Denise Richards is opening up about a painful time in her life. In the Season 3 premiere of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, the Wild Things actress emotionally recalls the time she was sexually assaulted when she was 15.
After Richards’ lackluster performance on the first day of Special Forces selection, Directing Staff (DS) instructors Billy Billingham, a former SAS Sergeant Major, and Jovon “Q” Quarles, a veteran Navy SEAL, call her in for some questioning about why she signed onto the Fox show, which puts celebrities through a series of demanding training exercises.
“I’m completely overcome by certain fearful situations and I want to learn how to stay calm and do something,” Richards says, before adding, “Part of why I wanted to do this course was because I’ve been in situations where I freeze and I can’t function. I can’t even speak to protect myself.”
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum first references a November 2022 incident in which another driver shot at her and her husband while they were on their way to a Los Angeles set.
“There was a situation that happened with my husband and I. We were driving. He wanted to take me to set. He didn’t want me going alone, thank God,” she remembers. “And we were physically shot at in his truck. And I sat on the floor and was just, literally, I peed. I was so scared. I froze.”
Richards says the first time she ever froze up in response to a horrific situation was when she was sexually assaulted as a teenager.
“I was 15 and I noticed a man following me,” she says. “He came up from behind me, put his hand around my mouth, grabbed my vagina, and started dragging me. And I froze. I couldn’t even scream for help.”
Noting that her husband is the only one she ever told that story to, Richards begins to cry.
“It’s so scary to have that situation at that age and be so vulnerable,” she adds. “I have three daughters and I want them to never be able to go through that. And also if something God forbid happened, to be strong enough.”
Following their conversation, Richards seems surprised by how much she shared.
“I think that I haven’t addressed a lot of what I have gone through,” she says. “And it’s very terrifying. I don’t know if I would be able to get over my past.”
Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on Fox.
If you or someone you know needs to reach out about sexual abuse or assault, RAINN is available 24/7 at 800-656-HOPE (4673), or online at RAINN.org.
