michael, Ashley adds, "We’re slowly wading through. We’re not in the mud; there are some movements."

She then discussed not feeling compelled to file for divorce but still acknowledging the significance of moving on and putting the marriage behind them.

"I’m not feeling as pressured, but what my uncle said to me the other day was, emotionally, I’m never going to be free if I don’t do this. And maybe that’s true. So I’ll get there."

'RHOP's Ashley Darby on track to divorce Michael Darby (YouTube/Bravo)
'RHOP's Ashley Darby on track to divorce Michael Darby (YouTube/Bravo)

What happened between 'RHOP's Ashley Darby and Luke Gulbranson?

Ashley spoke about her relationship with Luke at Page Six's live Virtual Reali-Tea filming. "Really, we just sort of grew apart," she stated.

"My situation is complicated. My stuff with my previous partner has gotten better, but at that time, [it] was really bad. He stuck out through a lot of it," she said.

"I commend him, but there was a final straw that we decided to keep between us. And I respect that," Ashley added.

Luke is said to be in a relationship, according to bloggers. Luke is supposedly seeing 'The Bachelorette' star Tayshia Adams and is considering purchasing a ring.

That seems rather serious.

'RHOP's Ashley Darby describes relationship Luke Gulbranson 'complicated' (Instagram/Bravotv)
'RHOP's Ashley Darby describes relationship Luke Gulbranson 'complicated' (Instagram/Bravotv)

What happened between 'RHOP's Ashley Darby and Vernon Davis?

Ashley's dating life is now back in the limelight on 'RHOP' Season 8. Ashley stated in Season 8, Episode 15, which aired on March 3, that she had a connection to retired NFL star Vernon Davis.

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

"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.'"

'RHOP' Season 8 star Ashley Darby and Vernon Davis (Instagram/ashleyboalchdarby/vernondavis85)
'RHOP' Season 8 star Ashley Darby and Vernon Davis (Instagram/ashleyboalchdarby/vernondavis85)

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

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