Denise Richards is making her way back into the Real Housewives spotlight.
The 54-year-old actress has been spotted filming new scenes for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as she navigates her highly publicized divorce from Aaron Phypers. TMZ released photos of Richards dining out with fellow cast members Sutton Stracke and Erika Jayne on Saturday, August 2, marking a notable return five years after her dramatic departure from the show in 2020.
A source close to production told PEOPLE that “Denise still has a lot of connections within the cast of RHOBH even though she’s no longer a Housewife.” The insider went on to explain, “She’s filmed scenes throughout the years before. She’s tight with Sutton, has maintained a good relationship with Kyle [Richards] and even mended fences with Erika recently. So it made sense for her to come and film again, and share her side of the story since the news has been a topic of conversation off-camera among this friendship circle.”
Richards is reportedly leaning on her reality TV circle for support during this emotionally turbulent time. “This is such a difficult time for Denise and she’s leaning on friends who understand more than anyone the pain of divorce,” the source said. “In many ways, this brought them all closer. Hopefully it will open the door for more from her in the future; the fans love seeing her.”
Richards’ return to filming comes on the heels of serious allegations she made against Phypers in court documents. After he filed for divorce on July 7, listing their separation date as July 4, Richards claimed she suffered physical abuse throughout their six-year marriage. She also stated she was “afraid” to report his behavior to authorities “because he has repeatedly threatened to kill himself and me if I reported him to the police, among his other threats of harm to me and himself if he is reported for his abuse to anyone.”
Fans of RHOBH will remember Richards’ initial run as a full-time cast member during seasons 9 and 10. She ultimately exited the show in 2020 after failing to reach an agreement on a return deal, as Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen later revealed.
More recently, Richards starred in her own Bravo spinoff series, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things, alongside her family. The show, which aired in 2025, was always intended as a limited series and will not return for a second season.
As Richards steps back into the Bravo universe, it remains to be seen whether her renewed presence on RHOBH will mark a full-time comeback—or simply a chance to set the record straight on her own terms.
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