Paul “PK” Kemsley was “shocked, disappointed and upset” by his estranged wife Dorit Kemsley’s characterization of their separation.
On Season 14 of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” which is currently airing on Bravo, Dorit claimed that PK’s “full-blown” alcoholism led to their split.
PK — who has been sober for a year — slammed the remarks on the latest episode of the “Bravo’s Hot Mic” podcast, telling host and “RHOBH” executive producer Alex Baskin, “First of all, I’m really public and proud about my sobriety.”
PK, 57, said going public with his struggles has allowed him to “inspire other people” to know that “recovery” is possible.
“It’s a very emotional, tough journey,” he shared, calling alcoholism a “really cunning, sophisticated illness.”
Pointing to “Dorit’s lack of understanding about sobriety,” he explained, “There is no fully-blown alcoholic; you’re either an alcoholic or you’re not.”
The UK native admitted, “Obviously, my alcoholism had an element of responsibility in relation to the breakdown of our marriage, but that was just a component. … Alcoholism is a symptom; it’s not a cause. … So it’s not fair to say, ‘He was a fully-blown alcoholic; that’s why we separated.’”
PK confessed that it was “emotionally difficult” to hear Dorit, 48, speak of his “bankruptcies, gambling debts [and] DUIs,” especially because she made sure to point out that she “stood by” him through it all.
He insisted that much of that was “well before” he met the Bravolebrity, claiming he’s “recovered from everything” and hasn’t “gambled since 2008.”
The businessman said he thinks Dorit “talking about the darkest times of [his] life and suggesting that she held [his] hand through them” is misleading to viewers.
He clarified that he’s “not angry” with her, just “sad” that she would talk “negatively about [him] on a TV show.”
“I’m in full-blown recovery. That’s the term ‘full-blown’ that should be used,” he assured Baskin before claiming that Dorit has “changed so dramatically” since joining the reality series in 2016 ahead of Season 7.
As for PK, he doesn’t believe he’s “changed at all;” he thinks he’s “stayed fairly grounded.”
The former couple married in March 2015 before welcoming son Jagger, 10, and daughter Phoenix, 8.
After many months of speculation, the Kemsleys confirmed their separation in May.