Denise Richards’ ex Aaron Phypers accuses her of cheating with secret hotel meet-ups just days after she alleged he threatened to kill her and left her with multiple concussions in explosive domestic violence claims - suong

   

Denise Richards' estranged husband Aaron Phypers is accusing the actress of cheating on him and being physically abusive.

Earlier this week, Richards, 54, alleged that Phypers, 49, “repeatedly abused” her throughout their six-year marriage, and she was granted a temporary restraining order.

Now, in a Saturday, July 19, interview with TMZ, Phypers claimed that Richards cheated on him with another man at the beginning of the year.

He said he found out about the alleged infidelity through text messages on Richards' laptop, telling TMZ he discovered selfies that Richards and the other man sent to each other, as well as messages where they exchanged phrases such as "sweet dreams" and also indicated they wanted to meet up.

Aaron Phypers and Denise Richards at the 30th Annual Race to Erase MS Gala held at Fairmont Century Plaza on June 2, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Aaron Phypers and Denise Richards attend the 30th Annual Race to Erase MS Gala in Los Angeles.

Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Phypers said he and Richards decided to stay together after he confronted her about the alleged texts. He also accused Richards of hitting him, scratching him and smashing his phone.

Representatives and lawyers for Richards did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment on July 19, nor did Phypers.

Phypers filed for divorce from Richards on July 7 following six years of marriage. He listed their date of separation as July 4 and cited “irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their split, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.

 

Days later, Richards accused Phypers of multiple instances of physical abuse, and she was later granted a temporary restraining order against him.

She alleged in court documents obtained by PEOPLE that her estranged husband would "frequently violently choke me, violently squeeze my head with both hands, tightly squeeze my arms, violently slap me in my face and head, aggressively slam my head into the bathroom towel rack" and "threaten to kill me," among other allegations.

Phypers, who wed Richards in 2018, denied the allegations of physical abuse as "completely false and deeply hurtful" in a statement to PEOPLE.