136
Credit: Instagram
Whitney Rose is opening up about her separation from husband Justin Rose, their plans for the future and how the change has affected their children. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City personality also discussed her strained relationship with Meredith Marks.
Fans learned in July that Whitney and Justin were separating after 16 years of marriage. Around the same time, Whitney’s castmate Angie Katsanevas announced her split from husband Shawn Trujillo. Meredith later shared a cryptic message about “karma,” which appeared to reference the breakups involving her fellow cast members.
In an interview with Us Magazine, Whitney offered new insight into how she and Justin are managing their separation.
“So Justin and I, we share two places. We share an apartment and a home. And he and I rotate between the two, so the kids stay in our primary home,” she explained. “So their routine hasn’t changed, their life doesn’t change, they have their bedrooms, they have their friends.”
Whitney said she and Justin continue to work together and co-parent while maintaining a united front for their children. “But Justin and I work together, we co-parent, we do everything together,” she added. “So from the kids’ perspective, I would imagine, I mean, based on their feedback, it’s more peaceful.”
For now, Whitney said the couple is focused on determining what comes next.
“For our marriage, right now we’re working through next steps and talking through that and what that looks like,” she said. Whitney also revealed that she and Justin regained control of their company, Wild Rose Beauty, and are preparing to sell it. “I have a huge announcement at the end of the year. I’m so excited. And Justin very much helped me do that. And so that was a very healing thing for us, to rebuild it together.” She added that they are taking things “day by day,” prioritizing their children and business while placing their marriage on pause.
Whitney emphasized that viewers will see the couple’s situation unfold as it happened. “Everything that you see unfold this season happened in real time,” she said. “I didn’t hold anything back [about our relationship]. I shared everything that I felt was safe to share and that would protect my children.”
According to Whitney, she and Justin officially separated “at the end of May,” and their children have responded with considerable support.
“They have so much love and support around them that their life hasn’t really changed much because we’re nesting,” Whitney said.
She also looked back on the tension at the start of the year, recalling that she moved into a guest bedroom in February. “One might think that’s not a big move. That’s silly. But for Justin and I, that was a big move,” she said.
“I mean, we’re very codependent. We do everything together, and to me, that was a big move. Just stating that I need space, and that I’m going to take a step in the direction of creating separation and space, was a huge step for me,” she continued. Whitney said the guest-room arrangement eventually served its purpose, but by May she realized she needed to move forward with a formal separation.
During an interview with ET, Whitney also addressed the current state of her friendship with Meredith.
“Boundaries are a big thing with Meredith now. I feel like I did everything I could sincerely to repair the friendship, but I don’t want to be in a one-sided friendship,” Whitney said. “I’ve learned to have boundaries. … Just because I love, and I love big and deep and wide, not everyone deserves that. … [We] coexist.”
Whitney added that filming with Meredith can feel emotionally distant. “When we’re filming, I honestly sometimes forget she’s there,” she said. “And then I like look at the end of the table [and I realize] she’s staring at me again. … She’s just always staring at me. … But it’s sad because she and I used to have a good bond.”