Mauricio Umansky details awkward family Thanksgiving after cozy photos with reality star emerge

Mauricio Umansky had himself a side of awkward along with his Thanksgiving turkey this year.

Chatting exclusively with Page Six Wednesday night in Miami Beach, the luxury real estate broker, 55, revealed that those paparazzi photos of him looking cozy with a 34-year-old reality star hit the internet just as he was sitting down to eat with his estranged wife, Kyle Richards, and their children.

“That [story] was released during Thanksgiving dinner, which kinda sucked,” Umansky admitted of the images showing him embracing “FBoy Island” alum Celisa “CJ” Franco on a Los Angeles sidewalk the night before.

“So we’re all having Thanksgiving dinner, and Sophia’s like, ‘Dad, what the f–k is this?’ I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’”

Umansky gave us the same explanation he gave Richards, 56, and their daughters: Alexia Umansky, 29, Sophia Umansky, 25, and Portia Umansky, 17, as well as his stepdaughter, Farrah Aldjufrie, 37. Alexia’s new husband, Jake Zingerman, was also present.

“CJ’s my friend. It’s just that simple. The photos look more cozy or more whatever than what the reality is. Like, we’re friends,” he insisted.

Umansky and Franco had just left dinner at West Hollywood hotspot Craig’s when paps spotted them.

“I think that paparazzi was hiding in the bushes,” the Agency founder theorized. “There was literally nobody around. We were just waiting for her Uber, and I was waiting outside with her. She’s just a friend. … We’re just good friends.”

He confidently brushed off the ordeal, noting that he’s “authentic” and “real.” He’s also incredibly occupied.

Asked whether he foresees himself entering a serious relationship or even another marriage again, Umansky explained, “I couldn’t even answer that question today. I don’t know. Right now, I’m just taking it a day at a time, and I’m enjoying getting to know myself.”

He added, “I’m busy right now! I’m working my butt off. I’ve never worked harder in my life. We’re doing so many different things at The Agency, I’m launching a whole bunch of new businesses, I’m being disruptive in the industry, I’ve now taken on modeling.”

Umansky smiled as he pointed at his steamy new campaign posters for luxury fashion brand ARI, which lined the walls of the boutique where he was celebrating his collaboration with designer and friend Moshe Ben-Ari.

Given his intense schedule, which includes traveling “more than anybody [he] know[s],” Umansky said he “can’t even think about a relationship” right now.

He considers Richards, to whom he was married for 27 years before they announced their separation in July 2023, his best friend and gushed that they have “the best kids in the world.”

“We’re still in the fam chat,” he noted proudly, “and anybody I date’s gonna have to accept that.”

As for his friendship with Ben-Ari, Umansky described it as “organic.” After spending years shopping at ARI’s Beverly Hills location, the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast member thought to himself, “I need to meet the owner.”

They quickly became “super pals,” which led to Ben-Ari asking Umansky to star in his 2026 campaign.

“I’m like, ‘Bro, I am not a model, but I’ll do it for you,’” Umansky recalled responding, cheekily confessing to us, “I mean, I’ve always liked to take my shirt off anyway!”