Denise Richards Opens Up About Shocking Injury That Happened While Filming 'Special Forces'
By Niko Mann on January 3, 2025 at 9:00 PM EST
Denise Richards is competing in season three of the reality series "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" and recently shared details of a surprising injury she sustained during filming.
The "Wild Things" star revealed that the injury occurred while performing a daring bridge jump for the show.
At 53, Richards also noted that insurance won’t cover the medical costs, leaving her to handle the expenses on her own.
Denise Richards Shared Details About The Injury That Happened While Filming
Richards appeared on "Jeff Lewis Live" with her husband, Aaron Phypers on Friday, and she revealed that she ruptured both of her breast implants while jumping off a bridge for "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test."
According to PEOPLE, Richards was wearing a harness when she jumped off the bridge for the show, and the harness was responsible for her implants rupturing.
"I jumped off a bridge, too — and that's when I ruptured my implants — off of that thing," she revealed.
"The World Is Not Enough" actress added that she still needed to have her breast redone after finishing filming, and insurance isn't going to pay.
"I still have to get them redone," she said. "I was supposed to a month ago, but couldn't because we were filming. So yeah, no, I still have to get them redone."
"I have to pay," Richards continued. "I think we pretty much signed our life away doing that show."
"It's dangerous," she added.
Aaron Phypers Suggests Fox Pay For His Wife's' Ruptured Breasts
"Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" features the cast as they survive training in Wales at the home of British Special Forces Selection.
The show premiers on Jan. 8, and the cast will face challenges such as using a ladder to cross between cliffs nearly 100feet above sea level, being submerged in frigid waters, and controlling panic in a drowning exercise.
After Richards noted that the show's insurance wasn't paying for her to have her breasts fixed despite her being injured while filming, Phypers interjected and said, "Maybe we can work that in after the fact."
Denise Richards' Daughters Were Afraid She'd 'Get Killed'
Richards also revealed that her three daughters — 20-year-old Sami, Lola, 19, and 13-year-old Eloise — were afraid for their mom and "very upset" to learn she'd joined the show.
"They did not want me to do it," said Richards. "They were afraid I was going to get hurt or get killed, and they were actually really angry. It was the first time of all the times I've done different projects or traveled they were very upset with me."
"I thought, this is the most challenging thing I'll ever do, and why not do it?' I was terrified, but once I made the commitment to do it, I was there," she added.
Richards Was Also Afraid To Appear On The Reality Show
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Richards shared a clip of "Special Forces" on Instagram, and she admitted that she was also afraid of doing the reality show.
She captioned the post, "No acting—just action," and in the clip, she revealed her fear of heights.
"Oh my God... I freeze and I can't function," said Richards. "It's so scary to be so vulnerable."
The footage also included the "Love, Actually" actress jumping off a bridge wearing a head camera and a bungee cord. She is also seen jumping off of a boat onto a helicopter.
The Actress Says She Was 'Intimidated' By Her Castmates
"Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" also stars Stephen Baldwin, Brody Jenner, Christy Carlson Romano, Trista Sutter, Cam Newton, Olympic track star Marion Jones, Olympic swimmer Nathan Adrian, and former NFL star Golden Tate, just to name a few.
Richards said that she was "intimidated" when she learned that several athletes would be her competitors on the show.
"I was so intimidated by everyone," said Richards of the cast. "I didn't know who was going to be there, but I did hear there were some athletes, and I can't compete with that."
"But that's the greatest thing too, is it's not about competing against anybody but myself," she continued. "And that's why they strip us down raw, physically and mentally and emotionally and all of that."
Season three of "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" premieres on Jan. 8 on Fox.