Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater insist they are ‘not dating’ as they respond to THOSE hand holding photos – after Kyle Richards said she was ‘hurt’ seeing the snaps

After being spotted holding hands after dinner in Beverly Hills, Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater have insisted they are just good friends.

The duo, who work together on Dancing With The Stars, made it clear they were not dating via an Instagram story posted to Emma’s account.

“To be clear, we are not dating. “We’re really good friends, we’ve been dancing together for six weeks now, four hours a day, every day,” Mauricio, 53, said.

“Guys, it’s intense,” Emma, ​​34, added. “Like you really form a very, very special bond and I think we have similar personalities, so we have a super supportive – last week was extremely emotional – so super supportive relationship, we’re definitely there for each other. It’s beautiful, that’s a wonderful thing!’

Mauricio insisted it was all exaggerated as he explained what happened: “We’re really good friends, and just to be clear, right after the rehearsal we went to a restaurant to get sushi, we had our rehearsal clothes on. A lot of the stories are wrong, a lot of them.

‘Yes, it’s a very intense week, a very emotional week, we were talking about the week at dinner, and when we came out to dinner we were recapping and I reached out to take Emma’s hand and she took my hand, and as we walked to the cars, you know, just recapping and recapping, and then the paparazzi caught that moment and it became a blown-out moment,” he continued.

“And then suddenly we’re dating,” Emma joked.

‘That is it. I hope this clarifies. That’s the end of that story,” Mauricio said.

The pair got people talking after they were spotted holding hands as they left Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills on Sunday night.

Sources said TMZ the duo started to become closer after having a deep conversation about Mauricio’s past.

On Tuesday, the participants will pay tribute to their ‘Most Memorable Year’ on the dance floor.

During the dinner, Mauricio described why 1996 holds such a special place in his heart — it was during this time that he tied the knot with Kyle and made the move into real estate after being fired from the fashion world, according to TMZ.

The duo felt more ‘connected and closer’ than ever before, which apparently led to the PDA display.

Turning heads: The couple got people talking after they were spotted holding hands as they left Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills on Sunday night

‘Super supportive relationship’: Slater said they developed a close bond after weeks of rehearsing together

They explain themselves: ‘To be clear, we are not dating. We are really good friends, we have been dancing together for six weeks now, four hours a day, every day,” said Mauricio, 53,

TMZ sources couldn’t say for sure whether or not a romance blossomed between the pair.

Since announcing his divorce from his wife earlier this year, Kyle has been linked to country singer Morgan Wade, but the duo have denied being in a relationship with each other.

Mauricio and Kyle announced in July that they were splitting after 27 years of marriage.

Kyle admitted that she was hurt after seeing the photos during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live.

Tell All: Richards admitted on Wednesday’s episode of WWHL that she was hurt after seeing photos of her estranged husband holding hands with Emma

Really Hurt: “I don’t know if anything has happened yet, but clearly something has,” Kyle said. “Listen, I love him very much and we are friendly, but that really hurt me.”

“I was surprised,” Kyle said on the Bravo talk show. ‘That was very difficult to see. Yes, that hurt my feelings.’

When host Andy Cohen, 55, asked Kyle for reaction to the photos of Mauricio holding hands with his younger dance partner Emma, ​​Kyle took a deep breath.

Andy asked if she thought there was something going on between them.

“I just don’t think you hold hands like that,” Kyle said.

Shock split: Mauricio and Kyle announced in July that they were splitting after 27 years of marriage

“They’re in Beverly Hills,” said fellow show guest Teddi Mellancamp, 34. “It’s not like they’re in a remote location. They are located in the middle of Beverly Hills. You know photographers are going to follow you.”

“I don’t know if anything has happened yet, but clearly something has,” Kyle said. “Listen, I love him very much and we’re friendly, but that really hurt me.”

Kyle admitted that the photos were the reason she deleted her Instagram post in support of them.

“But I voted for them too,” Kyle said.