Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty, Paras Griffin/Getty
Ralph Pittmanis taking accountability forhis splitfrom estranged wifeDrew Sidora.
In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, Pittman, 40, apologizes for his role in his divorce from the 38-year-oldReal Housewives of Atlantastar and shares his hopes for moving forward.
“I love my wife with all my heart. It is no secret that marriage is a challenging journey, one that is not for the faint of heart,” he says. “My family means the world to me and I’ve dedicated myself to providing support, encouragement and acting as a pillar of strength for my wife and children.”
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In March, Sidora lodged anexplosive set of allegationsagainst her estranged partner, including claims he was a “serial cheater and adulterer” who abused her both mentally and financially and even got “physically aggressive” with her at one point.
Sidora previously opened up to PEOPLE abouther decision to divorceamid their marriage struggles.
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According to Sidora, things reached a “boiling point” when some of their marital issues “started to happen on camera” and she began to feel “embarrassment on top of what we were dealing with behind closed doors.”
“[It was] definitely the breaking point and enough is enough,” she confessed. “And I didn’t see that coming. Of course I was forever, but it was like [there was] nothing else left for me to hold onto because the behavior and inappropriateness just never stopped. It was just too much.”
Despite the allegations, theStep Upactress was “hopeful for an amicable divorce.”
“I’m hoping for a great co-parenting partner. I’m hoping for us to come out of this and be able to be friends and be respectful,” she shared. “I’m hoping for my kids to be happy and just to really see what life has for me on the other side of all this. It’s hard to imagine right now, but I would love to just be completely whole moving forward.”
When news of their separation broke, Pittman released anexclusive statementto PEOPLE about the end of his marriage.
“Love is a beautiful thing,” he wrote at the time. “Unfortunately we have made the difficult decision to move on to our next chapters, independent of each other. Drew and I have decided to file for divorce. We have three amazing young children, and their mindset and growth is what is most important. As we navigate this difficult time, I ask that you please respect our privacy.”
Sidora later shared her own statement with PEOPLE. “After eight years of wholeheartedly fighting for my marriage, I have made the agonizing decision to release my husband with love,” she said. “Although Ralph and I have decided to move forward separately, the hope is to remain friends so that we can co-parent responsibly. In spite of our very public life, I am asking for privacy during this difficult time as my children and I learn how to navigate through our new beginnings.”
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The Real Housewives of Atlantaairs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
source: people.com
