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LOS ANGELES — The bitter divorce between actress Denise Richards and her estranged husband Aaron Phypers has taken a darker turn inside a Los Angeles courtroom, where both sides are trading explosive accusations of abuse and deception. Phypers, 53, took the stand this week to flatly deny allegations that he physically assaulted the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum during their six-year marriage.
The testimony comes as Richards, 54, seeks to make a temporary restraining order permanent, alleging years of violence, threats, and intimidation. The hearing, held before Judge Mark A. Juhas, saw both the actress and her former partner give sharply conflicting accounts of what happened behind closed doors.
Dressed in an aquamarine tweed suit with her hair swept into an elegant updo, Richards became visibly emotional as she described what she called a pattern of escalating violence.
“Aaron has hit me so much during our marriage it became normal for our arguments,” she said on the stand, according to courtroom reporters.
She recounted multiple alleged assaults, including one that left her with a black eye in January 2022 and another that she said caused a concussion during an April 2025 trip to Chicago. Photographs entered into evidence showed a deep purple bruise covering her eyelid and cheekbone.
Richards told the court she concealed the injuries from her daughters and avoided medical treatment out of fear. “I didn’t want to get Aaron in trouble,” she explained. “I wore sunglasses and hid it.”
When it was his turn to testify, Phypers denied ever striking or threatening Richards. Speaking under oath, he said the black eye was self-inflicted while she was intoxicated, adding, “I don’t abuse my wife, no.”
Outside court, he told The Daily Mail that he feels confident the truth will emerge: “There’s a notion out there to ‘believe women,’ but all of them? Some lie — and this one, she’s lying. The truth will set you free.”
His attorney, Michael Finley, motioned to dissolve the temporary restraining order, but Judge Juhas swiftly denied the request. Finley later confirmed that Charlie Sheen — Richards’ ex-husband — and former castmate Brandi Glanville were listed as potential witnesses to testify about Richards’ alleged “history of not being truthful” and substance use.
In prior filings, Richards accused Phypers of inflicting three concussions, “violently choking” her, and threatening to “disappear” her. She also alleged he once slammed her head into a wall at his wellness center and regularly called her degrading names during fights.
Her cousin, Kathleen McAllister, supported the claims in virtual testimony earlier in the week, saying she witnessed Phypers strike Richards hard enough to give her a black eye. “I’m still in shock to this day about it,” McAllister said.
Richards told the court that she often feared for her life. “He’s almost killed me so many times,” she said, claiming Phypers would threaten to throw her “through windows and off balconies.”
Phypers has maintained that Richards fabricated the abuse as part of a custody and divorce strategy. A source close to him described the actress’ testimony as “fiction” and said he intends to “emerge victorious.”
In a September 15 filing, Phypers alleged that Richards had “attacked and harassed” him on multiple occasions and that she was projecting her own aggression onto him.
During the hearing, Phypers’ legal team played a video recorded by Richards in August, in which she compared her marriage to Phypers with her previous relationship to Charlie Sheen.
“Things were bad with Charlie and me,” she said in the clip, “but he never hit below the belt.” She then accused Phypers of infidelity and expressed heartbreak over the collapse of their marriage: “I really thought you were my soulmate. You’ve hit me too many times, and each time it’s getting worse.”
The video appeared to move Richards to tears as it played in court.
Cases like Denise Richards v. Aaron Phypers sit at a tense intersection between family law and criminal law, where domestic-violence allegations can directly shape the outcome of a divorce. In California, claims of physical or emotional abuse can influence spousal-support rulings, child-custody arrangements, and even property division if a judge finds evidence of coercive control.
Under California Family Code §6320, a temporary restraining order—like the one Richards obtained in July—may be issued when there is “reasonable proof of a past act or acts of abuse.” While such orders are civil in nature, the same evidence can also be used to pursue criminal charges if law enforcement identifies probable cause for assault, battery, or criminal threats.
The legal standards differ. In civil proceedings, judges decide based on a preponderance of evidence, while in criminal prosecutions, guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. That distinction explains why some domestic-violence disputes remain in family court even when the allegations sound severe.
Legal analysts say high-profile divorces often blur those boundaries. Family courts may issue protective orders while separate criminal inquiries weigh possible charges. For both sides, false testimony carries perjury risk, and proven abuse can lead to firearm bans, loss of custody, and reputational damage that lasts long after the case ends.
Ultimately, the Richards–Phypers case underscores the complex overlap between personal safety, public image, and the law — where truth and credibility are tested under oath.
| Legal Explainer: What a California Restraining Order Does |
| A restraining order is a court-issued protection that can restrict an accused abuser from contacting, approaching, or harassing the petitioner. |
| ✅ Duration: Temporary orders usually last 20–25 days until a full hearing. |
| ✅ Extensions: If granted after the hearing, a permanent order can last up to 5 years and be renewed. |
| ✅ Penalties: Violating an order can lead to criminal arrest, fines, and jail time. |
| ✅ Scope: It may include no-contact rules, distance requirements, or removal of firearms. |
| Sources: California Family Code §§6200–6389; California Courts Self-Help Center. |
Judge Juhas is expected to review further evidence before deciding whether to extend Richards’ restraining order beyond its temporary term. Witness testimony — potentially from Sheen and Glanville — may resume later this month if Phypers’ team introduces new claims.
For now, both parties remain under the court’s existing protective orders, and the case continues to draw widespread attention as one of the most contentious celebrity domestic-violence proceedings of 2025.
What did Denise Richards accuse Aaron Phypers of?
She alleges multiple instances of physical and emotional abuse, including being hit, choked, and threatened during their six-year marriage.
What does Aaron Phypers say in response?
Phypers denies all allegations, claiming Richards fabricated the incidents and injured herself while under the influence.
Is Denise Richards’ restraining order permanent?
Not yet. The temporary restraining order, granted in July 2025, remains in effect pending further court hearings.
Will Charlie Sheen testify in the case?
Sheen was named as a potential witness by Phypers’ legal team, though the court has not yet confirmed if or when he will appear.
