Denise Richards should return to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills to confront Lisa Rinna, and it's time to explain why. The topic surfaced this past week at the RHOBH reunion. Garcelle Beauvais, who is historically a close friend of Lisa and Denise, was caught in the middle of their feud. The conflict cast a shadow over the last season, and Garcelle expressed in the final episode that she would appreciate seeing Lisa reach out to Denise. Garcelle wants Denise to return to RHOBH.
Originally, Denise grew frustrated with Lisa after she asked too many questions about Denise’s rumored hook-up with Brandi Glanville. Brandi told Kyle Richards, Kim Richards, and Teddi Mellencamp that she and Denise had sex, and claimed Denise forced her to lie about it. The incident supposedly happened during a trip to Mendocino, California. She said she ended up making out with Denise in the bathroom. Denise denied it all, but many of the RHOBH cast members were suspicious (especially Lisa). More recently, on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Lisa admitted that she was cruel to Denise. It's obvious that Lisa just couldn’t let go of the situation. At the end of the season, when Lisa confronted Denise about asking producers not to air certain footage, Denise asked where she heard this. Lisa infamously retorted, “you’re so angry,” which added another layer of tension.
While it did seem quite likely that Denise had something to hide, Garcelle argued that it was wrong for Lisa Rinna to consistently question her. Lisa could have followed Garcelle’s lead by prioritizing protecting a friendship over finding out the truth. However, that isn’t Lisa's way. With no real answers revealed, the tension between Lisa and Denise has never really been resolved. Also, former Bond Girl Denise isn't thrilled that the RHOBH cast members keep mentioning her. There is a feeling among fans that there could be a final chapter in the Denise and Lisa saga. Denise has hinted that she would return to the show if Lisa was no longer there. However, Denise’s RHOBH re-entry would be far more interesting if a confrontation with Lisa unfolded on camera.
The bigger issue seemed to be the fact that Denise was focused on maintaining her Hollywood reputation, rather than being entirely truthful as a reality television personality. While she was a great fit for the show, Lisa's relentless digging triggered clashes and Denise ultimately left the series. Denise said her favorite part of the show was the good times she had with the women, and she likely misses all of that. Her friendship with Lisa was at the heart of this, just as much as her bond with Garcelle. Even if Denise doesn't return, Garcelle deserves a cast member she can trust.
It would be truly entertaining to see Denise return and confront her demons head-on. While Denise identified with Lisa Vanderpump because they share a fondness for fame and are image-conscious, she could succeed where Lisa Vanderpump failed by returning to RHOBH. Avoidance does not yield a winning narrative. Her return might be a triumph that finally clears the air. The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills fans would love it.