Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers, the former reality TV couple, are facing a significant financial and legal battle that has intensified their already complex divorce proceedings. Their landlord, John Karan, has filed a lawsuit against the couple, accusing them of failing to pay $84,000 in unpaid rent for a luxury home in Calabasas that they leased in 2020. According to the lawsuit, the pair is seven months behind on rent payments, despite Richards having moved out in 2023. The couple, who signed a lease for a six-bedroom, 6,985-square-foot home for $12,000 a month, is now facing a potential eviction order from the court.
The legal drama surrounding the couple has escalated further with the granting of a permanent restraining order to Richards following her estranged husband’s arrest on spousal abuse charges. The restraining order, effective for a decade, was issued after Phypers allegedly shared private text messages and photos of Richards online, an act the judge described as “classic domestic violence.” Richards testified in court last month that Phypers had attempted to damage her reputation by leaking nude photos of the actress, a claim that has drawn significant public attention.
Phypers, who was arrested on spousal abuse charges stemming from two separate incidents in 2017 and 2022, also filed for divorce from Richards on July 7, citing irreconcilable differences and seeking spousal support. His next court date on the criminal charges is scheduled for December. The couple’s legal battles not only highlight their personal strife but also raise questions about the intersection of personal conduct and public scrutiny in high-profile cases of this nature.