Kristen Taekman's 19-Year Marriage Is 'Stronger Than Ever' Nearly a Decade After Ashley Madison Scandal (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Kristen Taekman and Josh Taekman attend the Playing For Change 2023 Impact Awards Gala Honoring Maluma at The Sacred Space Miami on April 29, 2023 in Miami, Florida.Photo:Mireya Acierto/Getty

Mireya Acierto/Getty

Kristen Taekmanhas a marriage that has withstood time and controversy!

“I have to say, I’m very proud of our relationship and I think we’ve come a long way,” says Kristen, 46. “We are stronger than ever. And maybe I’m back to prove everybody wrong and break all those silly myths about Housewives marriages, because despite what everyone probably thought, we’re still happily married.”

Kristen Taekman attends “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy” premiere party at GH on the Park on Dec. 12, 2023 in New York City.Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

In October, the Takemans celebrated 19 years together,sharing loving poststo one another on Instagram. The couple, who married on Oct 23, 2004, are parents to two kids: son Cassius, 15, and daughter Kingsley, 11.

Bravo viewers first met them when Kristen joined the show in season 6, which aired in 2014. At the time, she and Josh appeared to be struggling in their relationship, with Kristen even joking in the show’s trailer that she was likely “getting divorced” after Josh criticized her for not having food on the table when he came home from work.

Their marriage appeared to be in a better place during Kristen’s second season — that is until August 2015, when, days before the airing of the season 7 reunion, hackers dumped stolen subscriber data online from Ashley Madison, the dating website marketed to married people looking to start an affair. Josh’s name was among the 32 million users of the site whose login details, email addresses and payment transaction information was shared.

Josh has long denied he cheated. “I signed up for the site foolishly and ignorantly with a group of friends andI deeply apologize for any embarrassment or pain I have brought to my wife and family,” the EBOOST co-founder at the time told PEOPLE in a statement.“We both look forward to moving past this and getting on with our lives.”

She continues: “Josh and I have a really great relationship, We come from two really great, strong family foundations. We both have the same interests, meaning we support each other and love each other and will do anything for our children. We’re a great team.”

Asked the secret for maintaining a 19-year-marriage, Kristen says it call comes down to not over-complicating things.

“It can be a lot easier than people think,” she shares. “If you simplify everything and really concentrate on what’s important, I think that really shines through. For us, for a very long time, it was just being together. We moved to the suburbs of California, and really just focused on our family life. It’s what’s kept us strong.”

Kristen Taekman, Sonja Morgan, Ramona Singer, Kelly Killoren Bensimon, Luann de Lesseps and Dorinda Medley attend “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacy” premiere party at GH on the Park on Dec. 12, 2023 in New York City.Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Of course, now Kristen is dipping her toe back into theReal Housewivesworld. Fans can watch her and fellowRHONYlegendsDorinda Medley,Kelly Killoren Bensimon,Ramona Singer, Luann de Lesseps and Sonja Morgan onRHUGT: RHONY Legacy, which premieres Thursday on Peacock.

And now that her kids are old enough to watch, Kristen says she’s not worried about what they’ll have to say. “The only thing that comes up with my kids being the age they’re at, their friends will be like, ‘Oh my gosh, your mom has a blue check?' " she laughs. “Isn’t that ridiculous? And I never think about that silly blue checkmark, but they’re like, ‘How come your mom has a blue check?’ It’s that Twitter and Instagram world!”

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The first three episodes ofThe Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: RHONY Legacydrop Thursday on Peacock.

source: people.com