Denise Richards’ lawyer is firing back after her estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, accused the actress of cheating, drug use, and physical abuse.
In a public statement issued to PEOPLE, Richards’ divorce attorney Brett Berman denied all allegations and instead accused Phypers of harassing and abusing Richards, both during their marriage and after their separation.
Lawyer’s Strong Denial of Phypers’ Claims
Berman responded to Phypers’ accusations by asserting that Richards had been subjected to abuse throughout their marriage. The lawyer further stated that Phypers continued to harass Richards after she filed for a temporary restraining order.
“In addition to the repeated abuse perpetrated by Mr. Phypers against Ms. Richards throughout the parties’ marriage, Mr. Phypers has continued to harass Ms. Richards since being served with the Temporary Restraining Order,” Berman’s statement read.
The statement also accused Phypers of stealing Richards’ cell phone and laptop, and sharing private information from them without permission. The lawyer emphasized that despite warnings, Phypers continued these actions, disturbing Richards’ peace.
“Ms. Richards will not be responding to Mr. Phypers’ false allegations in a public forum, and will be addressing Mr. Phypers’ abuse in Court,” Berman concluded.
Phypers Responds with More Allegations
In response to the accusations, Aaron Phypers denied everything and refuted the claims made by Richards’ lawyer. Phypers took a more personal approach, referencing an incident from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 13 where Richards wore her jacket upside-down.
He used this moment to mock her, calling it an “upside-down jacket” moment and suggesting that Richards’ team was “spinning” the situation. Phypers said, “We genuinely hope she receives the help and support she clearly needs.”
He also denied the claim of theft, stating that “Nothing was stolen, and nothing is missing — except, perhaps, Ms. Richards’ moral compass.” Phypers added that Richards’ behavior and decisions were out of line, alluding to a past comment she made in a “less-than-sober moment.”
Allegations of Infidelity and Drug Use
The drama deepened when Phypers publicly accused Richards of cheating with another man earlier this year. In an interview with TMZ on July 19, Phypers claimed that he found evidence of infidelity on Richards’ laptop, which included selfies and text messages between her and the other man.
According to Phypers, the texts contained intimate phrases like “sweet dreams” and discussed meeting up.
Following the discovery, Phypers claimed he and Richards chose to stay together after he confronted her about the texts. However, he alleged that the situation escalated further, accusing Richards of hitting him, scratching him, and even smashing his phone.
The drama continued with Phypers’ accusations of drug use. On July 20, he sent a letter to friends and family, obtained by Page Six, where he accused Richards of being addicted to Vicodin, Adderall, and tequila.
Phypers claimed that Richards had been struggling with this addiction for nearly a decade, referring to Vicodin as “Vitamin D” or “white chestnuts.” He stated that her substance use had affected her health and well-being, even putting their daughter, Eloise, at risk.
Divorce Filing and Temporary Restraining Order
The couple’s issues came to a head when Aaron Phypers filed for divorce on July 7, citing irreconcilable differences and listing the date of separation as July 4.
Just days later, Richards accused Phypers of physical abuse, claiming he would frequently choke her, squeeze her head and arms violently, slap her face and head, and even threaten to kill her. Richards was granted a temporary restraining order against Phypers following these allegations.
Phypers denied the accusations of abuse, calling them “completely false and deeply hurtful.” He also described the allegations as part of a broader attempt to undermine his character.
As the divorce battle between Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers escalates, both sides continue to exchange serious allegations. While Richards’ lawyer strongly denies Phypers’ accusations, the former couple’s personal and legal drama is far from over.
With the accusations of abuse, infidelity, and substance abuse on the table, it’s clear that this high-profile divorce will continue to make headlines in the coming months.
