Reality TV star Kelly Dodd has stirred controversy after sharing a video on her Instagram page where she and her husband, Rick Leventhal, reenacted a tense moment from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills that has recently come back into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
The short clip shows Rick aggressively pulling Kelly up a flight of stairs, mimicking a scene in which Aaron Phypers threatened to “crush” Denise Richards’ hand.
What makes this video especially controversial is its timing. Just days before Kelly Dodd’s post, Denise Richards, 54, publicly accused her fiancé, Aaron Phypers, 52, of repeated physical abuse. Denise filed for a restraining order against Aaron, alleging a disturbing pattern of violence that includes choking, slapping, and even threats to kill her. The reality star has painted a harrowing picture of a toxic and dangerous relationship, sharing that the abuse was frequent and left her feeling terrified for her safety.
In light of these serious allegations, many have found Kelly’s decision to joke about the incident deeply insensitive. The original moment, which aired on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, saw Aaron Phypers threatening to crush Denise’s hand in a frightening display of intimidation and anger. Now, with those events resurfacing amidst Denise’s legal actions, the video Kelly and her husband posted feels especially tone-deaf.
In her caption, Kelly wrote, “Denise and Aaron for Halloween??” — a comment that many fans perceived as mocking the very real and frightening ordeal Denise is going through. The backlash was swift, with followers criticizing Kelly for making light of a situation involving domestic abuse.
Denise Richards has been open about the impact of the abuse on her life and has sought legal protection to keep Aaron away. Her case has sparked conversations about the importance of recognizing and taking domestic violence seriously, especially when it happens in the public eye.
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