Real Housewives of Orange County’s Gina and Matthew Kirschenheiter’s Roller Coaster Year in Photos

Credit: Courtesy of Gina Kirschenheiter/Instagram

Real Housewives of Orange County’s Gina and Matthew Kirschenheiter’s Roller Coaster Year in Photos

A rocky reality TV romance. Gina and Matthew Kirschenheiter have continued to make headlines ever since she joined The Real Housewives of Orange County in 2018. The twosome tied the knot in 2010 after attending Hofstra University together in Hempstead, New York. Three years after the former Long Island residents, who share sons Nicholas and Luca and daughter Sienna, made the move to Orange County, Gina was approached to join the Bravo series. Days before the season 13 premiere, however, Us Weekly confirmed the new Bravolebrity filed for divorce from Matthew after seven years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. “After careful consideration and deep thought, we have decided to end our legal marriage. With that said, we will never end our friendship and will forever remain family,” the pair said in an exclusive statement to Us on July 8, 2018. “We are dedicated to raising our children together in a happy, healthy loving environment. We will be navigating this difficult process with respect and grace for one another. We kindly ask for others to treat us with this same respect and grace at we move through this family adjustment.” Gina added at the time that there was “distance” between them because Matthew traveled for work — and was unable to film the show because of his employer. [jwplayer 4187DMav-l3ahXupL] “When he couldn’t film, and he’s also away a lot, I think that it probably did have more of a negative effect on our relationship and made things harder,” Gina explained. “Now I’m basically going on this venture, and he’s not included and involved in it, and it creates even more distance than is already there.” Following their divorce announcement, Gina and Matthew have faced a series of obstacles — and even briefly reconciled. Scroll through for a timeline of their rocky year:

Credit: Courtesy of Gina Kirschenheiter/Instagram

Real Housewives of Orange County’s Gina and Matthew Kirschenheiter’s Roller Coaster Year in Photos

A rocky reality TV romance. Gina and Matthew Kirschenheiter have continued to make headlines ever since she joined The Real Housewives of Orange County in 2018. The twosome tied the knot in 2010 after attending Hofstra University together in Hempstead, New York. Three years after the former Long Island residents, who share sons Nicholas and Luca and daughter Sienna, made the move to Orange County, Gina was approached to join the Bravo series. Days before the season 13 premiere, however, Us Weekly confirmed the new Bravolebrity filed for divorce from Matthew after seven years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. “After careful consideration and deep thought, we have decided to end our legal marriage. With that said, we will never end our friendship and will forever remain family,” the pair said in an exclusive statement to Us on July 8, 2018. “We are dedicated to raising our children together in a happy, healthy loving environment. We will be navigating this difficult process with respect and grace for one another. We kindly ask for others to treat us with this same respect and grace at we move through this family adjustment.” Gina added at the time that there was “distance” between them because Matthew traveled for work — and was unable to film the show because of his employer. [jwplayer 4187DMav-l3ahXupL] “When he couldn’t film, and he’s also away a lot, I think that it probably did have more of a negative effect on our relationship and made things harder,” Gina explained. “Now I’m basically going on this venture, and he’s not included and involved in it, and it creates even more distance than is already there.” Following their divorce announcement, Gina and Matthew have faced a series of obstacles — and even briefly reconciled. Scroll through for a timeline of their rocky year:

Credit: Courtesy of Gina Kirschenheiter/Instagram

July 2018

The pair announced their split a week before Gina made her Bravo debut.

Credit: Courtesy of Gina Kirschenheiter/Instagram

September 2018

Even though Matthew never appeared on RHOC, the duo’s relationship issues played out on the series. Gina maintained, however, that her decision to film the reality show did not impact their relationship.

“It’s a very complicated situation and I do think that it wasn’t the show,” she told Us in September 2018. “I think that moving to California had a very big, big impact on our relationship. Because when we were on Long Island it was a community of people surrounding us. … I think that had I known that this was gonna happen, I actually wouldn’t have done the show.” 

Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

January 2019

After celebrating the holidays together as a family, Gina hit a rough patch when she was arrested for driving under the influence on January 31 in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. “I made a very bad choice the other night after a mom’s night out. I am extremely disappointed in myself and regret my actions wholeheartedly,” she said in a statement at the time. “I have learned a valuable lesson and hope to show you all that this one incident does not define me.” 

Days later, she vowed to never drink and drive again. 

Credit: Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

February 2019

A week after her DUI, Gina was pulled over for talking on the phone. According to the O.C. Superior Court, the reality star was stopped by police in Orange County on February 6 for “driving while operating a handheld wireless telephone or electronic wireless communications device.” 

Credit: Courtesy of Gina Kirschenheiter/Instagram

June 2019

After filming season 14 of RHOC, Gina sparked reconciliation rumors with a heartfelt birthday post to Matthew in June 2019. “Happy birthday to the man who has held my hand for the last 14 years despite the ups and downs,” she wrote alongside a series of pictures of the duo, including one photo from their wedding. “Thanks for being the best father to our kids, and the best friend a girl could ask for. Wouldn’t want to take on this crazy life with anyone else. Like you said, ‘I’m your person and you’re mine.’”

Credit: Courtesy of Gina Kirschenheiter/Instagram

June 2019

Days after Gina’s sweet tribute made headlines, an insider confirmed to Us that the twosome had reunited. “Yes, they are back together,” the insider told Us. “We’ll learn why they split and how they found their way back to each other [on RHOC season 14]. They’ve always been very amicable and friendly or contentious.”

