"We were all fighting" Former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Denise Richards' daughter opens up about difficult relationship with her mother

The 21-year-old daughter of former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Denise Richards, Sami Sheen, has disclosed startling information on her strained bond with her well-known mother.

Sami admitted that after she left Denise Richards' house in 2021, their relationship deteriorated to the point where they "didn't speak for almost a year" in an open interview on Gia Giudice's "Casual Chaos" podcast.

Describing the toxic atmosphere that led to her departure, Sami explained:

"I was living at my mom's, obviously, with [Richards' husband] Aaron [Phypers] and Lola, and we were all fighting constantly. I did not get along with anyone. I kind of felt like the odd one out and being the older sister, the blame was, like, always thrown on me for everything."

The family structure depicted in Denise Richards' current reality program, Denise Richards and Her Wild Things, where she appears with Sami, her husband Aaron Phypers, their adoptive daughter Eloise, and their younger daughter Lola, stands in sharp contrast to the revelation. Sami lived with her father, Charlie Sheen, for a short time before going it alone, and this family conflict has taken many unexpected turns.

Denise Richards and Sami Sheen’s relationship tensions explained

What initially appeared as typical mother-daughter tension took a dramatic public turn in 2021. At just 17, Sami shocked social media users by posting a TikTok video where she branded her mother Denise Richards' home a "hell house" and claimed she had been "trapped in an abusive household."

The allegations blindsided Denise Richards, who according to an insider quoted in People magazine, believed she had merely been setting "normal" boundaries for her teenage daughter. The source suggested Denise Richards struggled to accept her daughter's decision to leave.

Meanwhile, Charlie Sheen welcomed his daughter with open arms, publicly stating:

"Sam is amazing. I love her and all my children unconditionally. We're having a ball. GED, here we come."

Sami now acknowledges that her father was "thrilled" by her choice because:

"He loved that I was taking his side after all these years and he was the favorite parent."

Perhaps most revealing was Sami's frustration when confiding in friends about her home life. Rather than finding sympathy, she encountered accusations of being ungrateful.

"I was expecting girls my age to be, like, 'Oh, my god. I'm in the same boat as you. I also don't get along with my mom,'" she shared on the podcast.

Elaborating:

"[But] people were like, 'How dare you have it so nice.' I'm like, 'You guys have no idea. What goes on behind closed doors is crazy.'"

Sami felt increasingly isolated, caught between the public’s perception of her as a privileged teen and the reality of her private struggles. Living in that environment took a toll on her mental health, though she hinted there were things she still couldn’t talk about openly.

After a short, lonely period living with her father, followed by a brief stay with a friend, she returned to her mother’s home once she turned 18—but it quickly became clear that she needed her own space. Determined to take control of her life, she launched an OnlyFans account, found her own apartment a month later, and hasn’t looked back since.

That decision became a major turning point, not just for her independence but also for her relationship with Denise Richards, which improved significantly once she was living on her own. The move symbolized a larger journey of self-discovery and growth, something many young adults go through, though Sami did it all under the glare of the public eye.

Denise Richards’ unusual living arrangement

Adding another layer to the family's unconventional dynamic is Richards' current living situation, which she herself described as "a little confusing" on her new reality show.

Despite owning a Malibu home, Denise Richards doesn't actually live there. Her in-laws moved in for what was supposed to be "a few months" but has stretched to "over three years."

Instead, Richards rents multiple townhouses.

"I needed some space, so I rented a townhouse," she explained.

Elaborating:

"And then I rented another one and another one, so I have three of them."

This unusual arrangement serves different purposes:

"One's an office, one's a studio, one's for Lola and Eloise and for us to sleep in, and then when Aaron and I want privacy, then we sleep in the studio."

Richards made a playful reference to Melrose Place, comparing their arrangement to the show, while talking to her daughters, but the joke didn’t land—they had no idea what she was talking about.

Sami may have patched things up with her mom, but things with dad Charlie have taken a turn. After he didn’t check in on her following her nose surgery, she decided to cut contact, proving that even in celebrity households, ghosting your own kid is still a bad look.

Meanwhile, her sister Lola seems to be bonding just fine with Charlie. The two are apparently close enough to get regular pedicures together, a reminder that siblings can have completely different versions of the same parents.

Sami’s story is a good reminder that no amount of fame protects a family from messy dynamics. Underneath the Hollywood glitz, it’s still a very familiar tale: growing up, figuring things out, and learning when to draw boundaries, all while trying to keep the drama at a minimum (or at least off TikTok).

Trending

You can watch Denise Richards & Her Wild Things Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo, with episodes available to stream the next day on Peacock.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback