Denise Richards’ ex Aaron Phypers compares her to Rob Reiner’s son Nick over her abuse claims

by

When questioned about Denise Richards’ claims of domestic violence, her soon-to-be ex-husband, Aaron Phypers, surprisingly compared her behavior to that of Nick Reiner, Rob Reiner’s son.

Reiner, age 78, and his wife Michele, 70, were found stabbed to death on Sunday at their home in Brentwood, which is valued at $13.5 million. Their son, 32-year-old Nick, who lived on the property in a guest house, was arrested and charged with both of their murders.

Nick struggled with drug use for many years, first entering rehab when he was just 15. He experienced periods of homelessness repeatedly, and recently stayed with his parents, where he admitted to causing significant damage while heavily under the influence of stimulants, staying awake for days at a time.

In July, Phypers began divorce proceedings against Richards and subsequently alleged a history of physical abuse. Richards refuted these claims, asserting that Phypers was the one who had been abusive. Last month, she successfully obtained a five-year restraining order against him.

In October, Phypers faced charges related to domestic violence, including injuring a spouse and threatening someone to prevent them from reporting it to authorities. He was arrested but released after paying $200,000 bail.

When asked on Friday about accusations of abuse made by Richards, he responded by bringing up a recent incident involving Rob Reiner. He suggested there was outside influence at play and implied Richards might be using drugs, stating, “What happened to Rob Reiner recently? Okay? There’s a lot of influence there, guys. And I’m not calling stuff out, but do a drug test,” according to TMZ.

The Daily Mail has contacted Richards’ representatives for comment. 

He questioned what happens to a person’s mental state when they’re using multiple drugs and alcohol simultaneously, asking if it’s likely to be good.

Phypers maintained his innocence and expressed confidence he would win, claiming Richards’ accusations were a performance meant to resemble the Me Too movement. He stated he didn’t have anything further to add.

He was asked to explain his comments about Nick Reiner further, and he stated, “I’m not connecting anything to anything else,” as reported by Us Weekly.

At his court appearance on Friday, Phypers chose to delay entering a plea on the felony charges until Monday.

He appeared in court without a lawyer, stating he couldn’t afford to pay his legal counsel because his funds weren’t accessible until January 7th.

Phypers is scheduled for another hearing regarding spousal support on January 7th. He previously asked for the hearing to be moved up to mid-December, but that request was not approved.

Phypers, who closed his wellness club, Quantum 360, last year and has been unemployed since, is claiming Richards should provide him with financial support.

Last month, in a court document, he urgently requested his hearing be moved up, explaining he was at risk of becoming homeless without a car or phone. He stated that [Richards] is currently controlling a significant amount of his money, and he needs access to those funds to avoid this situation.

Things have been really tough lately, and honestly, my finances are spiraling. I’m at the point where I might lose my truck – it’s my only way to get around, and the bank is threatening repossession. To make matters worse, I’m facing possible eviction, so I’m really in a precarious situation right now.

He explained he’s asking friends for help with money for food, and is now facing criminal charges. He needs to hire a lawyer before his upcoming court hearing in mid-December, possibly referring to a hearing this Friday.

Richards stated in a document obtained by the Daily Mail that she will be recovering from surgery for much of December and therefore won’t be available.

Judge Mark Juhas in Los Angeles rejected a request for a quick decision on spousal support from Phypers, stating there wasn’t enough evidence of an urgent need.

Judge Juhas explained that the hearing couldn’t happen until January 7th due to a busy court schedule and the lawyer, Brett Berman, being overloaded with cases.

Phypers and Richards started dating in 2017, while Richards was still in the process of getting divorced from his ex-wife, actress Nicollette Sheridan.

In 2018, Phypers and Richards got married after a two-day courtship, with their beachfront ceremony featured on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. He also became a supportive figure in raising Richards’ daughter, Eloise, 14, who she adopted as a single parent in 2011.

This year in July, Phypers initiated divorce proceedings, citing irreconcilable differences. Following this, Richards alleged that he had been physically abusive and threatened her life if she went to the police.

In court documents, the woman stated that Aaron repeatedly physically abused her during their relationship. This included choking her, forcefully squeezing her head and arms, slapping her face and head, and slamming her head against a bathroom towel rack.

She first got a temporary restraining order in July, then asked the court for a permanent one. Last month, the court granted her request for a five-year restraining order.

Richards presented the court with photos of her injuries, including a black eye, claiming her estranged husband had caused them.

During the lawsuit, Richards claimed Phypers caused her three concussions and surprisingly stated her prior marriage to Charlie Sheen had been preferable.

In October, during a court hearing for a restraining order, Aaron Phypers’ cousin, Kathleen McAllister, stated that she witnessed Aaron strike Denise, resulting in a severe black eye for Denise.

Phypers strongly denies claims of domestic violence, stating that Richards was actually the one who was abusive during their marriage.

He explained on Inside Edition that she was understandably angry after he ended their relationship publicly, and he believed her response would be to falsely accuse him of abuse.

In court documents filed this September and obtained by People, he claimed her restraining orders weren’t necessary, stating that Richards often calls and texts him and his father.

Phypers claimed Richards should provide him with financial support, stating that she had stopped him from earning a living and was therefore solely responsible for providing income for both of them.

In October, after leaving a court hearing regarding a restraining order, Phypers was arrested and faced four felony charges: two counts of spousal injury and two counts of threatening someone to prevent them from being a witness.

He was released from custody after posting a $200,000 bail, and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

Read More

2025-12-20 05:39