Credit: Orange County District Attorney's Office

June 2019

Matthew was arrested on suspicions relating to domestic violence on June 22. Hours later, the businessman was released and has yet to be officially charged with a crime. Radar Online was the first outlet to obtain Matthew’s mugshot.

Credit: Courtesy of Gina Kirschenheiter/Instagram

June 2019

Gina filed for a restraining order against her estranged husband two days after his arrest.

In the paperwork, the reality star detailed the alleged fight that led to Matthew’s arrest. “[Matthew] was screaming in my face saying he was going to f–king kill me. He ripped my bra strap off, then took a pillow and hit me on the side of the head with it hard. My ears rang. I begged him to stop… to calm down… but he kept hitting me,” she claimed. “His eyes were black and nothing I said could bring him back to reality. Even when I was begging and pleading with him to stop because our children were home too, it had no effect on him.”

Gina also alleged that the June 22 incident wasn’t their first violent argument, noting that she has been scared of him in the past. In the docs, she referenced an August 2018 incident. “I locked myself in my bedroom. He began yelling at me through the door saying, ‘Let me in! I need something from the closet!’ He eventually broke through the door and went straight to my closet,” Gina alleged. “I could hear him playing with his shotgun.”

In the paperwork, Gina concluded that Matthew, who has yet to publicly respond to the allegations, needs “professional help.” 

Credit: Phillip Faraone/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

July 2019

Gina pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol and one misdemeanor count of driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more on July 9. As a result, she was sentenced to three years’ informal probation, has to complete 20 hours of community service and must submit to six months in an offender alcohol program.

Credit: startraksphoto.com

July 2019

Gina was under fire after skipping the estranged couple’s restraining order hearing. While the Bravo star’s attorney, Tracey Lundquist, explained that she “thought it would just be the attorneys this morning,” the judge was not happy that Gina was not in attendance.

Credit: Courtesy of Gina Kirschenheiter/Instagram

July 2019

After Gina asked the judge to order Matthew to “submit to random expanded urine drug/alcohol testing,” he responded by pointing out her own history with substance abuse.

“Both [Gina] and I in the past had together used recreational marijuana and consumed alcohol. I am no longer engaged in drinking or marijuana use - and certainly never hard drug/narcotics,” Matthew declared in the paperwork obtained by Us. “I am certainly not a habitual, frequent or continual user of controlled substances as I understand that the Petitioner is accusing me of. I have never had a DUI, been arrested for a drug or alcohol related crime, nor convicted of one. … WHAT I AM IS a devoted Father to our three young children who is willing to take the urine alcohol/drug test requested.”

In Matthew’s response, the docs also state that Gina “has her own significant problems.”

“This year alone she was ticketed for blowing through a stop sign and talking while holding her phone,” the paperwork reads. “Only a few weeks ago, Petitioner pled guilty to Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher.”

Credit: Courtesy Gina Kirschenheiter/Instagram

August 2019

The twosome came face to face in court on August 14, 2019. While a judge agreed to the “dissolution of marriage,” Gina and Matthew’s martial status will remain “married” until December 31, 2019 as they hash out paperwork regarding their joint properties and more issues. Matt was also orderd to pay Gina $10,000 a month in spousal and child support.

The pair were granted joint legal custody of the kids, with Gina holding primary physical custody. The Bravo star’s restraining order against her estranged ex was also extended until a January 2020 court date. 

Credit: Courtesy Gina Kirschenheiter /Instagram

August 2019

Gina claimed during an August 2019 episode of RHOC that Matt had an affair before they split. “We moved here, Luca was, like, 4 months old and he had an affair,” she told costar Emily Simpson. “We tried to work through it the best we could. We were in therapy and it opened our eyes to other problems in the relationship.”

The Bravo star revealed she discovered Matt was still seeing the woman after she found a Valentine’s Day card.

“They think they’re in love,” Gina confessed during the episode. “Finding the card felt like the day that I found out about the affair in the first place. … I’ve just been carrying it around for so long and not being able to talk about it. It does feel good, at least, to just say it and try to heal from it.”

Credit: Courtesy of Gina Kirschenheiter/Instagram

August 2019

Matt claimed he couldn’t afford to pay Gina $10,000 a month in child and spousal support in court documents obtained by Us in August 2019. The former financial account manager listed his monthly income as $0 after he was forced to resign from his job following his June arrest.

“I have been seeking a new job,” Matt stated in the docs. “Although there have been no criminal charges filed against me and have never been convicted of a crime, it has been very difficult to obtain new employment.”

Matt also revealed that Gina was paid $63,000 by production and $5,450 by NBCUniversal for season 13 of RHOC, more than double what she claimed her income was in previous paperwork.

Credit:

October 2019

Gina told Us exclusively that the exes are learning to coparent after their tumultuous split.

“We correspond through a government monitored site, Talking Parents, but I actually think that that really is the best thing for us and I actually do think it was really helpful for us,” she explained. “I would suggest that for a lot of people going through divorce because you just, you can't take the shots. So it kind of takes all of that out of it. It really just becomes about like, ‘OK, what are the issues at hand? What do we need to discuss?’ It's mostly about the children. Right now that's good enough for us and I think that we can build off of that.”

The Bravo star, who has a new boyfriend named Travis Mullen, is hopeful that she and Matt will be on even better terms down the line.

“I don't think that it has to be bad forever,” she told Us. “I’m a hopeful person, so I'm still really hopeful that in the future it won't be like this and we can create kind of, like, ‘the new normal’ and set up really good boundaries to respect each other and still have a healthy coparenting relationship for our kids.”