Inside Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers’ ‘intense’ relationship before abuse claims

Denise Richards was allegedly involved in a “manipulative” and “intense” off-camera relationship with her estranged husband, Aaron Phypers, while filming “Denise Richards & Her Wild Things.”

“You could cut tension with a knife sometimes,” an insider claimed to the Daily Mail Sunday, explaining that the exes were “passive-aggressive” with each other and would go into separate rooms when the cameras stopped rolling.

According to the source, allegedly filming the duo the morning after a night of fighting was difficult because they “wouldn’t speak to each other off camera” despite appearing supportive on TV.

The insider claimed Richards, 54, once messed up a scene and Phypers allegedly said, “Menopause.”

The businessman’s alleged comments toward the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum made the crew uncomfortable, the source claimed.

Per the source, Phypers, 52, appeared “very threatened” by his estranged wife’s success and was allegedly was “trying to prove that he was superior.”

“Aaron walked around as if he was the biggest star on the planet when we were filming,” another source told the outlet.

Reps Richards and Phypers did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

While Richards and Phypers put on a united front for their audience, their tense relationship was previously shown on a Season 10 episode of “RHOBH.”

A resurfaced clip showed the TV personality and Phypers holding hands, as she warned him not to “say a f–king word.”

“Don’t tell me what to say. I’m going to crush your f–king hand. Stop it,” he aggressively responded.

News broke earlier this month that Phypers filed for divorce from Richards after six years of marriage.

At the time, an insider told the outlet that the duo “have been having trouble for some time” and those close to them saw it coming.

Richards has since accused Phypers of abuse and was granted a temporary restraining order against him after alleging he threatened to kill her and himself if she reported him to police, per court documents obtained by Page Six.

The Bravo alum also alleged that her ex gave her a black eye in 2022.

Phypers, however, denied the allegations, telling People that the allegations were “completely false and deeply hurtful.”

He also accused Richards of infidelity.