Denise Richards on ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’.Photo:Pete Dadds/FOX
Pete Dadds/FOX
Warning: this story contains spoilers from the two-hour season 3 premiere ofSpecial Forces: World’s Toughest Test.
Denise Richardsis opening up about the lasting impact of a sexual assault.
On the season 3 premiere ofSpecial Forces: World’s Toughest Teston Jan. 8, the actress, 53, and her fellow recruits were challenged to complete a helicopter extraction — in which they attempted to jump from a boat onto a hovering helicopter and push themselves up to the cabin.
From left: Ali Manno and Denise Richards on ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’.Pete Dadds/FOX
“It’s hard. I’m completely out of my comfort zone,” said Richards before adding, “I’m not petrified. I’m emotional right now.”
Richards further elaborated on her reason for doing the show, explaining, “Part of the reason I wanted to do this course is I’ve been in situations where I freeze and I can’t function, I can’t even speak to protect myself.”
Denise Richards on ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’.Pete Dadds/FOX
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hillsalum — who is a mother to daughtersSami, 20, Lola, 19, and Eloise, 13— then recalled a traumatic situation with her husbandAaron Phypers.
“We were driving. He wanted to take me to [a] set," she said. “He didn’t want me going alone, thank God, 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.”
“The first time I ever experienced that I was 15 and I noticed a man following me,” she continued. “He came up from behind me, put his hand around my mouth, grabbed my vagina, and started dragging me, and I froze, like I couldn’t even scream for help.”
After admitting that she had only told her husband about the sexual assault, Richards broke down in tears and added, “It’s so scary to have that situation, you know, that age and be so vulnerable. And I have three daughters, and I want them to be able to never go through that. And also, if something, God forbid, happen to be strong enough.”
In a confessional, Richards reflected how she hasn’t moved past the sexual assault. “I think that I haven’t addressed a lot of what I have gone through, and it’s very terrifying. I don’t know if I would be able to get over my past,” she said.
After bungee jumping off a 130-ft. tall bridge and attempting a surf immersion challenge — they dunk themselves repeatedly underwater while linking arms — in the second episode, Richards realized the Fox bootcamp-style reality series had become too much for her.
While complaining of back pain, which caused “barely” be able to walk, Richards ripped of her arm band and quit. “I really want to have the entire experience, but the older I get, I don’t know if I’m physically capable of doing it,” she said.
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Special Forces: World’s Toughest Testairs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.
source: people.com
