Real Housewives of New York Star Separates from Her Husband

Countess Luann de Lesseps, star of the Real Housewives of New York, is reportedly separating from her husband, Count de Lesseps. According to close friends of the housewife, she heard that her husband was seeing someone else, and after ignoring her calls, "he finally sent her an email saying he was with an Ethiopian woman in Geneva and he was serious with her," Page Six reports.

Although the married couple lived apart most of the time, the Countess was "blindsided" and "surprised," a friend expresses, saying the reality TV star "never thought this would happen."

"It is obviously a very difficult time for the countess and count, but they plan to remain friends and their primary focus will be to do what's best for their two children," a representative to the Countess said.

Page Six reports a friend of de Lesseps expressing the same sentiment, saying that the Countess is "taking the high road" as she comes to terms with her current situation.

"She feels this is the ultimate test for her to handle this with dignity and grace," she said.

Friends tell that, through it all, she said, "I will always be the countess."