Variety
Kyle Richards on Her ‘Fear-Based’ Decision to Return to ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,’ Her Current (Not Great!) Status With Dorit and Not Liking Labels
With Season 15 of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” premiering on Dec. 4, OG cast member Kyle Richards is plenty busy. She’s also started a new production company, and is working on two shows, one of which is in preproduction.
Richards is also promoting the new season of “Beverly Hills” at BravoCon, and in the insanely loud press room, she sat down with two Variety reporters. During the conversation, Richards discussed the new season, where she stands with Dorit Kemsley after their massive falling out last year — and what exactly she meant in the Season 15 trailer when she said to Bozoma Saint John, “I could go Brad, I could go Angelina.” Richards also talked about her tattoos, of which she now has 12 or 13 (she couldn’t remember exactly).
So what went into your decision to come back this season after a really difficult Season 14?
I struggled so much last year, because Mauricio had just moved out, and so did my daughter Alexia. I have a big family. I have seven dogs; I’m used to teenagers there, a full house. And I came home once on Sunday, and it was so quiet. And I was like, oh my God, this is scary for me.
Coming back to the show was also very scary for me, but I was also afraid of change. When that time does come, it’s going to be another loss, because it’s such a part of your life after 15 years. So I was afraid. I was honestly afraid.
Was that the main factor? That it’s part of your life?
It’s part of my life. It’s weird — sometimes I don’t want it to be part of my life! Like last year, when I walked off filming. I am someone who is a multitasker, who likes to juggle a lot of things and have a million balls in the air. And that would be a very big piece of my life that would change. So it was fear-based, honestly.
Last season was a tough one for you and Dorit. How was this season, and where are you now?
I would say that we have made great progress — and then went backwards again. So you’re going to have to watch the show to see that. I think it’s hard to get to a better place because of what she’s going through? And sometimes, I’m like, “Wait, I’m also going through that.” But hers is a totally different situation than mine. Mine is very peaceful and amicable.
Switching topics! In the trailer, when Boz asks you something, you say, “I could go Brad, I could go Angelina” — which people got very excited about. People took it as you coming out as bi. Thoughts?
I don’t like labels, I guess. Honestly, this is where it stemmed from — I know people the girls are clearly hinting for that heavily. And I was like, just come out and say it. They were like, “Noooo, we were just — ” They all laughed, I laughed.
And then when I saw it, I said, “Why did I even say that?” I love Jennifer Aniston! I don’t even mean it like that, she’s beautiful, — but I’m her biggest fan. I was like, “Why did I say that?” I said it to make them laugh. I think people can think whatever they want.
I always had a type, tall, dark and handsome, and that’s what I married. I am growing and evolving, and my mind has opened up. So I don’t know. I don’t know what the future holds now, and I’m fine with that.
You’re talking to two lesbians, so —
Ha! That would never have crossed my mind before, ever in my life — and now I’m like, that’s totally an option. I’m just here to see what life brings me, honestly. I don’t want to be set up with anybody. Whatever happens, happens, and I’m good with that. I like hanging out with myself alone too.
One thing that happened last season was people were really pressuring you to label yourself. Once you said the Brad and Angelina thing — even if you are Team Jen — did it feel like that lifted a weight off of you?
Yes! I thought, will they just leave me alone now? Because, honestly, it felt like I was really being harassed over that. And it was something that I didn’t even have a clear answer for myself, let alone for them, and I didn’t think that was fair. So I was like, OK, now can you back off? I will fill you in when I have better answers for you.
It was bordering on a little bit of outing.
Yeah! Obviously, when I know or come to conclusions myself, I’m going to be happy to share.
The Season 14 reunion seemed very hard.
I honestly felt like this is actually not OK, and I would never do that to anyone else. And I just thought it was crossing a line. There’s an expectation to share absolutely every single aspect of your life. And I’ve shared a lot over these years. People have seen my daughter go from diapers in the crib to applying to college now. My husband and I separating, and my sisters and I torn apart. They’ve seen all the drama! But for some of the fans, it’s not enough. When is it crossing a line? It did feel wrong on a lot of levels.
One of the sources of your fight with Dorit was something that actually had happened at BravoCon — the thing about which Richards sister do she feel closest to. Are you protecting your peace this time?
Oh, well, we’re not speaking, so that’s easy!
That’s why you guys got moved on the carpet.
I guess so! We said hi in passing, but things sort of fell apart this season on the show. I hope to get back to a place with her that we once were. And I think once things are better between her and PK, it will be easier to do that.
Who are you closest to this season?
Erika. I’m closest to Erika and Sutton.
Sutton? Interesting!
You never know how the audience will perceive things, which I always think is funny, because Sutton and I are actually close. And I guess they don’t see that. I’m a very early morning person, so she’ll call at like, 7, and I’ve been up for like two hours. We’ll talk for an hour, and we really do share everything. But you don’t see that on the show.
That’s why I was like, why would you do that to me at my dinner table and imply that my husband’s cheating on me when you’re my friend? Like, is that for the show? Why are you doing that to me?
Yes. It is for the show.
Exactly! That’s what’s so maddening, because in 15 seasons, I’ve never done that. I think I’m an interesting enough person that I don’t need to start fights with people for a TV show. So when I feel that, I feel hurt by that.
She’s very fun. She loves having a good time. I love that about her. She really does make me laugh. The other night, we were, like, OK, we’re single, we need to go out. I felt like a 10th grader who was trying to go out and make it be fun. There was no fun. We went to the first place, like, “This is where people go! There’s nobody here, we hate this. Let’s go to the next place.” The next place, it was so loud — I cannot have loudness like this, and I did not like the crowd. Then we went to another place, and she said, “Nobody cute here.” Then she made me go to a pub. Like, far from our house. I’m at an Irish pub at midnight?!
We did this all wrong. We need to stick with what we know. I cannot be going to pubs.
It seemed like the trailer was framing Amanda Frances — who bought your old house — as the show’s new villain.
I think she could maybe be polarizing. At times, I think — definitely.
When Garcelle Beauvais was on “Watch What Happens Live” recently, she said that of all the women in the cast, the person she would want to connect with and see would be you. Was that a surprise?
It was a surprise. I wish she would have shown me that more in person. Garcelle and I had this thing — we would look at each other, and we had this unspoken language, and we would laugh at the same thing. I love to make her laugh — like, I love a good audience. I know how to make her laugh. When we left Georgia, we were saying, “Love you, bye” — and I don’t throw the love word around.
When she walked off, I was surprised. And then when she said that, I thought, why don’t you act like that? Why don’t you say that to me?
Have you spoken since “Watch What Happens Live”?
No. She had unfollowed me on Instagram. I think it’s hard to have friendships on the show, which makes me so grateful for Erika and Teddi, and even Dorit — even though we’re going through this hard time. It really makes you appreciate those friendships.
Is it a good season? What should people be thinking about Season 15?
It is a good season. It’s gonna be a fun ride for the audience for sure. Lots of drama, of course, and I think there’s a lot of laughs too.