PK Kemsley Denies Being a ‘Fully Blown Alcoholic’ After Dorit’s Claims

PK Kemsley is setting the record straight on his sobriety journey after his estranged wife, Dorit Kemsley, claimed his drinking contributed to their separation.

“I was shocked, disappointed, and upset at what Dorit had to say,” PK, 57, confessed during the Tuesday, December 24, episode of Bravo’s “Hot Mic” podcast. “First of all, I’m really proud and public about my sobriety, and I’m 12 months in two weeks.”

PK noted that he’s had a “very emotional, tough journey” to get sober, so it surprised him that Dorit, 48, took a jab at that part of his life during the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 14 premiere, which aired in September.

During the episode, Dorit broke the news to her castmates that she and PK had separated after nine years of marriage. (Dorit, who shares kids Jagger, 10, and Phoenix, 8, with PK, publicly revealed the news in May.)

She also alleged that PK was “pouring alcohol on his” problems within their marriage before they parted ways. “It got very very very toxic,” Dori told Erika Jayne, claiming that PK was a “full-blown alcoholic.”

PK denied the allegations on Tuesday explaining that people “don’t necessarily realize how this disease has got you until you work out that you actually have this disease, and many people unfortunately don’t work it out and don’t get better.”

He noted that as you get older, alcoholism “becomes progressive” and it gets worse, which Dorit couldn’t comprehend since she never struggled with the illness.

“Dorit’s lack of understanding about sobriety is not her fault,” PK said. “She hasn’t invested in it, and it’s not something — she hasn’t worked a program and hasn’t done what I’ve done.”

He revealed, “There is no fully blown alcoholic. You’re either an alcoholic or you’re not.”

Despite not liking what Dorit called him on RHOBH, he confessed his alcoholism did have “an element of responsibility in relation to the breakdown of our marriage.” He further claimed it was “just a component” not the only cause.

“The truth is, if you understand the disease, alcoholism is a symptom. It’s not a cause,” PK continued. “So the reality is you have to get to what the cause was underneath. So it’s just not as simple as to say, ‘He was a fully blown alcoholic. That’s why we’re separated.’”

Dorit and PK’s marriage woes have been highlighted on RHOBH for several seasons, but during the season 13 reunion, which aired in February, she revealed that PK was in fact sober. However, their union broke down in the months that followed.

During the season 14 premiere she said there was “no catastrophic event” that caused the eventual separation.

Dorit later teased what’s to come on the season, exclusively telling Us Weekly in November, “Things don’t stay amicable between PK and I, and it was a big shock to me.” She noted when they filmed, they had “just separated,” so fans will see “that journey” from start to finish.

PK agreed with his estranged wife, explaining on the podcast that he can tell how “unhappy” and “emotionally distraught” she was when watching the episodes back.

That being said, PK confessed he didn’t like how Dorit claimed she “stood by me” during bankruptcies, gambling debts and DUIs.

“The bankruptcy and all the gambling debts were well before I met her,” he told listeners. “I’ve recovered from everything. I haven’t gambled since 2008. I don’t drink. Do you know what I mean? The bankruptcy was 2010, 2009 during the credit crunch. All of that was past history.”

PK added that seeing Dorit talk about the “darkest times in my life” has been “difficult to watch.”

Even with all the lows that have come to light this season, PK said he is “proud” of himself and his sobriety journey.

“I’m in full blown recovery. That’s the term: ‘full blown.’ That’s where it should be used,” he quipped. “I’m [in] full blown recovery, so it is tough to watch. It is a period in time and it brings a lot back.”

PK insisted he’s “not angry” but he did “struggle” with the season 14 premiere. “I never thought that us two, who are the tightest couple in the f—ing world, would ever be in a position where I’m watching this woman I love, the mother of my kids talking negatively about me on a TV show. It’s just unusual. It’s an unusual concept.”

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs on Bravo Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET and streams the next day on Peacock.