The Real Housewives world has been busy. In the same week that former RHOBH star Taylor Armstrong announced her departure from The Real Housewives of Orange County, fellow California housewife Denise Richards made her grand return to the Bev Hills-based Bravo series on the November 30 episode. And, boy, does her comeback have viewers talking.
Richards has had an on-and-off-again relationship with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, appearing as a guest back in Season 5 before becoming a full-time cast member in its ninth and tenth seasons. During her tenure, the former Bond girl was embroiled in drama with many of her fellow Beverly Hills cast members, including former RHOBH star Lisa Rinna and ex-Housewife Brandi Glanville, with whom it was rumored Richards had an affair.
Following a three-year hiatus from the program, the actress confirmed to Variety that she would be rejoining the Cali crew in a guest capacity for Season 13 of the show (which airs Wednesday nights on Bravo and can be streamed with a Peacock subscription).
And while many Bravo diehards cheered the return of Richards on the franchise, her behavior during Wednesday's episode confused many. The Wild Things star was attending a cannabis-infused dinner party hosted by Kyle Richards, though she opted out of partaking in any of the THC edibles on offer. However, Richards was seemingly looking to spark up a fight, quickly laying into grievances against her castmate Erika Jayne at the dinner table:
I do have a question for you, why you treated me a certain way after I met you. I mean, I could say this about me and you, you and I, the first time I met you, you were so sweet and so lovely. And then a year later, was a different dynamic.
Jayne—who is no stranger to onscreen drama, though it's lately been more of the legal sort—was perplexed by the tirade and asked Richards to tell her exactly what she was upset about. Denise retorted that she'd been "very clear" before going off on several rambling tangents. Erika quipped in a confessional:
Well, I'm high, but I don't know what she is but she's on another level.
The rest of the women looked on in confusion, with several attendees—including Sutton Stracke—noting the star's apparent slurring during the conversation.
Denise is slurring her words a little bit. Maybe Denise had a drink before she came because she was nervous.
Along with that meandering dinnertime conversation, Richards' appearance on the November 30 episode saw the star breaking the fourth wall, winking directly into the camera and making odd facial expressions throughout the event.
The behavior caught the attention of Bravo viewers, who took to social media to comment on Richards' return. One fan referenced the reality star's long feud with Lisa Rinna, posting on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the former RHOBH cast member must be "at home cackling over the shit show."
I just KNOW Lisa Rinna is home cackling over the shit show return of Denise Richards #RHOBH pic.twitter.com/e8k6bQ3HT0December 1, 2023
Another said that they were experiencing "second-hand embarrassment" while watching Denise during the episode.
WTF is Denise Richards on? I have second-hand embarrassment 🤦🏽♂️ 🤣🤣 #RHOBH pic.twitter.com/dR18Aa8QkZDecember 1, 2023
Yet another posted several drawings inspired by Denise's expressions during the ep, along with an interesting caption.
She was in another dimension ✨️👀#deniserichards #rhobh #kylerichards pic.twitter.com/IllebXCjJmDecember 1, 2023
However, other Beverly Hills watchers were "LIVING" for the housewife's dramatic return to the franchise.
I am LIVING for every single shot of Denise Richards! Her reactions are pure gold! #RHOBH pic.twitter.com/OKJ4vfnKixDecember 1, 2023
And another called her a "queen" for those cheeky camera winks.
Not my queen @DENISE_RICHARDS looking into the camera wink wink I love it #RHOBH pic.twitter.com/77BxLXi5opNovember 30, 2023
And based on that trailer for next week's episode, the Denise Richards drama is just getting started. Consider us sat!
