Denise Richards and Gayle Haggard sat down with Oprah to talk about what their lives are like since surviving a public scandal.
Original Air Date:
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Guests:
Oprah spoke with actress and mother Denise Richards, and the wife of Ted Haggard, Gayle Haggard.
Show Summary:
How would you handle public scrutiny over a private matter, such as marital problems, divorce, abuse, drug use, or affairs? Oprah's guests on this episode, Denise Richards and Gayle Haggard both were faced with such criticism and were able to come out of the journey stronger. Denise endured critiques over her divorce from actor Charlie Sheen, and then for her brief but controversial relationship with Bon Jovi member Richie Sambora. Gayle Haggard, on the other hand, had her life turned inside out when her husband, pastor Ted Haggard, revealed his sexual relations with a man. Gayle made a difficult choice to stay, which caused the public to question her, but resulted in a strong marriage in the end.
Special Highlights:
This episode featured the following highlights:
- Denise Richards sat down with Oprah to share her story after staying mostly quiet for five years. Now distanced from the emotion of the situation, she is able to speak from the other side.
- After a four year divorce and custody battle, Denise and ex-husband Charlie Sheen have come to a working relationship. Speaking on Christmas Day after his arrest, Denise helped her daughters speak to their father, but also understood the feelings of emotional abuse she endured in her marriage.
- For her daughters, Denise wants Charlie to have a strong marriage with his current wife.
- Gayle Haggard faced a tough decision after the news of her husband's infidelity, but chose to stay together.
More Highlights:
- Ted Haggard needed to go down a journey of self-discovery regarding his sexuality, and instead of choosing to walk away, Gayle trusted the foundation of her marriage and went along with her husband.
- Gayle speaks about the complete story of how she was able to remain in her marriage in her book, Why I Stayed.
What to Take Away from the Show:
Both Denise and Gayle were able to keep their heads up through the criticism and name calling in the media to come out the other side stronger and more confident women. Less able to speak about their challenges when they were in the middle of the emotional and dark times, their appearance on this episode after the storm had settled was a testament to other women viewers that it is possible to endure difficult situations, make impossible choices, face unlikely odds, and still manage to maintain integrity and strength. Especially with Gayle Haggard's decision, her words showed that even if your choices don't sit well in the minds of others, do what feels right within your heart and on your path.
Products Featured in This Episode:
Gayle Haggard - 'Why I Stayed'
Tyndale House Pub
Gayle Haggard's memoir, Why I Stayed: The Choices I Made in My Darkest Hour, was released in January of 2010 and chronicles the events in Gayle and Ted Haggard's life and marriage after Ted revealed he had a sexual relationship with a man.
