VIDEO – Does Kim Richards have a drinking problem?
The teaser trailer for the upcoming Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reunion features Andy Cohen asking former child-star Kim Richards point-blank about a rumor that briefly circled around the internet a few months: “Do you have a drinking problem?”
It’s hard to make-out what really happened because of the editing, but it appears that this question followed Lisa Vanderpump saying “I think there are issues that need to be confronted, that haven’t really.” Andy asks “What are those?” and Lisa replies “Maybe you should ask Kim.” Again, this could be editing, but it looks like once Andy asks about the drinking problem, Kim bursts into tears.
We got an answer a week early on the episode of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills that aired January 20, 2011. Kim’s sister Kyle Richards accused Kim of being an alcoholic after a night of emotional boozing at Taylor Armstrong’s 39th birthday party. “You are a liar, and sick, and alcoholic. You are an alcoholic. That’s right. I said it and everybody knows.”
At then end of the episode, we got this update: “Kim’s family checked her into rehab . . . A week later, she checked herself out. She is taking her life one day at a time.”
UPDATE: With the new season, Kim exhibited some intoxicated and strange behavior, which turned out to be the result of a mix of prescription medications used to treat anxiety, and possibly alcohol dependence. She entered rehab December 2011, and completed a successful 30-day program. After getting out of rehab, she admitted to Bravo’s Andy Cohen during a special reunion interview that she was, indeed, an alcoholic, and that’s why she sought rehabilitation treatment.
Watch the explosive sibling fight below, followed by the trailer for the reunion special:
Kim’s charmed life as a child actress hasn’t been all roses. She complains on the show of not being socialized as a child because of her work schedule, and as a young adult she had to endure the shocking tragedy of dealing with the murder of her fiance John Collett.
UPDATE: A “source” is telling tabloids like Star and OK! that this isn’t Kim’s first stint in rehab for alocholism. She reportedly went in after her mother died in 2000, and she was found to be secretly drinking.
Here’s a video of Kim at the premiere party at the 11:34 mark, completely sloshed:
And Kim is tipsy again October 2010 at Tousdale in West Hollywood:
