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Hollywood actress Denise Richards, best known for her iconic roles in Wild Things, The World Is Not Enough, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, has recently been in the headlines for distressing reasons. The 54-year-old star broke down in court while recounting the abuse she allegedly suffered during her marriage to her estranged husband, Aaron Phypers.
According to a Page Six report, Richards accused Phypers of repeated acts of violence, with eyewitness Kathleen McAllister testifying that she personally saw Phypers assault Denise on multiple occasions. The testimony came during a court hearing on October 6, 2025, regarding Denise’s request for a permanent restraining order. In a tearful statement, Denise claimed that her husband had physically abused her throughout their relationship and even threatened her life, saying, “He’s almost killed me so many damn times.”
Describing one of the incidents that ultimately led to their separation, Denise shared that she had asked Phypers to move out of their shared townhouse. His reaction, she said, was volatile and frightening. At the time, Denise was recovering from a facelift and still had stitches behind her ears, which made her feel especially vulnerable. “He got very angry at me and volatile. He got very close to me. I had just recovered from a full facelift and still had stitches behind my ears, and I felt extremely vulnerable,” she told the court.
Denise revealed that their fights often turned physical. Phypers allegedly grabbed her arms, shouted insults, and accused her of infidelity. Feeling unsafe, Denise said she left their home and spent nights sleeping on the couch in her office next door. Emotionally, she found it difficult to process how someone who worked in the wellness industry could inflict such harm. “It made me feel vulnerable, it made me feel scared, it made me feel sad,” she said. “He’s very big. I’m a lot smaller than him.”
The actress also recounted a particularly disturbing encounter in April, when Phypers allegedly entered her room with his father and threatened to release her private photos. She claimed he grabbed her left hand and struck the back of her ear, reopening her stitches and causing her to bleed. When she confronted him, he reportedly denied hurting her.
Denise further testified that when she threatened to call his mother or dial 911, Phypers warned her that something terrible would happen to her and that she would “disappear.” In September 2025, Denise was granted a temporary restraining order against him. However, she alleged that Phypers later returned to retrieve his laptop, during which he attacked her again—grabbing her arms, pushing her down the stairs, and taking her purse, credit cards, and phone before leaving.
The ongoing court proceedings have brought to light the painful details of Denise’s relationship with Aaron Phypers, painting a stark contrast to the glamorous image the couple once presented.