Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Kim Richards turned 60 on September 19. That’s a big milestone, and fans sent their best wishes on social media.
But very noticeably, neither of her two sisters, Kathy Hilton or Kyle Richards, publicly wished Kim a happy birthday, breaking with long-standing tradition.
Fans of the famous sisters took that as an indication that something was not okay in the Richards family. Their instincts were correct. News broke last week that Kim had been placed under a 5150 psychiatric hold earlier in the month.
A desperate attempt to save Kim Richards’ life
On the morning of September 27, TMZ broke the story that Kim had suffered a relapse of her alcohol addiction. Kyle and Kim were together at an LA Hilton Hotel earlier in the month when Kim began behaving incoherently and was asked to leave. When she refused, police were called. Kim was placed under a 5150 psychiatric hold and taken to a hospital by ambulance.
Now the family is once again trying to break the ongoing cycle with her. An insider told People, that Kim’s “reliance on alcohol has been an ongoing source of conflict between her and her sisters.”
“The family are very private about details,” the source continued. “But from the little they’ve said, it’s clear they’ve reached another breaking point with her. This has happened before.”
The insider added that Kim is in “a really bad place,” as the family tries to help her while keeping things as private as possible.
Sadly, Kim has a long history of substance abuse. In 2011, during the Season 1 finale of RHOBH, Kyle and Kim got into a huge fight in the back of a limo. Kyle let the family secret slip, shouting, “We don’t talk about the fact that you’re an alcoholic!” This came after Kim accused Kyle and her husband Mauricio Umansky of stealing her house.
Following the limo incident, Kim went to rehab but suffered a relapse in 2015. In recent years, she’s claimed to be sober, working on her recovery, and focusing on her family.
The sisters were in a “really good” place before Kim’s relapse
Kim’s 60th birthday came only days before TMZ reported the psychiatric hold. They also said that Kim was told to move out of a house Kyle owns, though she refused. Kyle’s only legal recourse now is to file an eviction action to remove Kim from the house. At this point, the family has cut off all contact with Kim in an effort to practice “tough love.”
Over the past year, all three of the Richards sisters seemed to be doing well. They posed for a sisters’ photoshoot in January. During a February appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Kyle hinted that all three sisters could be reunited on the upcoming season of RHOBH.
“I know the fans want that a lot, so we shall see,” she teased.
In June, Kathy said she was in a “really good” place with both of her younger sisters.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). The free, confidential, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service is available in English and Spanish for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is now streaming on Peacock.
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