A few months later, things changed. After eleven years of marriage, Heather Locklear filed for divorce. She cited irreconcilable differences, a typical cause of celebrity divorces. But the aftermath of Heather’s divorce was not typical at all.
It all started when Heather’s publicist broke the news of the divorce in February 2006. However, there was one problem – Richie Sambora had no idea that his wife wanted a divorce.
The rocker was shocked by the news, as the message apparently didn’t reach the rocker, who had recently been on tour. He responded to a question from reporters about what happened between the couple. Richie stated that the news of their divorce was ‘completely untrue’ and that he and his wife were preparing for Valentine’s Day.
However, the fact remains that Heather did indeed file for divorce. And as time went on, more and more sordid details began to surface. According to People, Heather came across an email sent to Richie Sambora by a woman they both knew. The email contained provocative photos.
The discovery was the final straw that left Heather ‘absolutely devastated.’ Sambora, however, categorically denied any marital impropriety.
Heather Locklear and Denise Richards, what happened?
But the fuss surrounding her divorce didn’t end there. The breakup caused a rift between Heather and her close friend Denise Richards. Shortly after the divorce, Richie Sambora began dating Denise, who had also gone through a hard-hitting, highly publicised breakup with Charlie Sheen. Since Charlie and Heather had become friends after working together on the TV series Round Town, the two couples were well acquainted.
The divorce brought Denise and Richie together and they ended up falling in love, which of course Heather didn’t like. There was speculation that a possible affair between Richie and Denise was the real reason for Heather’s divorce, although Denise denied it. However, it’s clear that Richie and Denise’s relationship hurt Heather deeply.
‘It was very hard,’ Denise Richards told Entertainment Tonight in 2006. ‘You can’t help who you fall in love with, and that friendship unfortunately ended and there was no saving it.’
According to Denise, she and Heather were never ‘best friends’ and did not steal a friend’s husband, as some malicious rumours have claimed. A reunion with Richie was the last thing she wanted, but there was nothing that could be done now that they had broken up.
‘We (she and Sambora) were friends, we were both going through a divorce and that’s what attracted us to each other… I didn’t steal anybody’s husband. Was I dating the ex-husband of the ex-boyfriend’s ex-husband? Yes, you did. Did I break up the marriage? No,’ Richards said in an interview with Us Weekly.
Denise Richards and Richie Sambora’s relationship was short-lived. They broke up in early 2007 but remained friends after that. In 2011, the couple made another attempt but eventually decided to remain friends.
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Despite the tumultuous circumstances surrounding their divorce, Heather and Richie managed to maintain a good relationship. Years after the breakup, Richie Sambora revealed in an interview with People that he and Heather still love each other.
‘Time heals old wounds. I mean, I still love Heather, and I know she loves me. She’s the mother of my child. What can I say?’ – Richie explained.
Of course, their adorable daughter Ava plays a key role in maintaining healthy communication between the two. Both parents are incredibly supportive of her, and when Ava Sambora walked the runway at the White Trash Beautiful Spring 2011 fashion show, Heather and Richie stood side by side. They’ve also been together at several Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations.
‘We’re doing really well. In fact, we’re even more than we need to be [for our daughter],’ Richie told Access Hollywood in a 2012 interview. ‘Heather and I have a lot of respect for each other and I think we’ve become best friends now that we’re not married.’
The last few years, as many of you know, have been quite difficult for Heather Locklear. She has been arrested several times and has struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. The first warning sign came in 2008 when someone claiming to be Locklear’s doctor called 911 to report that the star was suicidal.
Paramedics rushed to her home and police investigated the incident, but Heather’s publicist later claimed the alarm was false. However, police believe the call was genuine.
Unfortunately, Heather’s condition continued to deteriorate and she had already undergone drug treatment 20 times. Shortly after the wake-up call in 2008, the six-time Golden Globe Award nominee went to a medical centre in Arizona for treatment for anxiety and depression. In 2018, Richie Sambora revealed that he hired a team of professionals to care for Locklear after she relapsed into alcohol problems and was arrested for domestic violence and assaulting a police officer.
Richie helped organise and cover the costs so Heather could stay in a long-term care home where she was supported by top doctors and psychiatrists.
‘Of course, I will always be there for Heather and especially Ava. I am very proud of my daughter for her composure and strength during this difficult time,’ Richie Sambora told the Daily Mail.
Heather seems to have become more stable in recent years and has been rumoured to have been alcohol-free for several years. Unfortunately, in 2023, some disturbing photos were published that once again raised fears for her health.
The New York Post published photos of Locklear acting inappropriately and talking to herself in public, which raised concerns that she may be struggling again.
We sincerely hope Heather is feeling well today. It’s not easy to reach the level of television fame she has achieved, with all the consequences that entails.
But she seems like a truly wonderful woman, so we wish her all the best in the world and hope she finds happiness for years to come. Sending her positive vibes and love to continue her journey.