Aaron Phypers has strongly denied allegations of physical and emotional abuse made by his estranged wife, actress Denise Richards. The denial comes after Richards was granted a temporary restraining order against him on Wednesday.
According to Page Six, in court documents filed this week, Richards, 54, claimed that Phypers, 52, had repeatedly choked her, slapped her in the face and head, and threatened to kill her during their marriage. She included photos of her bruised face, which she says were caused by Phypers.
“I want to address recent rumors and speculation that have surfaced regarding my relationship with my wife, Denise Richards,” Phypers said in a statement. “Let me be unequivocally clear: I have never physically or emotionally abused Denise or anyone. These accusations are completely false and deeply hurtful.”
Details of alleged abuse reveal pattern of violent behavior
According to the court documents, Richards described multiple incidents where Phypers allegedly became violent, echoing similar patterns seen in ‘Selling Sunset‘ star Christine Quinn’s legal drama with her estranged husband, where a fairytale marriage turned into a nightmare. She claimed he would frequently squeeze her head with both hands, violently choke her, and aggressively slam her head into a bathroom towel rack. The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star also stated that Phypers threatened to kill her and himself if she ever reported him to the police.
Denise Richards has accused her estranged husband Aaron Phypers of “repeatedly” physically abusing her throughout their marriage, according to court documents.https://t.co/35G1NphCfp pic.twitter.com/JqfnNliJbH
— alona castro strak (@castrostrak) July 18, 2025
The couple’s separation reportedly occurred on July 4, following an intense argument at their marital home. Richards alleged that Phypers became extremely angry when she told him that he and his family needed to move out. During this incident, she claims he spent nearly two hours screaming at her, using degrading profanities, and repeatedly grabbing her left arm aggressively.
Phypers filed for divorce earlier this month, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split after six years of marriage. In his recent statement, he acknowledged that their marriage had faced challenges, but insisted that any suggestions of abuse were untrue, stating that he had always approached their marriage with love, patience, and respect.
As the legal proceedings continue, Phypers has requested privacy and asked the public and media to avoid spreading what he calls harmful and baseless claims, though the financial implications could be significant given the most expensive celebrity divorce settlements in Hollywood history. Representatives for Richards have not yet responded to requests for comment on the situation.
