In a recent court appearance, Denise Richards described her ongoing separation from her estranged spouse Aaron Phypers as a nightmare, especially when compared to her previous split from ex-husband Charlie Sheen, as reported exclusively by Us Weekly.
During her testimony on Tuesday, October 7, Richards, 54, spoke for the second consecutive day in her quest to secure a permanent restraining order against Phypers, 53.
As part of the cross-examination conducted by Phypers’ lawyer, Richards was presented with a video message she had sent to him on August 21, just weeks after she was granted a temporary restraining order against him.
The video, lasting 11 minutes and 30 seconds, was initially challenging for Phypers’ attorney to play during the hearing. Richards had recorded it after Phypers had made negative remarks about her in various media interviews.
In the footage, Richards was seen donning a yellow baseball cap.
She mentioned, “I called you a couple of times. I have so many questions for you. It feels like you had this whole f***ing thing premeditated.”
Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers. Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images
She mentioned that although she didn’t watch any of the interviews, she was informed by her team about his comments. Relating it to her past, she remarked, “Things were rocky with Charlie [Sheen] but he never stooped that low.”
Richards, who was married to Sheen from 2002 until their separation in 2005, experienced a tumultuous divorce that concluded in 2006.
In the court video, Richards expressed, “I believed in you and loved you. I genuinely thought you were my soulmate at the time of our marriage.”
Continuing, she stated, “The arguments were beyond intense, especially when your family relocated here. I genuinely tried my best but couldn’t manage that level of chaos.”
Expressing her distress, she conveyed, “I understand you’re angry about the restraining order and other matters. You crossed the line with your violence, and each incident escalated.”
She alleged, “You inflicted significant harm. You were unpredictable. You were someone I thought I could trust.”
Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen. Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
<pIn the video, she remarked to Phypers, “I feel like I was married to someone I didn’t really know.”
<pShe explained further, “The past six months, especially when you didn’t support me, were telling. Discovering things on your phone made it evident to me that this was all a scheme, and I had to accept the reality. You initiated the divorce, not me.”
Richards labeled Phypers a “narcissist.”
“I feel like I don’t even know who you are. That’s what makes this all so complicated. I’ve dealt with previous partners and understood them, but you remain a stranger. That’s what I need to come to grips with.”
As reported by Us, Phypers initiated divorce proceedings on July 7, declaring the marriage date as September 8, 2018, and the separation date as July 4, 2025.
On July 16, Richards sought a temporary restraining order, alleging that Phypers had been abusive during their marriage.
In response, Phypers stated to Us, “These allegations are entirely false and extremely hurtful. Denise and I share common challenges, but any suggestion of abuse is completely unfounded. I have always approached our marriage with love and respect. I kindly request privacy during this difficult time, and I hope the public and the media will abstain from disseminating harmful rumors.”
