Carmella Garcia Confirms Breakup With Boyfriend of 10 Years

Carmella Garcia, a star on "The Real Housewives of Orange County," has confirmed her separation from boyfriend Danny Hampel after a 10-year relationship. Garcia revealed in an exclusive interview with Page Six's "Virtual Reali-Tea" that she ended the relationship "months ago."

"I feel a range of emotions," Garcia, 44, told Page Six. "I feel sad. It was a 10-year relationship. It was somebody that was around my children. But, at the end of the day, I needed to put myself first."

Garcia, who joined "RHOC" for its current 20th season, has previously been open about her relationship's challenges on the show. In a prior episode, she disclosed that Hampel had cheated on her four years earlier.

While Garcia did not specify the exact reason for the breakup, she indicated that she discovered Hampel had engaged in "gravely inappropriate" behavior shortly after filming concluded. "It was a very difficult situation because it was somebody that I loved very deeply, and I truly did want to get to a place of forgiveness, but I oftentimes ignore my intuition and there was just something deep down that I felt like I just didn’t trust," she explained. "The dishonesty just continued and I called it quits."

Garcia noted that her sons from a previous marriage, Jason, 17, and Jax, 15, have found the breakup particularly difficult. She emphasized the importance of self-worth and the unsustainability of the relationship, stating, "I have to be enough for myself and for him and for my children, and I was never enough for him. That’s an issue that I feel like is his issue."

She added, "If I could change it for him, I would, but I can’t. The ship was sinking and I needed to save myself."

Garcia shared that witnessing their relationship unfold on the show has been the most challenging aspect of the separation. She has received support from her "RHOC" co-stars Jennifer Pedranti and Tamra Judge.

Regarding future relationships, Garcia initially felt hesitant but has since engaged a "team of therapists" to address personal issues. "I’ve struggled over the years [with] suppressing pain, and I felt like this is exactly where I needed to be," she said. "I needed to walk through it, and the only way through it is straight through it."

Garcia has four children with her ex-husband, former NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia. Their children include sons Jason and Jax, and daughters Presley, 18, and Faith, 14. The couple married in 2007 and announced their separation in 2020, though they remain legally married.

"The Real Housewives of Orange County" airs on Bravo, with new episodes available on Peacock the following day.