Aaron Phypers has accused his estranged wife, actress Denise Richards, of falsely alleging domestic abuse to prevent him from obtaining spousal support, according to new court filings filed in Los Angeles.
In documents reviewed by People and filed this month, Phypers, 52, described Richards’ (54) request for a domestic violence restraining order as "merely a ruse to try to cut me off from being able to obtain spousal support." Phypers, who filed for divorce in July, said he has no current income and that Richards, whom he described as the household breadwinner, has been the party contacting him repeatedly about finances.
Phypers asked the court for spousal support in his July 7 divorce petition, saying the couple had separated three days earlier. Richards later filed documents seeking an order that Phypers pay spousal support and asking the court to bar him from collecting support from her.
The filings lay out competing allegations between the parties. Phypers told the court that Richards repeatedly contacted him by phone and asked friends and family to urge him to call her, conduct he characterized as harassment and evidence she was the aggressor. He also alleged Richards at one point placed an AirTag on his vehicle to monitor his movements and accused her of physically attacking him and damaging his phone.
Richards obtained a temporary restraining order in July that included a requirement that Phypers stay at least 100 yards away from a Los Angeles residence they had shared. A judge allowed Richards to return to that residence on Sept. 8 to retrieve personal items, including dogs and property belonging to her and her mother, court papers show. The court ordered Phypers to return an iPhone and a black MacBook by the end of Sept. 9 or to file a declaration stating he no longer possessed them.
Richards’ request for a longer-term domestic violence restraining order was continued and is set for further proceedings in October, according to court records. Lawyers for Richards have told the court that further continuances would prejudice her and prolong distress by delaying final resolution of her request for protection.
Phypers has denied allegations that he owns firearms. Richards’ filings had indicated concerns related to weapons; the court did not issue a finding on that matter in the temporary orders made public.
The couple’s public dispute has included a series of mutual accusations since the July separation. Richards has alleged repeated abuse during the marriage in court papers. Phypers has responded with allegations of marital infidelity by Richards and, in a note to family and friends later obtained by Page Six, accused her of long-standing prescription medication issues, saying he had witnessed her pass out from substances and expressing concern for the couple’s 14-year-old daughter.
A lawyer for Richards, Brett Berman, disputed Phypers’ claims in a statement to People, saying Phypers "has continued to harass Ms. Richards since being served with the Temporary Restraining Order by, among other things, disseminating private information from Ms. Richards’ cell phone and laptop, which he stole." Berman said the allegations of harassment and theft were part of the record opposing Phypers’ account.
Richards is mother to three daughters: Sami, 21, and Lola, 20, from her previous marriage to Charlie Sheen, and Eloise, 14, whom she adopted prior to marrying Phypers. Both parties have appeared in court as the matter proceeds; the filings and temporary orders reflect the early-stage civil litigation and the separate divorce proceeding that remains pending.
Daily Mail reported on the filings and said it reached out to representatives for Richards for comment. The documents referenced above were reviewed by People; neither court filings nor public statements to date have produced a judicial finding on the abuse allegations. The restraining order process and the divorce case will continue through upcoming hearings in Los Angeles County courts.