Cynthia Bailey is standing by Denise Richards amid the actress’s contentious split from estranged husband Aaron Phypers.
Speaking to PEOPLE at the 12th annual Luxury Luncheon hosted by Jill Zarin on July 26 in Southampton, the 58-year-old former Real Housewives of Atlanta star said she is “very supportive” of her friend.
“I love Denise. I love Denise. I'm heartbroken about that,” Bailey said, adding that while they haven’t spoken directly since the divorce filing, they “keep in touch.” She explained she wanted to “give her some space and some time,” but expects they will talk.
Phypers filed for divorce on July 7, listing July 4 as the separation date and citing irreconcilable differences.
Days later, Richards, 54, alleged multiple instances of physical abuse and was granted a temporary restraining order on July 17. In court filings, she claimed Phypers would “frequently violently choke me,” “violently slap me in my face and head,” “aggressively slam my head into the bathroom towel rack,” and “threaten to kill me.”
Phypers has denied all allegations of physical abuse as “completely false and deeply hurtful.”
Richards subsequently accused Phypers of violating the TRO (temporary restraining order) and asked the court to compel him to return her laptop and phones and bar him from disseminating any information from her devices.
She alleged he had “repeatedly violated” the order by sharing “private information … that he stole.” In a July 28 response, Phypers “absolutely” denied violating the order or stealing devices, calling the claims untrue.
Nearly two weeks after the divorce filing, Phypers accused Richards of cheating earlier this year, telling TMZ on July 19 that he discovered text messages and selfies on her laptop. He also alleged Richards hit and scratched him, smashed his phone, and later claimed in a letter that she struggles with substance use.
Richards’ attorney denied those claims, accused Phypers of harassment and disseminating private information, and said the actress will address the matter in court.