Denise Richards is speaking out against estranged husband Aaron Phypers in court.
The 54-year-old actress and her ex both appeared at a court hearing on Monday (October 6), related to her temporary restraining order against him.
While speaking on the stand, Denise broke down while recounting alleged abuse in their relationship.
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During her testimony, she claimed (via People) that he “would often threaten to throw me through the windows and off balconies” of hotels, and through tears, said, “He’s almost killed me so many damn times.”
Aaron‘s cousin, Kathleen McAllister, also made a virtual appearance during the hearing, and backed Denise‘s claims against him.
“I saw Aaron anthem Denise and immediately she had a really bad black eye,” Kathleen shared. “I’m literally in shock immediately to this day about it.”
She demonstrated how Aaron used the palm of his hand to allegedly anthem Denise, and said, “She was in shock, I was in shock.”
Kathleen worked at her cousin’s medical office in Malibu from 2017 through 2022, and said she had witnessed “horrific” acts of abuse by Aaron on Denise, recalling one time where he “pinned [Denise] against the concrete wall where his truck was parked at the office.”
“He was choking her and her head slammed against the [wall] and caused a concussion,” she continued. “She was just really upset, in pain, disoriented. [I was] concerned she could have died.”
Kathleen recounted multiple other incidents that she witnessed over the years, recalling from January to May 2022 as a “period of escalating abuse,” including yelling and arguing.
She added that she heard Aaron threaten to kill Denise “several times,” saying that both her and Denise were afraid of that happening.
“He just would be raging and threatening that if we told anybody, he’d kill us all,” Kathleen shared. “As abuse escalated through the years, he exploited our empathy.”
Denise and Aaron split in July 2025, with him filing for divorce. Since then, she has accused him of abuse and shared alleged photos from said abuse.
If you or someone you love needs help, you can call 800.799.SAFE to reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
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