Aaron Phypers is accusing his estranged wife Denise Richards of being an absentee pet parent — as their bitter divorce battle takes yet another ugly turn.
Just days after the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 54, allegedly tried to pick up one of their dogs from Phypers’ home — prompting a visit from police — the 52-year-old businessman is now claiming Richards had ulterior motives.
According to Phypers, she hasn’t had a meaningful bond with any of their animals.
‘Denise hasn’t interacted with the animals in two years and never has wanted knowledge or wanted to give her permission to any type of care for the animals,’ he told People on Thursday.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Richards’ reps for comment but has not yet received a response.
A source close to Phypers also defended his recent decision to euthanize one of their dogs, saying the animal was gravely ill.
Aaron Phypers is accusing his estranged wife Denise Richards of being an absentee pet parent — as their bitter divorce battle takes yet another ugly turn; (Seen in 2023)
Just days after Denise Richards, 54, allegedly tried to retrieve a dog from Aaron Phypers’ home — prompting a police visit — the 52-year-old claims she had ulterior motives and no real bond with any of their pets; (seen in November)
The statement comes after Richards reportedly showed up at his home to retrieve some of the pets, claiming Phypers had ‘put down one of her other dogs without her knowledge or permission.’
‘Melanie, a sweet elder dog who Aaron loved, had late stage cancer and was suffering when he took her for help as the vet insisted the few days she had left being in pain were better met with putting her to sleep and off to heaven,’ the insider told the outlet.
‘It was a painful decision. To say she was ‘put down’ is hurtful.’
The latest claims come after Denise was spotted this week with what appeared to be a black eye — just days after her tense encounter with law enforcement outside Phypers’ home when she attempted to retrieve the dogs.
Richards stepped out in Calabasas on Tuesday with a large dark shadow around her right eye and a dark mark below her chin.
The make-up free star looked somber as she strolled, with sources telling the Daily Mail Richards’ apparent bruises were ‘just lighting and shadow’.
They added she also recently underwent microneedling and a PRP injection.
Sources told TMZ Richards arrived ‘unannounced’ at Phypers’ home last week and ‘started banging on a back door, demanding to be let inside.’
Denise lamented that one of her dogs was sick back in 2020
Phypers saw this and immediately left due to concern over the restraining order.
Phypers’ parents let Richards inside and it was claimed she ‘barged in, demanded the dog’ and ‘screamed at his parents that they needed to get out of the house, putting her finger in their faces.’
The publication claims she allegedly began ‘swinging’ at Phypers’ brother Brett and ‘throwing mail at him.’ Brett was later pictured standing by Richards’ parked Corvette as they waited for police.
Richards was seen being questioned by three Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies outside the home, with police concluding ‘there was no crime committed and no arrests were made.’
A distraught Phypers was seen consoling his ‘terrified and shaken up’ mom after Richards’ visit – which marks the latest explosive chapter in the pair’s acrimonious divorce.
Richards’ divorce attorney Brett Berman told the Daily Mail in a statement that ‘Ms. Richards did not violate a restraining order’ and had only entered the home when Phypers was not there.
‘On August 3, 2025, after confirming that Mr. Phypers was not present in her home. Richards entered the home to retrieve her dogs’ Berman continued.
Berman claimed that Richards did so ‘after learning that Mr. Phypers had put down one of her other dogs without her knowledge or permission.’
‘Denise hasn’t interacted with the animals in two years and never has wanted knowledge or wanted to give her permission to any type of care for the animals,’ he told People on Thursday; Seen in May
Phypers denied these ‘absolutely false’ accusations’ to the Daily Mail and said: ‘Denise’s actions are willfully intentional in the slander and destruction of what is left of a family.
He further claimed: ‘This is after Denise chose to carry on an adulterous affair – after being caught not once, not twice, but three times.’
In California, victims named as the ‘protected person’ in a restraining order will not get into trouble for contacting the person against whom the order was taken out.
However, the person who is restrained by the order may use it as evidence to dismiss the order in future court proceedings.
After Aaron filed divorce paperwork on July 7, Richards hit back a week later with a request for a temporary restraining order that included a laundry list of domestic abuse allegations — all of which her husband has denied.
Her estranged husband has since denied all allegations of abuse, while a source close to Phypers told the Daily Mail that her black eye was actually the result of a drunken fall.
The 54-year-old actress, whose split from Phypers, 52, was revealed last month, was granted the TRO on July 16, after accusing Phypers of years of physical and emotional abuse – which he has denied (photo from Richards’ Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order)
He said he is waiting for an upcoming August court hearing in which a judge will decide if the order is lifted, and until then, he is banned from going near his estranged wife and their adopted daughter Eloise, 14, whom he says he adores and misses terribly.
It comes days after Phypers alleged that she has been having a months-long affair with a former special forces soldier named Rudy Reyes.
He claimed in a detailed letter to ‘family and close friends’ that Reyes has showered her with X-rated photos and videos, including a graphic clip that shows him naked and pleasuring himself.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, the Wild Things actress’ outraged husband claimed he caught wind of his wife’s alleged affair in April.
He said she had promised to break it off, only for him to catch her lying about another hook-up with 53-year-old Rudy that took place at a Hilton Garden Inn in Burbank, California, the following month.
He claimed his discovery of the May tryst then led to an explosive argument over the July 4th holiday weekend, during which she smashed his phone.
Phypers was the founder of the Malibu wellness center, Q360 Club (also known as Quantum 360), until he chose to shut it down last year, on October 1, 2024.
According to his petition for divorce, filed on July 7, he has not made any income since.
Richards, allegedly makes $250,000 per month from being on OnlyFans, TV shows, having brand deals and doing appearances, he noted in the income and expense declaration obtained by the Daily Mail.
He’s requesting spousal support since he alleges his monthly expenses total $105,000, and is demanding he and Richards split 50 percent of their production company, Smoke & Mirrors Entertainment.
