Apparently, Denise Richards’ estranged husband Aaron Phypers has a temper, as well as somewhat of a controlling nature. Following claims of her husband’s abuse amid their divorce, fans recalled an RHOBH clip in which he physically threatened her.
In a 2020 episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Denise and Aaron were walking into a party hand-in-hand. When she warned her husband not to “say a f*cking word,” he didn’t take it kindly.
“Don’t tell me what to say,” he snapped. “I’m going to crush your f*cking hand. Stop it.”
Aaron threatened Denise in front of RHOBH cameras
At the time, I clearly remember gasping at his words and fan sites lighting up with horrified reactions. Now that the clip has resurfaced, Aaron and Denise’s divorce makes a lot more sense.
At the Season 10 reunion, a concerned Andy Cohen asked Denise, “What was going on [in that moment]?”
“I didn’t even know that [he said that],” she responded. “[When] I played it for him, he said, ‘I don’t even remember saying that. I don’t know why I would say that, because I’m afraid of you.’” Um, obviously not, or he wouldn’t have said such a horrible thing to his wife.
Aaron, who married Denise in 2018, filed for divorce earlier this month, citing the standard “irreconcilable differences.”
On July 16, the Superior Court of California granted Denise a restraining order against Aaron for multiple alleged abusive incidents.
“Throughout our relationship, Aaron 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,” Denise alleged in court documents obtained by Page Six. Additionally, she shared photos of a herself with a shockingly black and swollen eye.
Despite denying the allegations, Aaron was ordered to stay 100 feet away from his estranged wife, her property and her car.
Their next court date is scheduled for August 8.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
