Denise Richards Shares Previous Encounters With Sexual Harassment in the Entertainment Industry

In her recent interview, Denise Richards also opened up about past trauma on the season three premiere of Fox’s “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.”

In a candid interview with PEOPLE, the 54-year-old “Wild Things” actress reflected on the painful experience, explaining why she never pursued legal action. “I was told I would be blacklisted,” Richards shared. “I felt so vulnerable. This was the career I wanted to do. To be told that you’re never going to work in an industry that you are passionate about, it’s a hard thing.”

Looking back, Richards expressed gratitude for the changes brought about by the #MeToo movement.

“I am glad that women are able to have more of a voice and be more protected,” she said. “If that happened at this age, I would handle it differently, but I was so young and an unknown and [just] starting out.”

Richards, now a mother of three daughters, Sami, 20, Lola, 19, and Eloise, 13, admired their confidence and ability to stand up for themselves.

“I look at my daughters doing our show and being such strong women,” she said. “If I had that, I think I would’ve been able to handle it a little differently. I wish I had the confidence that they have because I would never be able to stand up for myself the way they do.”

She admitted that being a “people pleaser” held her back in her early years, something she sees her daughters handling differently.

“I love that my girls, this early in their career, are able to [speak up]. Sometimes I’m like, ‘You might want to tone it down,’ but for the most part, I’m glad that they’re able to say what’s on their mind. I wish I was able to back then.”

During the episode, she discussed a sexual assault she endured as a teenager and her desire to overcome fear. “I really want to learn how to not be overwhelmed by fear,” she said. “I’ve been through traumatic situations that have been very terrifying for me. I want to learn how to deal with those issues and be stronger.”

While attempting a helicopter extraction exercise, Richards struggled, telling the Directing Staff (DS) that her reaction wasn’t due to being “petrified” but rather “emotional.” She admitted that fear has often paralyzed her in critical moments. “I’ve been in situations where I freeze, and I can’t function, I can’t even speak to protect myself,” she explained.

She recounted a 2022 road rage incident in Los Angeles, where she and her husband, Aaron Phypers, were shot at while driving. “He didn’t want me going alone, thank God, and we were physically shot at in his truck,” Richards said. “I sat on the floor and was just literally. I peed. I was so scared … I froze.”

Richards then shared details of the horrifying assault she endured at age 15.

“The first time I ever experienced that, I was 15, and I noticed a man following me,” she said. “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. It’s so scary to have that situation, to be that age and so vulnerable.”

She emphasized that her past experiences fuel her determination to ensure her daughters never face the same horrors. “I have three daughters, and I want them to be able to never go through that. And also, if something, God forbid, happens, to be strong enough to handle it.”

In a confessional segment, Richards acknowledged that her past traumas still weigh heavily on her.

“I think that I haven’t addressed a lot of what I have gone through, and it’s very terrifying,” she admitted. “I don’t know if I would be able to get over my past.”

Richards’ candid revelations highlight the long-lasting effects of trauma and the resilience it takes to speak out after years of silence.