Former “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Denise Richards accused her estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, of domestic abuse in July 2025, following his filing for divorce on the 7th of that month. Now, more than a year later, the mom of two is opening up to Bunnie XO about the abuse she allegedly faced in the marriage, including that it caused her to feel sympathy for him.
Richards appeared on the August 3 episode of Bunnie XO’s “Dumb Blonde Podcast.” While on the show, the actress opened up about her marriage to Phypers, stating that it did not “start out that way” regarding the alleged physical attacks. However, over time, she began to experience abuse that she considered to be “emotional,” “physical,” and “financial.”
She went on to state that Phypers became a “different person than the person I married.” Richards also claimed to feel that the medical professional had “conned” her. From there, Richards reflected on the situation, saying, “That’s the hardest part of it. We were together over eight years, married a little over six, and I never thought I would’ve been in this situation ever. And now I get it.”
Regarding the common perception about victims and survivors of abuse, the “RHOBH” alum said, “It’s easy to say, ‘Why wouldn’t someone leave,’ or ‘You should’ve known, you should’ve seen these things.’ A lot of people asked me that. I didn’t. I wouldn’t have married the person.”
The ‘RHOBH’ Alum Says She ‘Felt Bad’ For Aaron
Later in the interview, Richards responded to some of the claims Phypers made about her. First, she denied that she ever abused him. Additionally, the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum refuted his accusation that she had been unfaithful to him. However, she did admit to inappropriate texting with another man.
After that, she discussed the timeline of abuse, claiming that his first act of violence came shortly after their marriage. In recalling her reaction, she said, “I was so shocked. I was like, ‘Oh, f-ck. There’s no going back from this.’ My dad always taught my sister and I; he said, ‘If a man hits you once, he’ll hit you again.’ And I told him, I said, ‘I don’t know what to do.’”
She continued, saying that Phypers was “remorseful” after striking her for the first time. Because of this, she says she “felt bad for him.” As a result of the sympathy, she “played down” the alleged attack.
Richards continued reflecting, saying, “It was stuff that I could hide, on my arms or something. And then he gave me a black eye. And that was when I was like, ‘Oh, f-ck. What am I gonna do now? How am I gonna tell people?’ It was awful.”
Denise Says Aaron Gave Her A Black Eye After The Police Were Called
Richards then shed more light on the abuse she claims led her to sustain a black eye. Specifically, she stated that it happened after the police had been called due to an altercation at the residence. According to her, after the officers left, he called her a “f-cking b-tch” and then hit her.
She recalled wondering if her husband was “okay” following the attack. Richards then said, “I was so scared… And then it was just all the time, doing stuff. But [people] ask me, ‘How come you never called the police?’ I’m like, ‘I didn’t call the police, and they showed up, and that’s what happened to me.”
The former “RHOBH” personality went on to state that she was afraid to attempt leaving Phypers. She also said she became “so beaten down” that she “didn’t know how to leave.” The “Wild Things” star added, “It’s survival. He’s such a big guy. I’ve never laid a hand on him. Oh my God, I would not be here right now if I did.”
She Was Granted Permanent Restraining Order Against Aaron
Richards filed for a temporary restraining order from Phypers on July 16, 2025, after accusing him of physical and emotional abuse. According to Us Weekly, several months later in November, she was granted a permanent restraining order.
Under the order, Phypers must maintain a 100-yard distance from the actress until November 7, 2030. He’s also not allowed to contact her. Phypers is also prohibited from owning firearms following the restraining order.
Denise Richards Keeps An Active Profile In Hollywood
Amid her ongoing divorce from Phypers, Denise is extending her legendary acting career, including returning to “The Bold and the Beautiful” in May 2026. Additionally, she had a film, “Dirty Hands,” released on digital/video-on-demand platforms in April 2026.
According to IMDb, she has multiple projects in post-production.
