Is Denise Richards Getting Divorced? Inside Her Surprising Split from Aaron Phypers

After 6 years of marriage Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers are going their separate ways — a surprise for a couple who said they’d never divorce.

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Aaron Phypers filed for divorce on July 7 citing “irreconcilable differences”. He listed their separation date as July 4, just one day before the filing, which was a shock to fans who thought they were solid.

A Love Story That Began in Malibu

Denise, 54, met Aaron, 52, at his healing center in Malibu in 2017. She was getting “preventative DNA repair” and sparks flew. They kept their relationship private at first and then got married in a private beach ceremony on September 8, 2018.

Fans loved the couple and especially when their relationship was featured on the Bravo reality show “Denise Richards & Her Wild Things”. Aaron even started the process of adopting Denise’s daughter Eloise but it’s unclear if the adoption was finalized.

What Went Wrong?

Despite the public image of togetherness, the cracks were starting to show. In a March 2025 episode of their reality show, Denise said,

“Even if we hate each other, I’m not gonna f—— get divorced.”

Aaron replied with a joke but a very real statement:

“It’s not easy being married to me… but this is it. I’m done.”

That moment which seemed funny at the time now seems like a warning. While they presented themselves as a united front, court documents show Aaron is seeking spousal support and wants to keep his personal assets, including power tools, a motorcycle and a sports car as separate property.

History Repeating?

Denise has been married before, to actor Charlie Sheen with whom she has two daughters — Sami and Lola. That divorce was very public and left Denise gun shy about relationships.

Her decision to stay with Aaron — through the ups and downs — was because of fear of public judgment. As she said in the same reality show episode,

“The judgment from other people and being made out to be this awful woman… I’ll never get divorced, even if we hate each other.”

And here we are.

What’s Next for Denise?

Aaron’s divorce filing is just the beginning, but the legal process will likely reveal more about their relationship behind closed doors. For now both are silent — no statements have been released by either.

Is this a clean break or a long drawn out Hollywood divorce? Only time will tell but one thing is for sure Denise Richards’ love life is always in the headlines.