Denise Richards bravely shares a difficult experience from her past. In the Season 3 premiere of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, the actress known for her role in Wild Things recounts a heartbreaking moment from when she was 15 years old.
Following a less-than-stellar performance on the initial day of the Special Forces selection process, Directing Staff (DS) members Billy Billingham, a former SAS Sergeant Major, and Jovon “Q” Quarles, a Navy SEAL veteran, sit down with Richards to inquire about her motivation for participating in the challenging training program tailored for celebrities.
Richards discloses, “I struggle with overwhelming fear in certain situations, and I yearn to acquire the skills to remain composed and take action.” She further explains, “Part of the reason I signed up for this course is because I’ve been in scenarios where I’ve become paralyzed, unable to function or even defend 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.
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