Denise Richards opened her recent court appearance with that piercing comparison to Charlie Sheen as she fights to make a temporary restraining order against Aaron Phypers permanent. On October 7 in Los Angeles, the courtroom viewed a video Richards had recorded in August while moving out of their shared townhouse. In the footage, which she had sent directly to Phypers, Richards says (via PEOPLE):
You’ve hit me too many f—— times and each time it’s getting worse and worse. I don’t even know who the f— you are … Charlie, I knew. Every other ex, I knew. You, I don’t know.
Things were bad with Charlie and I, but he never hit below the belt.
She also accused Phypers of unfaithfulness: “I saw the d— pics you took,” and denied any infidelity from her side. Phypers, meanwhile, has denied all abuse claims, calling them “completely false and deeply hurtful.” He also accused Richards of cheating and being physically abusive. In his statement: “Any suggestion of abuse is categorically untrue.”
Denise Richards has been granted a temporary domestic violence restraining order against her estranged husband Aaron Phypers after accusing him of physical and verbal abuse #RHOBH 💎 pic.twitter.com/kysXGDPOD1
She described Phypers as someone she “really thought” was her soulmate but who turned out to be the opposite. As the video played, Richards wiped away tears. Her lawyer revealed in court that Two and a Half Men actor may be called as a witness by Phypers’ legal team, alongside Brandi Glanville.
Denise Richards’ Abuse Allegations Against Aaron Phypers Backed by Cousin’s Testimony
On Oct. 6, Kathleen McAllister, cousin of Aaron Phypers and former employee at his Malibu medical office, gave virtual testimony supporting Denise Richards’ allegations. McAllister claimed she witnessed Phypers punch Richards in the face on Jan. 17, 2022, leaving her with a black eye. “I saw Aaron hit Denise and immediately she had a really bad black eye,” McAllister told the court.
She said the altercation followed an argument over suspected “listening devices” in the office and involved alcohol. Demonstrating how Phypers allegedly hit Richards, McAllister said, “[Denise] was in shock, I was in shock.”
She alleged further incidents: one in which Phypers pinned Richards against a concrete wall and choked her, slamming her head so hard it caused a concussion. Another time, McAllister said she heard “thrashing” from the office bathroom and later saw that Richards had an injury on her head from allegedly being slammed into a toilet paper rack.
Between January and May 2022, McAllister described a pattern of escalating abuse, filled with yelling, threats, and physical assaults. She stated under oath that Phypers threatened to kill both her and Richards:
We both were [afraid]. He threatened to kill us. He just would be raging and threatening that if we told anybody, he’d kill us all.
She added that Phypers was an alcoholic during this time, which “fueled the aggression.” According to Richards’ lawyer, McAllister was so fearful of retaliation that she only agreed to testify if her name was left off the official witness list. Her attorney state:
She is deathly afraid of Mr. Phypers. [Kathleen was] afraid of her name being spread to the news and being intimidated by any third party who saw her name in the news.
As of now, Phypers has not responded to McAllister’s testimony. Per reports, Richards and Phypers are scheduled to remain in court through October 8.
Complete Relationship Timeline of Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen
Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen got married in 2002. They welcomed their daughters, Sami, in 2004, and Lola, in 2005. Though Richards filed for divorce in 2005 while pregnant, the relationship didn’t officially end until 2006. Over the years, the two battled over custody and finances, with Richards even suing Sheen in 2016 for allegedly evicting her and their children from a home he promised them.
In spite of the hostility, their relationship has evolved. In February 2025, Richards said Sheen had been “supportive from day one”, even texting her after the premiere of her reality show Denise Richards & Her Wild Things. She added (via PEOPLE):
Charlie is always invited to holiday dinners… I want everyone to get along and everyone to be peaceful.
Here’s a table of the complete relationship timeline of Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen:
She now sees Sheen as someone, she says, who never “hit below the belt.” But is Phypers’ denial enough to counter the mounting claims, videos, and emotional courtroom breakdowns? Or is Richards now pulling back the curtain on years of alleged violence she kept hidden?
Speak up, readers, what’s your take? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
