In a shocking turn of events, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Denise Richards, 54, has been granted a temporary restraining order against her estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, 52, following explosive allegations of physical and verbal abuse. The Wild Things actress filed a petition on July 17, detailing a disturbing pattern of violence and intimidation throughout their marriage, which began in 2018. Phypers, however, vehemently denies the claims, calling them “completely false” and “conjured up” in a statement to Us Weekly.
Richards’ court filing paints a chilling picture of her relationship with Phypers, accusing him of repeated acts of physical aggression. According to the petition, Phypers allegedly engaged in violent behavior, including choking her, squeezing her head and arms, slapping her face, and slamming her head into a bathroom towel rack. Richards also claimed Phypers threatened to kill her and, on multiple occasions, pinned her down with his knee on her back, forcing her to plead for her life.
The actress recounted a particularly harrowing incident on July 4, 2025, when Phypers allegedly arrived uninvited at her separate townhouse. According to Richards, he screamed profanities in her face, grabbed her arms, pushed her, and dragged her to the ground, causing her to land painfully on the stairs. She further alleged that Phypers stole her laptop and sent private messages he accessed without her permission, escalating the violation of her privacy.
Richards also raised concerns about Phypers’ possession of eight unregistered firearms, expressing fear for her safety without court intervention. In addition to physical abuse, she accused him of verbal assaults, including an incident in May where he berated her after hacking into her laptop via iCloud. Richards claimed Phypers accessed her text messages while she was watching a movie on Netflix, later confronting her with photos of her private communications, calling her a “lying bitch.”
To support her claims, Richards submitted two photos as evidence of the alleged abuse, underscoring the severity of her accusations.
Phypers, who filed for divorce on July 7, citing “irreconcilable differences,” has fiercely denied Richards’ allegations. In his statement to Us Weekly, he insisted, “I have never physically or emotionally abused Denise — or anyone.” He described the accusations as “deeply hurtful” and maintained that he approached their marriage with “love, patience, and respect.” Phypers claimed to possess “real evidence” to refute Richards’ allegations but did not elaborate further, requesting privacy as the couple navigates their ongoing legal battles.
In his divorce filing, Phypers listed September 8, 2018, as the date of their marriage and July 4, 2025—the same day as the alleged townhouse incident—as their date of separation. He requested spousal support, claiming he has no income after shutting down his business late last year. Phypers alleged that Richards earns approximately $250,000 per month from sources like OnlyFans, TV shows, sponsorships, and appearances. His financial declaration detailed exorbitant monthly expenses, including $18,000 on rent, $10,000 on groceries, $15,000 on dining out, and $20,000 on clothing, totaling $105,000.
Richards has not yet responded to the divorce petition, leaving the public eagerly awaiting her next move in this high-profile split.
The explosive allegations and counterclaims have thrust Richards and Phypers into the spotlight, with their once-private marital struggles now playing out in court and the media. Richards’ restraining order marks a significant step in her efforts to protect herself, while Phypers’ adamant denials suggest a contentious legal battle looms. As the former couple’s divorce proceedings unfold, fans and onlookers are left grappling with the stark contrast between Richards’ disturbing accusations and Phypers’ insistence on his innocence.