Real Housewives of Orange County star Carmella Garcia split from her longtime boyfriend, Danny Hampel, after 10 years together.
Carmella confirmed the split during an interview with Virtual Reali-Tea, revealing that she ended the relationship “months ago.”
“I feel a range of emotions. I feel sad. It was a 10-year relationship. It was somebody who was around my children. But, at the end of the day, I needed to put myself first,” Garcia shared.
The RHOC newbie has been candid about the ups and downs of her relationship with Danny throughout her debut season. Carmella previously revealed that the general contractor had cheated on her four years ago.
While Carmella did not disclose exactly what ultimately led to their breakup, she revealed that she learned Danny had done something “gravely inappropriate” shortly after filming wrapped.
“It was a very difficult situation because it was somebody that I loved very deeply, and I truly did want to get to a place of forgiveness,” she explained. “But I oftentimes ignore my intuition. There was just something deep down that I felt like I just didn’t trust.”
Carmella said the dishonesty eventually became too much. “The dishonesty just continued, and I called it quits.”
The luxury real estate agent shares sons Jason, 17, and Jax, 15, with her former husband. According to Garcia, her children have struggled with the decision to end her decade-long relationship with Hampel. “It was not a healthy relationship to show my children,” Carmella admitted.
“I have to be enough for myself and for him and for my children, and I was never enough for him. That’s an issue that I feel like is his issue. If I could change it for him, I would, but I can’t. The ship was sinking and I needed to save myself.”
“I’ve struggled over the years [with] suppressing pain, and I felt like this is exactly where I needed to be,” she said. “I needed to walk through it, and the only way through it is straight through it.”
