Denise Richards Felt Like a Weight Was Lifted After Revealing Past Assault on ‘Special Forces’ (Exclusive)

Denise Richards was the first star to really get vulnerable on season 3 of Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test.

“Everybody comes on the show for a reason. On day one, we look at people and say, in [our] own minds, ‘Why are you here?’ But actually, we know why you’re here,” Directing Staff instructor Billy Bingham said in a joint interview with fellow soldier and star Rudy Reyes at Us Weekly’s NYC studio on Thursday, January 9. “You are here because you’ve lost direction. You need to re-challenge yourself. You wanna be brought back to reality because that’s what this show does.”

On the Wednesday, January 8, premiere, Richards, 53, “froze” during the first task — which required contestants to jump from a speeding boat to a speeding helicopter and climb into the helicopter — and was subsequently called in to speak with the staff.

“I’m completely overcome by certain fearful situations, and I want to learn how to stay calm and do something,” the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum explained. “Part of the reason I wanted to do this course is I’ve been in situations where I freeze and I can’t function, I can’t even speak to protect myself.”

Richards revealed that the first time she ever experienced this was when she was 15.

“I noticed a man following me. He came up from behind me, put his hand around my mouth, grabbed my vagina, and started dragging me,” she said. “And I froze, like, I couldn’t even scream for help.”

Richards had previously only told husband Aaron Phypers about the incident. “It’s so scary to have that situation, you know, [at] that age and be so vulnerable,” she continued. “And I have three daughters, and I want them to be able to never go through that. And also, if something, God forbid, happen to be strong enough.”

Bingham gave Us more insight into why the stars, including Richards, end up sharing personal stories.

“Before we do the mirror room, even [if it’s only been 12 hours], you’ve already put through a phase of deprivation,” he said. “When you’re tired, you’re hungry, you don’t care anymore. You’re more open. Now there’s something about that, what we call the mirror room. I don’t know why it is — and we are not psychologists and we have no idea what that story’s gonna be right out of that person’s mouth.”

The men confirmed to Us that they do not know the cast list until they meet the recruits on the first day of filming.

“We have no idea what is gonna come out of their mouth,” Bingham, who admitted Richards was the only star he recognized, continued. “And for us, we have to play the poker face because some of it’s quite heart wrenching. And we’re emotional people as well, and we have to [stay strong]. But I think something about that mirror room — when they walk in, it’s intimidating. They’re disorientated, they’re tired, they’re already feeling a little bit sad and down. They just wanna get something off the chest. But what I do love about it is once they’ve done that, like Denise did, it was like someone had just taken a big weight off her shoulders. She walked out and she was, like, bouncing again. … You’ll see such a great difference after that.”

Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test airs on Fox Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).