DENISE Richards has been left feeling ‘utterly betrayed’ by husband Aaron Phypers after he abruptly filed for divorce and is demanding spousal support, The U.S. Sun has learned.
The shocking move comes as Aaron is being sued for alleged fraud involving his work with cancer patients at his Malibu wellness center.
Fans were stunned on Monday when it was announced that Aaron, 52, filed for divorce from Denise, 54, due to “irreconcilable differences.”
While the move was a shocker to longtime fans of the couple, it apparently was also a surprise to Denise herself.
According to a source close to the couple, they were hanging out together with friends as recently as the week of their separation - which is listed in the filing as July 4th.
The insider claimed that Denise feels “utterly betrayed” by the divorce and doesn’t even “fully understand” why he filed.
“She never in a million years wanted to get another divorce and she never in a million years thought he would do this to her.
“It's a betrayal; he promised he would never do this. She made it crystal clear to him thousands of times that they could work through anything no matter how big the problem but divorce was never an option.
“He agreed. Then did this. There's more questions than answers right now," the source alleged.
According to the Los Angeles-based filing, Aaron is requesting spousal support to continue with their lavish lifestyle, which cost over $105,000 a month, according to court papers.
"Denise thinks it's egregious he is seeking spousal support from her after she has been financially supporting him all these years.
“She thought he was different but turns out he's what people warned her about,” the insider alleged.
WILD THING
On Monday, Aaron filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for breaking up their marriage, after six years together.
The Bravo star and her husband separated on July 4, according to docs first obtained by TMZ.
Aaron, who works at a healing center in Malibu, is seeking spousal support from the actress, the documents state.
The businessman claimed in the divorce papers that the couple's monthly expenses cost $105,000 in total.
This includes per month, $15,000 on eating out, $10,000 on groceries and household supplies, $20,000 on clothes, over $18,000 for rent, and $15,000 for entertainment - among other costly expenses.
He requested that the former couple split their entertainment company evenly.
Neither Denise nor Aaron has spoken publicly about the split yet.
The pair tied the knot in a televised backyard wedding that was featured on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills when Denise was a cast member on the reality show in 2018.
Aaron said in the papers that the pair doesn't have any minor children together.
However, Aaron claimed in 2019 that he was in the process of adopting Denise's third daughter, Eloise.
Denise first adopted Eloise, 14, when she was a baby as a single parent in 2011.
The film and TV star also shares two adult daughters, Lola and Sami, with her ex-husband, actor Charlie Sheen, whom she was famously married to from 2002 to 2006.
She was said to be filming her latest Bravo reality show, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things, because she was "strapped for cash" after Sheen stopped paying child support.
Her family also recently downsized from their multi-million dollar mansion into a rental apartment in Los Angeles, The U.S. Sun reported in April.
Denise's new series, which heavily featured her marriage to Aaron and even outright stated she will "never" get another divorce, premiered on Bravo on March 4, 2025.
