Alexia Umansky shared a secret she’d held for seven years during Thursday’s episode of“Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.”The 30-year-old daughter of Kyle Richards and Mauricio Umansky told viewers that she was sexually assaulted during a trip with friends. She had been drinking, was put to bed, and woke up knowing something had happened. She said she was taken advantage of by a friend.
The most emotional part came when Alexia told her father, Mauricio, for the first time, on camera. She explained that she kept it from her family to protect them from the pain, telling him,“You guys not knowing is not anything I ever wanted you to know, but I kind of wanted to protect you guys from it.”Mauricio told her he loved her, and fellow recruits Candace Cameron Bure and Maxim Naumov praised her bravery.
Alexia’s decision to speak up comes as her parents navigate their public separation, and after Kyle Richards said she was“not happy”about her daughter joining the Fox series. Alexia said she chose happiness about a year after the assault, but that it still hurts. Her honesty is sparking conversations about why survivors often stay silent, sometimes for years, and the weight of protecting the people we love.
Have you ever held something in to protect your family? We want to hear your story.
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
