The leading lady of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Denise Richards sent a cease and desist letter to Bravo after her alleged affair with Brandi Glanville was uncovered. In an attempt to silence and bring order to the cast, Richards instead made rocky relationships that much worse.
Earlier this month, viewers learned in an episode of RHOBH that Glanville and Richards hooked up and had a drunk make-out session after their initial meeting. While Richards was married to her husband, Aaron Phypers, the two had an alleged affair when Glanville went to visit Richards on a set. The pair had sex and Richards reportedly freaked out and told Glanville that her husband would "kill her" were he to find out. Glanville claims that this was shocking to her, as she assumed Phypers and Richards had an arrangement that allowed Richards to hook up with other women. When the news of the affair came out on this season of RHOBH, Richards was desperate to keep the footage from airing.
A cease and desist was important to Richards in keeping her reputation from shattering. The definition of a cease and desist order is “a document sent to an individual or business to stop purportedly illegal activity and not to restart it.” If not followed, parties can be sued. According to Life and Style, Richards sent the letter to keep her castmates from speaking about her alleged affair, clearly endeavoring to muzzle individuals from spreading slanderous statements. Another reason for the letter besides her reputation was the fact that she did not want her husband to find out. Of course, if he found out the rumors and there was nothing to hide, why would she need to keep it under wraps? So far, Phypers has been cool with it all and has believed Richards every step of the way.
Denise's co-stars don't feel so good about the whole mess, especially the cease and desist letter. Lisa Rinna cryptically claimed that the season 10 reunion was "bullsh*t" and that "cease and desists work." Brandi Glanville filmed her part of the reunion separately. Needless to say, the ladies feel trapped and muzzled with the order in place, but fans have noticed that Richards doesn't seem to care. Her and her husband seem to be doing well and she has unfollowed multiple castmates like Teddi Mellencamp and Rinna in an attempt to eliminate the drama from her life.
It would appear the whole cast is in the eye of the storm when it comes to this particular topic. Whether or not Richards will retract the cease and desist or if her co-stars will even follow it will be interesting to see. What is the next move is for everybody involved? Will Richards sue some of her longtime friends and co-stars? How many more relationships will be ruined? We'll have to keep following the women of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Sources: Life and Style