Vicki Gunvalson of RHOC Gets Candid About Divorce Regrets on The Ex-Files Podcast with Amy Lass: “Adultery is a Character Flaw”

The Ex-Files Podcast with Amy Lass of Lass Law | Guest Vicki Gunvalson – SunBox Studios/Warrior Network Agency

Vicki Gunvalson is reflecting on a chapter of her life she now wishes had gone differently. The Real Housewives of Orange County alum recently appeared on The Ex-Files podcast, hosted by Amy Lass of Lass Law, where she opened up about her divorce from second husband Donn Gunvalson in 2014 — calling it one of her biggest life regrets.

In the emotionally honest interview, Gunvalson admitted that if she had the chance to do it over again, she would have stayed and fought for her marriage. “I think people give up too fast. Getting divorced is like buying a new pair of Chanel shoes — it’s stupid,” she said during the conversation.

At the time of their split, Gunvalson explained, she felt lost and unsupported, making choices based on what she thought her life should look like rather than what truly mattered. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, she realizes just how different things might have turned out.

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“I wish more people would have shaken me up a little bit more to stay in the marriage,” Gunvalson shared. “Everyone moves on to the next person, but that person comes with the same problems the first one had.”

Vicki and first husband Michael Wolfsmith, who married young, share two children — Briana and Michael Jr. — and ultimately divorced in 1991.

Longtime Housewives fans are familiar with Gunvalson’s romantic journey, having watched her navigate the second marriage to Donn Gunvalson and several other high-profile relationships on camera. This recent revelation, however, offers a rare glimpse at the personal heartache behind the public image.

Podcast host Amy Lass, known for her insightful conversations about relationships and family law, applauded Gunvalson’s vulnerability. She noted how important it is for public figures to open up about life’s difficult moments — as their stories can often inspire and encourage others to reevaluate their own.

Though the past can’t be changed, Gunvalson hopes that by sharing her experience, she can urge others to prioritize family and think twice before walking away. “At the end of the day, family is everything,” she said.