Denise Richards recently shared her challenging experience of informing her children about their father Charlie Sheen’s HIV diagnosis.
The former couple’s four-year marriage produced two daughters: Sami, now 21, and Lola, 19. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills personality later married Aaron Phypers in 2018 and is also mother to 13-year-old Eloise, whom she adopted in 2011.
Public attention is nothing new for this family, with Richards, her daughters, and her husband recently embracing the spotlight through their new reality television venture, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things.
In a recent episode of her show, Richards discussed various aspects of her personal life and career choices.
“I’m grateful to be among the top one percent of creators on my platform,” Richards mentioned. “It feels empowering, especially at my age, that people still appreciate me in that way.”
Regarding her marriage dynamics, it appears that Phypers actively supports her career choices by serving as her photographer.
Richards maintains open communication with her children, though she particularly shielded Lola and Sami from public commentary about their parents when they were younger.
The actress was caught off guard in 2015 when her ex-husband publicly revealed his HIV status on the Today show.
In a recent discussion, Richards expressed frustration that the Two and a Half Men actor provided no warning about his televised announcement.
During Jenna Kramer’s podcast, she stated: “I wish he had given me advance notice, like, ‘Hey, I’m doing this today.’ You know? The news was everywhere.”
She revealed having to remove Sami and Lola from school early, fearing their classmates might break the news before she could.
“I needed to have that conversation with them,” Richards explained regarding discussing their father’s health condition with her daughters.
She confessed the conversation presented significant challenges.
“Explaining what it was proved difficult,” the 54-year-old recalled. “That was the only instance.”
Richards noted this represented the only time she could recall needing to address public controversies involving either celebrity parent with her children.
“Generally speaking, I make every effort to protect them from such matters,” the actress concluded.