NEW YORK — Aaron Phypers is claiming that Denise Richards manufactured allegations of abuse as a means to distract from an affair that he uncovered earlier this year.

Less than two weeks after filing for divorce from the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum, 52-year-old Phypers told TMZ during a virtual interview that he learned his wife was cheating when he found illicit texts on her laptop back in February.

He says he confronted Richards who begged Phypers not to leave her, assuring him she was “so sorry” and “won’t do that again.” They decided to stay together, but Phypers says he later found texts going up until late May.

Fast forward to July 4 weekend, Phypers claims Richards stole his phone and denied having it — at one point even “hitting” and “scratching” him when he questioned her about the device. Phypers says he found the phone a day later smashed in their recycling bin, but she continued to deny having anything to do with it.

Asked why he thinks Richards would destroy his phone, Phypers says the device had photos of all the texts that would prove her alleged affair.

Phypers filed for divorce on July 7, citing irreconcilable differences and asking for spousal support. Richards followed that earlier this week by requesting a temporary restraining order against Phypers, noting allegations of longstanding abuse including claims that he would “violently choke” her and “slam [her] head into the bathroom towel rack.”

The court filing, obtained by TMZ, included a photo from 2022 showing Richards with a black eye, which she alleges her husband gave her. Phypers meanwhile insists it was the result of Richards taking a drunken fall at his office and hitting her head on “a pole with a light on it.”

Phypers claims other people were also present and can attest to the incident, adding that Richards “falls down a lot and it’s embarrassing. … It’s scary.”

Phypers asserts that he has never “hit [his] wife in the face, ever,” but does admit to having forcefully grabbed her on various occasions.

“I grabbed and restrained her when she was punching Sami,” he claims of the 21-year-old daughter Richards shares with ex-husband Charlie Sheen. The exes also share daughter Lola, 20.

Phypers says that Richards’ allegations have put him in “grave danger,” particularly on a financial level.

“The fact that she put this thing about me beating her, I’m like devastated,” he adds. “I wanted to work it out. But she’s gotta get help. It’s not for me now, it’s for herself and her daughters. I’m really worried about Eloise. It’s not a good situation. … She’s gotta get cleaned up and be responsible and own what she’s doing.”

Though Phypers confirmed in February that he’d become the adoptive father to Richards’ 14-year-old adopted daughter Eloise, court documents say the spouses have “no minor children” together.

The Daily News has reached out to a rep for Richards.

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