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The bitter divorce battle between The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Denise Richards and her estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, has taken an increasingly volatile turn following their recent court hearings. Over three consecutive days at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Phypers publicly denied Richards’ claims of domestic abuse and countered with allegations of his own, calling the actress “the aggressive one” in their marriage.
During a highly emotional session earlier this week, Richards broke down while recounting what she described as years of physical and emotional abuse. The 54-year-old actress is seeking to extend a temporary restraining order against Phypers, claiming that he repeatedly assaulted and threatened her throughout their relationship. According to Richards’ testimony, their fights often turned violent, leaving her with serious injuries, including multiple concussions and a black eye. She told the court that she was terrified to tell anyone the truth, adding that she often hid her bruises behind sunglasses to protect Phypers from public scrutiny.
“I was scared of people asking me how I got the black eye, and I didn’t want to get Aaron in trouble,” she said tearfully. “I was trying to protect him. I hid it from my daughters; I wore sunglasses.”
Phypers, 53, vehemently denied every accusation during Wednesday’s hearing, stating under oath, “I don’t abuse my wife, no.” He dismissed Richards’ testimony as fabrication, insisting that her claims of choking, hair-pulling, and physical assault were “made up.” Addressing the incident involving the black eye, Phypers claimed it was self-inflicted while Richards was “under the influence of tequila.” He told the court, “I never physically harmed Denise Richards… I never threatened to harm her… I did not threaten to kill anybody. A lot of people like to be close to the stars. They’ll do things for them.”
In his counter-filings, Phypers alleged that Richards was the one who had displayed aggressive behavior, claiming she had “attacked and harassed” him several times. He submitted phone records showing that Richards contacted him 17 times within a week of being granted a restraining order. Phypers added that she frequently reached out to his father and mutual acquaintances, which he said amounted to harassment. “It shows she’s not afraid of me,” he claimed. “She’s the aggressive one.”
Phypers’ legal team also argued that Richards’ testimony had been exaggerated and indicated that other witnesses, including her ex-husband Charlie Sheen and former co-star Brandi Glanville, could be called to testify about what they described as her “history of dishonesty and substance abuse.” Despite their motion to dissolve the restraining order, Judge Mark A. Juhas denied the request, allowing Richards’ protection to remain in place for now.
Richards and Phypers’ once-glamorous romance began in 2017, leading to their wedding a year later. For years, they appeared inseparable, sharing red-carpet appearances and family photos that painted the picture of domestic bliss. However, behind the scenes, their marriage reportedly grew increasingly tense. Court documents reveal that the couple officially separated on July 4, 2025, with Richards filing for divorce three days later, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
What began as a seemingly perfect Hollywood union has now unraveled into one of the most explosive celebrity divorces of the year — filled with accusations of violence, manipulation, and emotional turmoil that continue to unfold in the public eye.