Denise Richards Teases Her Special Forces Experience: ‘Never’ Again


Denise Richards
Faye’s Vision/Cover Images

Denise Richards is remaining tight-lipped about her stint on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test season 3, but did shed some light on her journey.

“It was the most challenging thing I’ve ever done, ever, ever,” Richards, 53, exclusively told Us Weekly on Sunday, December 1, while attending The Hollywood Christmas Parade supporting Marine Toys for Tots.

When asked whether she was “happy” to have competed on the Fox reality series, Richards replied with a laugh, “I’m glad I did it, but I would never do it again.”

After Kelly Rizzo — who competed on season 2 of Special Forces — told Us she gave Richards advice for the show, the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star called Rizzo “nuts” for the tip.

Meet Special Forces Season 3 Cast Denise Richards Cam Newton Bachelorette s Trista Sutter Stephen Baldwin 0417

Related: Meet ‘Special Forces’ Season 3 Cast: Trista Sutter, Stephen Baldwin and More

Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test is gearing up for an even more intense season come January 2025. Season 3 of the Fox reality series returns on Wednesday, January 8, with 16 new recruits including Stephen Baldwin, Denise Richards, former NFL star Cam Newton and two former Bachelorettes, Trista Sutter and Ali Fedotowsky. “There’s a famous […]

“I have to talk to her,” Richards said. “I think it was a different experience for her.”

During her stint on the series, Richards said that she formed connections with multiple fellow castmates. “Trista Sutter is someone I text all the time. And Marion Jones,” she told Us.

Denise Richards Teases Her Experience on Special Forces I Would Never Do It Again
PETE DADDS / FOX

News broke in November that Richards was cast alongside 15 other recruits — including Sutter, Jones, Kayla Nicole, Brody Jenner, Cam Newton, Stephen Baldwin, Carey Hart and more.

During the show’s five-week run, fans will watch the celebrities attempt the “harshest, most grueling challenges from the playbook of the actual Special Forces selection process” while training in Wales, England, per Fox. There are no votes or eliminations on the series.

Season 3 of Special Forces features stars trying their hand at tasks including “a high pressure hostage rescue, a treacherous ladder crossing between steep cliffs nearly 100 ft above the sea, a boat dunk drill where they will be submerged into the frigid ocean and tasked with performing essential survival duties, a surf immersion where they will have to control their panic in an exercise that takes them to the brink of drowning, and much more.”

The exercises are led by ex-special forces operatives; Directing Staff (DS) agents Rudy Reyes, Mark “Billy” Billingham, Jason “Foxy” Fox and Jovon “Q” Quarles.

In Us’ exclusive sneak peek of season 3 in November, Richards was seen getting candid during a confessional. “I’ve been in situations where I freeze,” she said in the action-packed clip.

Season 3 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test premieres on Fox Wednesday, January 8, at 8 p.m. ET.

The Hollywood Christmas Parade airs on The CW Saturday, December 14 at 8 p.m. ET.

With reporting by Mike Vulpo