Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills personality Kim Richards has reportedly been placed on a psychiatric hold.
Editor’s note:
This article contains mentions of substance abuse disorders, drug addiction, opiates, or other related topics that may be triggering to some readers. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or drug abuse disorder, please visit SAMHSA.gov.
Kim and Kyle Richards are both well known to RHOBH fans, as they’ve appeared together (on and off) for much of the show’s run.
In particular, Kim’s struggles with sobriety have been well-documented on the show.
In December, Collider published a piece about substance use and abuse on the Real Housewives franchise, citing Kim’s tenure on the show among its examples:
“Some of the most notable fights on the show involved Kim’s sobriety. Whether it was the Season 2 game night when viewers were introduced to former housewife Brandi Glanville – or Season 5 the ‘let’s talk about the husband’ dinner night in Amsterdam that sent her sister Kyle fleeing from the restaurant as Lisa Rinna threw a glass in response to an argument with Kim.
“During Season 6, Kim was sober and doing well, but that did not stop Lisa from falsely telling newcomer, Eden Sasson, that ‘Kim was close to death.’ The use of Kim’s struggle with alcoholism was constantly weaponized against her despite her hard work in being abstinent.”
Back in 2015, TMZ reported that Kim had parted ways with Bravo and the Real Housewives broader reality TV dynasty, citing her battle with substance abuse disorder as the cause:
“Kim Richards won’t be a full, part-time, or any time cast member on ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ next season … because we’ve learned producers have jettisoned her from the show.
“The reason is simple and pretty obvious … Kim is struggling with substance abuse and producers think she’s unreliable and poses a liability risk.”
At the time, TMZ asserted that Bravo wouldn’t even consider allowing her to be a “Friend,” a demotion Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City’s Mary Cosby recently admitted was unpleasant to experience.
Kim Richards May Have Relapsed
Earlier today, TMZ published an exclusive report, citing confidential law enforcement sources.
According to the outlet, Kim may have relapsed, leading to her being “shut out by her family” as a form of “tough love.”
Amid a hazy timeline of events, TMZ quoted sources as saying:
“Law enforcement sources tell TMZ … they showed up to a home Kyle owns in the L.A. area Wednesday night after ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ star called them in hopes of getting Kim removed from the house.
“We’re told Kyle had let Kim live in the house but she moved out a while back … but Wednesday Kim showed up again. Law enforcement says Kyle told them she did not want Kim in the house …”
Kim remains “in the house,” per the site.
Kyle has been deeply invested in her sister’s sobriety, and Real Housewives fans have watched their ups and downs for well over a decade.
TMZ also mentioned a recent, previous alleged incident involving Kim, the one involving a psychiatric hold (or “5150”):
“Law enforcement tells TMZ back in early September Kim was at a Hilton hotel in the L.A. area and was incoherent. Kyle was there, the cops were called and when they arrived they asked Kim to leave but she refused. Law enforcement tells TMZ Kim was placed on a 5150 psychiatric hold and taken by ambulance to a hospital.”
Over on Reddit’s r/BravoRealHousewives, one fan expressed sympathy for Kyle, and spoke about their own struggles with a family member’s substance abuse disorder:
“I know it will get me nothing but downvotes, but as a sibling who has tried to get my deeply addicted, violent sibling … held on a psych hold, I have nothing but sympathy for Kyle when it comes to Kim.
“A lot of people in this sub have no understanding of how addiction ruins the lives of everyone it touches. Kim isn’t cute or funny, she’s an addict who regularly hurts the people who love her most – including her own children. We can acknowledge her pain while also acknowledging the pain she cause[s in] others.”
Neither Kim nor Kyle have commented on the claim.