A source confirms to PEOPLE that Denise Richards doesn’t have a black eye, despite photos showing discoloration under her eye during a Los Angeles outing on Aug. 5.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum appeared with a dark mark under her eye while running errands. She wore a baseball cap and sparked concern among observers about a month after her estranged husband Aaron Phypers filed for divorce.
“It’s not a black eye,” an insider tells PEOPLE. “It’s lighting and shadows. She also had micro-needling PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma).”
The cosmetic treatment reduces scarring, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. It can cause skin discoloration during healing, according to Healthline.
Police Called to Phypers’ Home
Richards’ appearance came two days after law enforcement responded to Phypers’ Calabasas home on Aug. 3. Richards attempted to retrieve one of her dogs from the property where Phypers lives with his parents and brother.
The Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department confirmed to PEOPLE that authorities “did not have any evidence that a crime occurred.”
Richards has a temporary restraining order against Phypers due to domestic violence allegations. Her divorce attorney Brett Berman claimed she “did not violate a restraining order” by going to the property.
“On August 3, 2025, after confirming that Mr. Phypers was not present in her home, Ms. Richards entered the home to retrieve her dogs after learning that Mr. Phypers had put down one of her other dogs without her knowledge or permission,” Berman said.
PEOPLE confirms Phypers was present when Richards arrived.
Phypers called the attorney’s statement “absolutely false, not true on both accusations.”
“Denise’s attorney has consistently struck out in pursuit of the truth,” Phypers said. “There is a difference between telling the truth and trying to protect your client.”
He continued: “Having the title of attorney or being a celebrity does not put you above the law. It does not give you the right to humiliate others for the sake of your interests.”
A source close to Phypers told PEOPLE that Richards was screaming and banging on the door. Phypers left through a side door when he heard her.
Restraining Order and Divorce Filing
Richards received the temporary restraining order in July. Phypers had filed for divorce citing “irreconcilable differences” shortly before.
In her restraining order request, Richards claimed Phypers “repeatedly abused” her during their six-year marriage.
“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, threaten to kill me, hold me down with his knee on my back to the point where I would have to plead with him to get off me so that he would not kill me and hack into my laptop and phone and download all of my text messages,” Richards alleged in court documents obtained by PEOPLE.
Richards claimed Phypers regularly threatened to “break my jaw” and would cry and beg her to stay. She alleged he “has caused me at least three concussions.”
She said she was “afraid” to speak out because Phypers “has repeatedly threatened to kill himself and me if I reported him to the police.”
Phypers denied the abuse allegations in a statement to PEOPLE.
“Let me be unequivocally clear: I have never physically or emotionally abused Denise – or anyone,” he said. “These accusations are completely false and deeply hurtful. Denise and I, like many couples, have faced our share of challenges, but any suggestion of abuse is categorically untrue. I have always tried to approach our marriage with love, patience, and respect.”
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
