Actress Denise Richards has obtained a restraining order against her estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, following a series of domestic abuse allegations detailed in newly filed court documents, as reported by Page Six.
Richards, 54, claims that Phypers, 52, physically assaulted her throughout their relationship and threatened to kill both her and himself if she ever contacted authorities.
According to court documents filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County and obtained by Page Six, Richards alleges that Phypers repeatedly engaged in violent behavior.
She claims he:
“would frequently violently choke me, violently squeeze my head with both hands, tightly squeeze my arms, violently slap me in my face and head, aggressively slam my head into the bathroom towel rack.”
Richards, best known for her roles in Wild Things and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, also stated that Phypers bruised her eye during a 2022 incident.
The actress alleges the event occurred at his Malibu workplace when Phypers grew paranoid that potted plants he purchased contained listening devices. During the confrontation, he allegedly called her a “f**king bitch” and struck her in the eye with the palm of his hand.
Denise Richards has been granted a temporary domestic violence restraining order against her estranged husband Aaron Phypers after accusing him of physical and verbal abuse #RHOBH 💎 pic.twitter.com/kysXGDPOD1
— Dorinda Deadly (@dorindadeadly) July 17, 2025
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In another incident, Richards claims Phypers became enraged after she suggested he not accompany her on a work trip.
“Aaron grabbed me by the back of my head by my hair and slammed me into the ground and screamed, ‘You are not cancelling my flight, I am going with you and I do not trust you.’”
The court documents include photographs of facial bruising that Richards attributes to Phypers. Phypers has denied the allegations, calling them “not true” and “conjured up” in a statement to Us Weekly. He added, “I have the real evidence.”
The court has issued a protective order requiring Phypers to remain at least 100 yards from Richards and her property, including her home and vehicle. A hearing to review the restraining order is scheduled for August 8.
The legal filings follow Phypers’ divorce petition, which he filed less than two weeks ago after six years of marriage. He listed the separation date as July 4 and cited “irreconcilable differences.” Phypers is also seeking spousal support.
The couple married in September 2018. Sources close to the couple told Daily Mail last week that the relationship had been troubled for some time.
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One insider claimed that a heated argument over the holiday weekend led to the decision to separate. “They have been having trouble for some time,” the source said.
“But they had a row over the weekend where they basically were like, ‘F**k you,’ and he marched off to file for divorce.”
Days after filing, Phypers was seen in public without his wedding ring.
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One has to wonder if there is any man who doesn’t wanna slap her around? Gotta ask what does she bring out in the males of the species?