Lisa Rinna And Harry Hamlin's Marriage Has More Than A Few Red Flags
Lisa Rinna, who has undergone a head-turning beauty transformation, is perhaps the epitome of a real housewife. The former model and actor appeared on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" between 2014 and 2022 and was a welcome addition to the series. She became a household name, known for her fashion choices and outspoken personality. Her relationship to actor and author Harry Hamlin is what's intriguing to many of us, though.
Rinna and Hamlin have been married since 1997, after meeting five years earlier. That's no easy feat for a couple in the public eye. However, Rinna and Hamlin's marriage is filled with red flags, like many celebrity marriages, including Victoria and David Beckham's. Their very first meeting included a misunderstanding. But that's not all. There was a threat of divorce, living in a house built by an ex, and so much more.
Their first meeting occurred when they were both in relationships
Harry Hamlin opened up to People about how he and Lisa Rinna met in 1992 in a restaurant. Hamlin knew the owner of the eyeglass store that Rinna worked at and was having dinner with him. So, when Rinna came to deliver the store keys to him, the two met. Apparently, Hamlin was "enchanted" with her after she told a story about her night out at the circus, but the two were both in relationships with other people.
Hamlin was married to Nicollette Sheridan at the time, and he told People in 2022: "I was married, so I wasn't thinking beyond that, but I do recall being stricken by her beauty." Rinna chimed in during the joint interview, mentioning that she was starstruck because Hamlin was a movie star and the Sexiest Man Alive. "You were starstruck and I was love-struck," Hamlin said. Pretty bold of him to admit that he felt that way about Rinna while married to someone else!
They have nothing in common
During a 2018 appearance on "Live with Kelly and Ryan," Lisa Rinna was asked about the secret to her and Harry Hamlin's long-lasting marriage. At first, she joked that maybe it's because she's his third wife and the third time's a charm. Then, she went on to describe how opposite she is to her other half and that they "have nothing in common." She then referred to his love for astrophysics and her love for shopping as examples of their opposing interests. Perhaps opposites really do attract!
Hamlin later appeared on "Live with Kelly and Ryan" to share his perspective on how their marriage has lasted so many years. He said: "In all seriousness, we really respect each other, we listen to each other, we're great friends, and we really like each other." Indeed, that sounds like the foundation for a solid marriage. He also agreed that the two are opposites, which totally aligns with what Chelsea Clinton has said makes her marriage work.
Their house was built by Hamlin and his ex
The home that Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin live in has been showcased on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." Without a doubt, it's a beautiful home. What's strange is that Hamlin actually lived in the home with his first wife, Laura Johnson, in the 1980s. It may seem a bit odd to be displaying the home shared with an ex all over television, but that's not where this red flag ends.
According to Bravo TV, on an episode of "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen," Rinna explained how Hamlin's second wife, Nicolette Sheridan, refused to live in the home shared by Hamlin and his ex. So, Hamlin moved out with her, but returned once they got divorced. He and Rinna have been living in the house for over two decades. Rinna told Cohen: "I love this house, I mean, I really do." The pair even got married in the garden of the home. It must have been a strange experience, though, with all the past relationship history.
Hamlin threatened to divorce Rinna over The Real Housewives
Lisa Rinna admitted on a 2015 episode of "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" that Harry Hamlin had previously threatened to divorce her. She recalled that when she first told Hamlin about the idea of joining "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," he immediately shut it down. He said he would file for divorce and left the room, ending the conversation abruptly. Rinna took his words seriously and considered backing out of the show. Then, Hamlin apparently came back a few days later and had changed his mind after doing some research, stating it might be a "good thing" for her.
We're so glad that Hamlin did his due diligence; otherwise, we would not have been as entertained as we were by Rinna's bold personality. Being on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" really was a good thing for Rinna, as it led to more fashion show invitations and several business ventures. Thanks to the show and her revived fame, she was able to launch Rinna Wines, Rinna Beauty, and a fashion line called The Lisa Rina Collection. Imagine if her partner had held her back from all of that!
There were rumors of cheating
There were rumors in Season 5 of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" that Harry Hamlin cheated on Lisa Rinna. The speculation began when Rinna's co-star, Kim Richards, attacked Hamlin after she felt that Rinna was getting too into Richards' sobriety journey. Richards said, "Let's talk about the husband. Let's not talk about what you don't want out." Rinna was so upset that she broke a wine glass and yelled at Richards not to go after Hamlin.
Although Richards did not specify what the situation was with Hamlin, fans speculated on social media. There was even a #WhatDidHarryDo hashtag that circulated. Hamlin denied any wrongdoing and joked with Us Weekly: "There is a hashtag #WhatDidHarryDo? out there so maybe someone will tell me at some point, and I hope it was good." Even his rumored mistress, Julianne Phillips, cleared the air via X (formerly Twitter) in a now-deleted post (via Nicki Swift).