Actress and reality TV star Denise Richards has candidly reflected on the painful breakdown of her marriage, describing her relationship with estranged husband Aaron Phypers as “hopeless” following allegations of physical abuse.
Richards, 55, separated from Phypers in July 2025 after six years of marriage, filing for a restraining order and citing multiple incidents of alleged abuse. The actress recently addressed the situation during her emotional return to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where she spoke openly about the challenges she faced behind closed doors.
During Thursday’s episode, castmate Erika Jayne questioned Richards about visible injuries that were reportedly included in her restraining order request. “I wanted to talk to you about the black eye I saw. That can’t be a one-time thing,” Jayne said.
Richards confirmed the claim, explaining that the abuse developed gradually over time. She revealed that her late father once asked why she never spoke out, to which she replied, “I can’t share this and stay with a person.”
The actress also recalled a traumatic incident following a seven-and-a-half-hour surgery, which she described as the moment she realized her marriage could not be saved. Richards alleged that Phypers attempted to grab her phone and struck her on the side of her head while she was vulnerable, leaving her in tears.
“That’s when I really knew there was no hope of salvaging this marriage,” she said, adding that she nearly postponed her second surgery out of fear.
Phypers has denied all allegations of physical abuse. Despite the public scrutiny, Richards said she is focused on healing and moving forward, determined to reclaim her peace and independence.