Denise Richards Reveals She Was Blacklisted for Speaking Out Against Sexual Harassment in Hollywood

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Prior to her role as a Bond girl with Pierce Brosnan’s portrayal of the secret agent, faced unwelcome scrutiny early on in her Hollywood career. Speaking openly about her past, the actress disclosed that she endured sexual harassment and was even warned that taking action against it could potentially lead to being ostracized within the industry.

Over the years, it’s become evident that incidents of harassment, often involving stars, particularly actresses, have been alarmingly common. Recently, these stories have come to light, underscoring this unfortunate reality. In an interview with People magazine, the star of ‘Wild Things’ revealed her reasons for not speaking up about her experience. She stated:

I was informed I might end up on a ban list. It left me feeling incredibly exposed since the profession I aspired to was at stake. Learning that you’ll never be able to work in a field you love deeply is tough. I’m grateful for the progress women have made and now have more power to speak out. If it had happened when I was older, I might have reacted differently, but I was young, new, and just starting my career.

Currently, Richard’s family consists of three daughters – Sami (20), Lola (19), and Eloise (13). This proud mother cherishes their courage in standing up for themselves, something she deeply wished she could have done during her own youthful years. She further stated:

Watching my daughters perform our show with such strength and courage, I can’t help but reflect on how I might have navigated things differently if I had possessed similar confidence. Their fearlessness in standing out is something I admire deeply, as it’s an attribute I wish I could claim for myself. Unfortunately, that wasn’t my reality, but I am incredibly proud of them. I’m particularly proud of their ability to express their thoughts openly and honestly, even when a filter isn’t always present. More often than not, this straightforwardness is a wonderful quality.

Denise Richards Opened Up About Being Assaulted When She Was a Child

On multiple occasions, Richard has shared experiences about enduring unwanted and bothersome attention during her younger years. During her interview on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test in January, the actress disclosed that she was a victim of a stranger’s assault at age 15, an event that significantly impacted her life. Speaking about this experience, she stated:

At the age of fifteen, I found myself being pursued by a man. Suddenly, he appeared behind me, covering my mouth with one hand and inappropriately touching me with another. He then began to pull me along. In that moment, I was paralyzed with fear, unable to call out for assistance.

In her early days in Hollywood, when the actress experienced harassment, it’s understandable that such memories might resurface powerfully. The thought of discussing it publicly might have been daunting because she feared it could jeopardize her career. This must have been a challenging predicament for her, one she didn’t ask for. Despite emerging victorious from her struggles, the reality remains that no one should have to suffer such trauma, and if they do, they shouldn’t feel compelled to stay silent about it out of fear of losing something dear to them.

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2025-02-23 17:03