In a move that has sparked widespread outrage, Kelly Dodd, former star of The Real Housewives of Orange County, and her husband, news anchor Rick Leventhal, posted a video on Instagram that many are calling insensitive and cruel. The July 19 clip shows the couple reenacting a disturbing scene from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where Aaron Phypers threatened to “crush” Denise Richards’ hand. The video comes just days after Denise, 54, filed for a restraining order against Phypers, 52, alleging a pattern of physical abuse, including choking, slapping, and death threats.
In the now-limited Instagram post, captioned “Denise and Aaron for Halloween??,” Rick is seen aggressively pulling Kelly up a set of stairs, mimicking the unsettling moment from the Bravo show. The couple’s attempt at humor has been met with fierce backlash, with fans and followers flooding the comments section to condemn their actions.
“That’s cruel, domestic abuse doesn’t get a costume or a vote,” one commenter wrote, capturing the sentiment of many who found the video deeply offensive. Another added, “Wow, this is in such poor taste!!!!!” The backlash grew as users urged Kelly to remove the post, with one stating, “Out of respect for what Denise is enduring, taking this down would be a positive, healthy gesture.”
The criticism didn’t stop there. A user who identified as a domestic abuse survivor called the clip “insulting,” adding, “But hey, sick humour for sick minds, I suppose.” Others were equally scathing, with comments like, “You know, you might have missed the mark on this one. It’s a little pathetic to poke fun at domestic violence,” and “There are many things on the housewives shows to make fun of, but domestic abuse is not one of them.”
Some went further, slamming Kelly and Rick for having “no limits” and “no class.” One commenter expressed concern for Denise, noting it would be “horrible” for her to see the video amid her ongoing legal battle with Phypers. The former couple, who split earlier this year after marrying in 2018, have been embroiled in a bitter dispute, with Denise presenting evidence of a black eye in court documents and Phypers countering with claims that she slapped and scratched him.
The firestorm surrounding Kelly and Rick’s video underscores the sensitivity of addressing domestic violence, particularly in the public eye. As the backlash continues to mount, many are calling for the couple to acknowledge the gravity of their misstep and take accountability for their actions. For now, the Instagram post remains online, but its limited status suggests the controversy is far from over.