Aaron Phypers, the estranged husband of actress Denise Richards, is facing serious legal trouble after being accused of threatening his cousin to conceal alleged abuse. According to Us Weekly, prosecutors claim that Phypers “knowingly and maliciously” warned his cousin, Kathleen McAllister, not to expose him through “implied threat of force and violence” in January 2022.
The 53-year-old businessman was arrested last Friday on two counts of injuring a spouse and two counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat. He was later released after posting a $200,000 bond. In court documents filed by Richards in July as part of a restraining order request, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum described a violent altercation at Phypers’ former holistic wellness center in Malibu, California.
Richards, 54, claimed that her then-husband became irrationally paranoid, believing that potted plants inside the building contained hidden listening devices. The argument allegedly escalated until Phypers struck her. Richards stated that Phypers “became enraged and slammed his palm into [her] eye,” leaving her with visible bruising.
She added that he told her to claim she had injured herself accidentally by bumping into stored equipment. During a hearing on October 6, McAllister testified that she witnessed the incident firsthand. “I saw Aaron hit Denise and immediately she had a really bad black eye,” she told the court. “I’m literally in shock now to this day about it.”
McAllister, who worked at Phypers’ healing center from 2017 to 2022, supported Richards’ account and described the night as chaotic, marked by “arguing that kept escalating” and “alcohol mixed in.” She further alleged that Phypers’ temper worsened over the following months, claiming he “threatened to kill” both her and Richards if they revealed the abuse.
Phypers has denied all allegations. In his response to the restraining order request filed in September, he stated, “I have not abused her and will not abuse her,” calling the claims “harmful” and “baseless.” He also accused Richards of being the aggressor in their relationship.
At an October 8 hearing, Phypers reiterated his denial, telling the court that Richards “bruises easily” and that he did not recall her ever having a black eye. Richards and Phypers married in 2018 but separated in July 2024, citing “irreconcilable differences.” The legal battle between the two continues, with the court expected to review further evidence in the coming weeks. The case has drawn significant public attention as both sides present conflicting accounts of what happened behind closed doors.