Denise Richards Says Charlie Sheen's Issues Forced Her To Get Into Reality TV

Denise Richards Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Bravo

Reality TV can be a lucrative business, even for celebrities that choose to do it and aren't a Kardashian. Denise Richards can attest to that, as the actress recently revealed the genre was a big help during one of the more harrowing times of her life: her divorce with ex Charlie Sheen.

In fact, if it wasn't for that drama, Richards may not have partnered with E! for Denise Richards: It's Complicated. While the actress has been around Hollywood for quite some time, she revealed on the Daddy Issues podcast that financial woes more or less pushed her into signing the deal to get into doing the show.

Back during the show I did at E!, I had to do that. I had too many legal bills with my ex-husband. He said he wanted to bleed me dry, and he did. Those legal fees add up quite fast.

Denise Richards didn't necessarily want to jump into the world of reality television amidst all her problems with Charlie Sheen, but she needed to pay the bills. And as Richards told the Daddy Issues podcast, she didn't necessarily realize how much her divorce drama with Sheen would affect her career as an actress.

To start, Denise Richards said the controversial Charlie Sheen was going to the press and airing out things (as he has been known to do) she would've rather had been kept private. Those details would come out regardless, which Richards revealed would hurt her ability to get roles in other projects.

It was difficult for me to get a job back then because I was perceived as doing something very [negative] with Charlie, so that was very hard — when you’re misunderstood and you want to keep your personal life private and when it’s out there.

Perhaps ironically, the solution to some of her troubles meant letting the world in even further with Denise Richards: It's Complicated. The series didn't run for long, and while roles might have paused for Richards temporarily, they've since picked back up and she's back in the limelight.

Denise Richards has even gone back to the world of reality television and is a regular on Season 9 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Richards will return for Season 10, but also has a good deal of other roles in television and movies to do as well. While Richards may still enjoy her privacy, as she mentioned at the time she first joined RHOBH, she's in a good place now, so perhaps she wants America to see that as well?

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As mentioned, Denise Richards is expected to return to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills which airs on Bravo. Stick with CinemaBlend for more on that show and for more on what's happening in the world of television and movies.

Mick Joest
Content Producer

Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.