Kristen Taekman Says Her Marriage Is Strong, "Despite What Everyone Probably Thought"
The mother of two also opened up about her return to reality TV and reuniting with other RHONY alumni.
In the years since she exited The Real Housewives of New York City, Kristen Taekman has experienced many life changes. But one thing that has remained constant is her commitment to her family.
The mother of two spoke about her homelife in a recent interview with People magazine, saying she was “very proud” of her husband, Josh Taekman, and their 19-year marriage.
“I think we’ve come a long way. We are stronger than ever,” she told the outlet before referencing her appearance on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Season 4. “And maybe I’m back to prove everybody wrong and break all those silly myths about Housewives marriages, because despite what everyone probably thought, we’re still happily married.”
Kristen Taekman's RHONY Departure
Kristen joined RHONY in Season 6 and left the series after Season 7. She confirmed her departure in a 2015 statement to E! News, saying she wanted to focus on her family and other business-related projects.
“My experience during my time on RHONY was fantastic and I made some great new friends,” Kristen explained. “At this time in my life, I have decided to concentrate on my family and my new business ventures Pop Of Color nail polish and Last Night’s Look, my fashion blog. I will remain a Housewife and part of an amazing franchise forever and that is what is important.”
Kristen Taekman on her marriage to Josh Taekman: "We're a great team"
Months before the announcement, Josh was hit with infidelity allegations after he was linked to the online dating service Ashley Madison. The entrepreneur and Vitalize Labs co-founder addressed the scandal in a 2015 public statement.
“I signed up for the site foolishly and ignorantly with a group of friends and I deeply apologize for any embarrassment or pain I have brought forward to my life and my family,” he told Us Weekly at the time. “We both look forward to moving past this and getting on with our lives.”
Kristen told People she has always stood by her husband, who has long denied the cheating rumors, and insisted the scandal “was never a problem in [their] marriage.”
“Unfortunately, all this has to come back up again now ‘cause of the show (RHUGT), but he never cheated on me,” she said. “Josh and I have a really great relationship. We come from two really great, strong family foundations. We both have the same interests, meaning we support each other and love each other and will do anything for our children. We’re a great team.”
Kristen Taekman shares her secret to a long-lasting marriage
Kristen and Josh share two children, an 11-year-old daughter named Kingsley and a 15-year-old son named Cash. The family relocated from New York to Los Angeles back in 2020, where they continue to provide regular looks into their West Coast lifestyles.
So, what is Kristen’s secret to maintaining a healthy marriage? She said the key is to keep things simple.
“It can be a lot easier than people think,” she explained. “If you simplify everything and really concentrate on what’s important, I think that really shines through. For us, for a very long time, it was just being together. We moved to the suburbs of California, and really just focused on our family life. It’s what’s kept us strong.”
Kristen Taekman reunites with her fellow RHONY alumni
Fans can catch Kristen on the current season of RHUGT, which follows her and other RHONY alumni on a weeklong getaway in St. Barts. Kristen was joined by Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer, Luann de Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, and Kelly Killoran Bensimon.
“It’s fun to kind of be in all this again,” Kristen said about her return to Bravo. “I was just glad to go back on TV and have fun with these awesome ladies. It’s good fun, we had a great time. I fee like I picked up right where we left off. It was like riding a bike!”
