Denise Richards Accuses Husband of Domestic Violence, Granted Restraining Order

Denise Richards has been granted a restraining order against her estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, after she accused him of domestic violence.

As reported by TMZ, Richards filed court documents on Wednesday (July 16) accusing Phypers, who filed for divorce from the actress earlier this month, of physical and verbal abuse. She claimed there have been multiple instances where he got physically violent with her, and attached multiple pictures showing her with a heavily bruised eye. She also said that he threatened to kill her and himself if she reported the domestic violence to authorities.

"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," reads the lawsuit. She added that the photos of her injuries were from 2022 after he hit her in the eye when he "became paranoid" and believed plants in his workplace "contained listening devices." Other photos attached to the court documents show her at a red carpet event with bruises on her arms.

She said that she feared for her life on multiple occasions, including one incident in which he became violent after she said he didn't have to come with 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 lawsuit alleges.

In the most recent alleged instance of violence, she threatened to call the police, and he allegedly replied, "I would like to see the cops take me away, I will blow everything up if they try." Her temporary domestic violence restraining order is in effect until at least August 8, which is when they will first appear together in court for their divorce proceedings.

The couple married in 2018. As TMZ previously reported, Phypers filed for divorce earlier this month and listed the separation date as July 4.