Just days before her mother, Denise Richards’ divorce from Aaron Phypers became public, 21-year-old model Sami Sheen took to TikTok with a powerful message about recognizing and walking away from toxic relationships — a post that has since resonated widely online.
In a candid video titled “How to remove the rose colored glasses in a toxic relationship,” Sami offered personal insight into how she navigates unhealthy romantic dynamics.
“If you’re dating someone toxic but you don’t really know if they’re toxic — like deep down you know — but you’re like, ‘Is it that bad? I can look past this. He’s so good to me some days, but then other days he treats me like s—,’” she began in the video.
Her advice: visualize a loved one in your shoes.
“You have to ask yourself, if you had a daughter, and she was dating a man like this, what would you tell her?” she said. “Just imagine your friend in this situation, or your mom, or your sibling. If they came to you and said, ‘Hey, my boyfriend is doing X, Y, and Z to me, what should I do?’ You’d probably say break up with him. That’s your answer.”
Sheen emphasized that breaking free from a toxic relationship is rarely simple. “I understand more than anyone that it is so hard and almost feels impossible sometimes to get out of a toxic relationship… It’s a whole cycle,” she explained.
She concluded her message with a blunt warning about preserving one’s energy. “You cannot reason with crazy, and a lot of men are crazy. It is such a waste of energy having to deal with people like that.”
The video took on new relevance just days later when news broke that Sami’s stepfather, Aaron Phypers, had filed for divorce from her mother. According to court documents, Phypers listed July 4 as the couple’s date of separation and cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for ending the nearly six-year marriage. The pair has no minor children together.
Phypers is also seeking spousal support and the retention of personal assets and debts, including his motorcycle, power tools, and sports car. Richards had previously stated that Phypers was in the process of adopting her youngest daughter, Eloise, though it remains unclear whether that adoption was ever finalized.
As her mother navigates her own separation, Sami’s heartfelt video is striking a chord with others experiencing similar struggles, encouraging them to reflect, protect their energy, and choose healthier paths forward.