The increasingly bitter divorce battle between Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers has taken another explosive turn.
In a letter obtained by Page Six, Phypers makes a series of serious accusations against his estranged wife, including allegations of substance abuse, infidelity, and physical assault — all while denying the domestic violence claims she has leveled against him.
In the letter reportedly sent to friends and family, Phypers paints a troubling picture of Richards’ alleged behavior over the years. “For nearly a decade, she has struggled with an addiction to Vicodin (which she jokingly calls ‘Vitamin D’ or ‘white chestnuts’), mixed with Adderall and tequila,” he writes.
Phypers claims the situation has deeply affected their daughter, Eloise, now 14, and insists Richards needs “an intervention” to address her alleged addiction. “She’s no longer eating real meals, and I’ve witnessed her pass out from substances — putting herself and others in danger, including while driving with our daughter,” he alleges.
But the accusations don’t stop there. Phypers also claims he discovered Richards was involved in an ongoing affair earlier this year. “She begged me not to leave, saying it was nothing and that she only loved me,” he says. “Then, she denied it all — even the explicit messages I found. Despite her promise to stop, more lies and shocking evidence emerged.”
The couple’s relationship appears to have reached a breaking point on July 4, the date listed as their official separation in court documents. According to Phypers, “a simple act — ordering food for our daughter Eloise — led to an unthinkable discovery.” He claims Richards accused him of misusing her credit card, which triggered a dispute and the disappearance of his phone.
“After searching for over 20 hours and being physically attacked when I asked for it back, I eventually found it smashed inside a trash bag, hidden beneath rotting garbage and litter,” Phypers alleges. “That same night, she texted me saying she was filing for divorce.”
Phypers says the fallout extended beyond the couple’s relationship. “I’ve experienced stalking (an AirTag placed on my car), been denied access to my personal belongings, and watched my elderly parents become frightened and mistreated — simply because they supported me and helped take care of Denise’s animals, her daughter, and our home,” he claims. “This isn’t just a relationship breaking down. It’s a cry for help.”
He also strongly denied the abuse claims made by Richards, stating, “I have never, ever physically harmed my wife, and I did not give her a black eye. I have only ever stepped in to protect her or others — including separating her from physically attacking her daughter — always coming from a place of care and concern.”
Richards, however, tells a starkly different story. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 54, was granted a restraining order against Phypers, 52, last week. In her court filing, she included photos of bruises on her face and described a disturbing pattern of alleged violence.
“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,” Richards claimed in the documents. She also alleged that Phypers had threatened to kill her and himself if she ever went to the police.
Richards also referenced the July 4 fight in her filing, describing Phypers as the aggressor and stating he became “enraged” after she told him he and his family needed to move out of their shared home.
As the legal battle between the former couple escalates, the public is left with two drastically different accounts of what happened behind closed doors. One thing is clear: this is far more than a celebrity split — it’s a deeply complicated and painful situation that may take time to fully unravel.
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