Call it a real house war. Jules Wainstein, the Real Housewives of New York City season 8 rookie, is still living with her estranged husband, Michael, despite a nasty divorce battle, a source exclusively reveals in the latest issue of Us Weekly.
Although Michael, 44, sought to end the pair’s eight year marriage by filing for divorce May 13, “neither wanted to be away from the kids,” explains the insider.
Sharing a roof hasn’t been easy for the parents of Jagger, 6, and Rio 3, who have been hurling vicious accusations at each other. (The 35-year-old reality personality has accused the venture capitalist of cheating, while Michael claims Jules physically abused him in 2012.)
“Jules is going through a living hell,” says a second insider. “Michael cut her off so she has no way of paying for the kids.”
Yet, Michael’s attorney Mark Jay Heller tells Us, “Jules’ real goal is to create some drama to increase her stock on the Real Housewives.”
While the war at home wages on, Jules will lean on her new cast members for support. “The other Housewives are being really nice,” shares a third pal.
Jules’ co-star The Countess Luann de Lesseps recently spoke exclusively with Us Weekly to share her thoughts on the unfortunate turn of events, and dole out some advice.
“I feel bad that she’s going through what she’s going through, and I really didn’t have a clue that she was having marital problems,” the Class With the Countess author, 51, told Us. “My advice is to hopefully handle it the best way you can, and that is to protect your children. And to try to maintain a relationship with your ex so that your kids know that they’re loved and that Mommy and Daddy, even though they’re not together, they have a friendship.”
Similarly, fellow NYC Housewife Ramona Singer, who split from her husband of 22 years, Mario, last season, had well wishes for her friend.
“I really believe that in life, one grows from the hardships, and this is definitely a major hardship, but I think she’ll grow from it and be stronger for it,” the Ramona Singer Pinot Grigio founder, 59, told Us. “And I respect her a lot, and I think she’s more resilient than she knows.”
