Karen Huger Reacts to Michael Darby's Sexual Assault Allegations: "I Simply Believed It"

Some shocking news rocked the world of The Real Housewives of Potomac in Sunday night's episode when Ashley Darby's husband, Michael Darby, grabbed headlines after being charged with sexual assault. 

As we saw during the episode, word spread quickly, not only in Potomac but also around the country. "It was a mess," Karen Huger recalled during The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 4 After Show, which you can view, above. "Everybody was talking about it, and it was well-known."

Even amid all the chatter surrounding Michael, Ashley didn't hesitate to stand by her husband from the very beginning. "I 100 percent supported my husband. Unlike where Karen was demanding that [her husband] Ray [Huger] apologize to her when his tax stuff came out and totally threw him under the bus, I was really there for my husband, and I supported him and I wanted him to know that I had his back no matter what," Ashley said during the RHOP After Show. "And that reaffirmed, I think, to him how much I care about him, how much I love him, and how much I'm always gonna be there for him."

It was Ashley's calm demeanor while addressing the allegations against Michael over the phone to Gizelle Bryant and later to the rest of the RHOP crew during Katie Rost's hoedown that seemed to raise just as many eyebrows. Gizelle even noted during the RHOP After Show that "it was confusing" to see Ashley speak so nonchalantly about the allegations.

Ashley explained why she felt it was so important for her to keep her composure during this difficult time. "This issue was very significant, and I needed to talk to my husband about it first. I'm not going to say or do anything to anybody else without first talking to Michael about it, because in reality this really is him, it's his reputation, and I want to take heed and really respect every decision that he wants me to make," she shared during the RHOP After Show. "If this were about me, maybe my reaction would have been different, but out of respect for Michael, it just wasn't the appropriate time to say anything to Gizelle."

Karen actually supported the way Ashley handled the situation during her appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Sunday night. "Because she wants to put up a front, as any wife should, you want to believe your husband is innocent until proven guilty, and so she did the right thing on that one," Karen said. "I think she did the right thing because she's in a vulnerable position."

The RHOP grande dame also shared her own reaction to Michael's allegations on WWHL. "You know, first of all, it's not Ashley that's doing all this; this is Michael, allegedly Michael, that's doing all of this," she said. "So because of his past history, though, I simply believed it. I think it's possible."

The charges against Michael were ultimately dropped. "He's cleared, and I hope he learned his lesson," Karen said.

Find out what the rest of the RHOP squad had to say about the allegations against Michael, below.

The Real Housewives of Potomac Cast React to Michael Darby's Allegations