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

Denise Richards’ estranged husband Aaron Phypers compared her to Rob Reiner’s son Nick, when asked why she accused him of domestic violence.

Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele, 70, were found stabbed to death Sunday at their $13.5 million Brentwood estate, where Nick, 32, lived in the guesthouse. Nick was arrested that night and has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Nick had a long history of drug issues, having gone to rehab for the first time at the age of 15 and plunged into multiple spells of homelessness before his latest stay in his parents’ guesthouse, which he has confessed he ‘wrecked’ once while ‘totally spun out on uppers’ that kept him ‘up for days on end.’ 

Meanwhile Phypers filed for divorce from Richards in July, and she then accused him of having physical abused her multiple times – claims he denied, insisting she was the ‘abusive’ one. She obtained a five-year restraining order against him last month.

In October, he was charged with two counts of felony injury to a spouse and two counts of felony dissuading a witness by force or threat. Phypers was arrested and released hours later after he posted $200,000 bail.

This Friday he was asked why Richards would make abuse claims against him, and he replied: ‘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,’ via TMZ. 

The Daily Mail has contacted Richards’ representatives for comment. 

Denise Richards’ estranged husband Aaron Phypers compared her to Rob Reiner’s son Nick, when asked why she accused him of domestic violence; Phypers and Richards pictured in May 

During his hearing Friday, Phypers waived his right to be arraigned this Friday, so that step has been postponed to Monday; pictured that day outside the courthouse

He added that ‘when people are on a bunch of substances and washing it down with other substances, what happens? Is their mental state good?’

Phypers insisted he was ‘not guilty’ and was ‘gonna win this thing,’ arguing that Richards’ accusations were ‘all a show. She’s just playing this as a game. It’s like the Me Too movement, you know? I don’t know what else to say.’

He was requested to further clarify the remarks he made regarding Nick Reiner, and responded: ‘I’m not linking anything,’ according to Us Weekly.

During his court hearing Friday on the felony charges, Phypers waived his right to be arraigned that day, so that step has been postponed to Monday.

He was at court without an attorney, explaining that he had not been able to pay his counsel because his money was ‘locked up’ until January 7. 

January 7 is the date of Phypers’ next spousal support hearing, which he had asked to have expedited to mid-December, only for his request to be denied.

Phypers – who shut down his Quantum 360 wellness club last year and has not found employment since – has argued that Richards should pay him alimony.

‘I am in literal danger of being made homeless with no vehicle and no cell phone unless the hearing can be advanced to an earlier date and orders can be entered allowing me access to the substantial funds that are being controlled by [Richards],’ he pleaded in a court filing last month.

‘My financial situation gets worse by the day. My pickup truck, which is now my only vehicle, is subject to repossession. I am in danger of eviction at any time,’ he added.

He was at court without an attorney Friday, explaining that he had not been able to pay his counsel because his money was ‘locked up’ until January 7; pictured Friday

The late Rob and Michele Reiner, who married in 1989, had three children together – (from left) Jake, 34, Nick, 32, and Romy, 27; they are all pictured in 2014 at Avery Fisher Hall in New York

Nick, seen in September 2025, was arrested last Sunday after his parents were found stabbed to death, and he has since been charged with two counts of first-degree murder

‘I am begging friends for money to have food to eat. I now have criminal charges against me and I need to retain a defense attorney before my next hearing, which is in mid-December,’ he said, seemingly in reference to this Friday’s court date.

Richards responded with a filing obtained by the Daily Mail saying she would ‘be unavailable for a large portion of’ December because she was having surgery.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas denied Phypers’ request for an expedited spousal support hearing on grounds of ‘insufficient showing of exigency.’

Judge Juhas argued that because of ‘court congestion’ and the crammed schedule of Richards’ lawyer Brett Berman, the hearing would not be possible until January 7.

Phypers and Richards began dating in 2017 before he had finalized his divorce from his previous wife, Desperate Housewives star Nicollette Sheridan.

After a two-day engagement, Phypers and Richards married in 2018 in a beachfront ceremony filmed for The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and he helped her raise her special needs daughter Eloise, 14, whom she had adopted in 2011 while single.

Phypers filed for divorce in July of this year on grounds of irreconcilable differences, and Richards then accused him of ongoing physical abuse, as well as of threatening to kill her if she reported him to the authorities.

‘Throughout our relationship, Aaron 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,’ she said in court documents reviewed by Page Six. 

Denise Richards ‘ ex Aaron Phypers has responded after the actress was granted a five-year restraining order against him. Seen in 2023

She obtained a temporary restraining order in July, requested a permanent restraining order and was ultimately granted a five-year restraining order last month. 

Richards showed the court photos of herself with a battered face, including a black eye – injuries she said she sustained at the hands of her estranged husband. 

Over the course of their legal battle, Richards accused Phypers of giving her three concussions and said her previous marriage to Charlie Sheen was better.

During a restraining order hearing in October, Phypers’ cousin Kathleen McAllister testified: ‘I saw Aaron hit Denise and immediately she had a really bad black eye.’

Phypers has vehemently denied all allegations of domestic violence, insisting that Richards was in fact the ‘abusive’ party in the marriage. 

Over the course of their legal battle, Richards said her previous marriage to Charlie Sheen was better; she is pictured with Sheen this September at the premiere of his Netflix documentary

‘She’s upset. I publicly dumped her to the world, and she’s mad, so how does she retaliate? File a bogus abuse claim,’ he said on Inside Edition over the summer.

He later maintained there was ‘no need’ for her restraining orders, asserting that Richards ‘frequently’ phones him and also messages both him and his father, in court documents filed this September and obtained by People.

Phypers also argued Richards should pay him alimony, as she ‘has prevented me from earning income, so she is the only one with income. She should support me.’

While leaving a restraining order hearing in October, Phypers was arrested outside the courthouse and charged with with two felony counts of injury to a spouse, plus a further two felony counts of dissuading a witness by force or threat.

Hours after being taken into custody, he posted $200,000 bail and was released, and is now facing arraignment in the case on Monday.