Denise Richards spoke candidly about a sexual assault she suffered as a teenager during the season three premiere of Fox’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test on Wednesday.
The 53-year-old actress and reality star spoke about the traumatic life experience, which she said was caused by an exercise on the show called helicopter extraction, which is used by Army Special Forces.
‘I really want to learn not to let myself be overwhelmed by fear. I have gone through traumatic situations that have been very scary for me. “I want to learn how to deal with those problems and become stronger,” Richards said.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum was unable to complete the task and explained to the show’s management staff (DS) that she was “completely out of (her) comfort zone” while trying and that she was “not petrified” but “emotional.” . .’
The Downers Grove, Illinois, native said on the show: ‘I’ve been through traumatic situations that have been very scary for me. “I want to learn to deal with those problems and become stronger.”
DS staff told Richards that she had “a kind of deer-in-the-headlights look” and “froze” in her efforts.
Denise Richards, 53, spoke candidly about a sexual assault she suffered as a teenager on Wednesday’s Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test. Photographed in Los Angeles in November.
The actress and reality star spoke about the traumatic life experience during the premiere of the Fox series’ third season.
The Wild Things actress, who has three daughters (Sami, 20, Lola, 19, and Eloise, 13), responded: “Yes, certain scary situations completely overwhelm me and I want to learn to stay calm and do something.” .
“Part of the reason I wanted to do this course is because I’ve been in situations where I freeze and can’t function, I can’t even speak to protect myself.”
Richards referenced a road rage incident that occurred in November 2022 in Los Angeles, in which shots were fired at a Ford F-150 Shelby pickup truck she was traveling in while her husband Aaron Phypers, 52, was driving.
The World Is Not Enough star said Phypers was giving her a ride to work when the incident occurred and she was so paralyzed with fear that she involuntarily urinated.
“He didn’t want me to go alone, thank God, and they physically shot us in his truck, and I sat on the ground and literally peed,” she said. “I was so scared… I was paralyzed.”
The Starship Troopers actress later cried while speaking about the sexual assault and said she was attacked as a teenager.
“The first time I experienced it I was 15 and I noticed a man following me,” Richards said. “He came up behind me, put his hand over my mouth, grabbed my vagina and started dragging me, and I was paralyzed, like I couldn’t even scream for help.
‘It’s very scary to be in that situation, you know, that age and be so vulnerable. And I have three daughters and I want them to never be able to go through that. And also if something, God forbid, turns out to be strong enough.
The Starship Troopers actress spoke about the traumatic life experience, which she said was caused by an exercise in the program called helicopter extraction, which is used by Army Special Forces.
The Bravo alum said of her motivations for competing on the show: “Yes, certain scary situations are completely over my head and I want to learn how to stay calm and do something.”
Richards made further comments about the past incident in a confessional segment of the show.
“I don’t think I’ve addressed a lot of what I’ve been through and it’s very scary,” Richards said. “I don’t know if I could get over my past.”
Richards previously revealed she ruptured her breast implants on the show, which was filmed in Wales.
“I jumped off a bridge and that’s when I ruptured my implants,” Richards said Friday on Jeff Lewis Live on Sirius XM. ‘I still have to redo them. I was supposed to do it a month ago, but I couldn’t because we were filming.
Other notable names competing with Richards on the Fox series include Brody Jenner, Stephen Baldwin, Kayla Nicole, Jordyn Wieber, Christy Carlson Romano, Carey Hart, Golden Tate, Cam Newton, Alana Blanchard, Landon Donovan, Marion Jones, Nathan Adrian , Kyla Pratt. , Ali Fedotowsky and Trista Sutter.
Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test airs on Fox Wednesday at 8/7c.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org.