Denise Richards and Daughter Eloise Reunite Amidst Adoption Drama
DENISE RICHARDS' DAUGHTER ADOPTION DRAMA: IS SHE TRYING TO KEEP HER FROM FATHER AARON PHYPERS?
In a shocking turn of events, Denise Richards and her estranged husband Aaron Phypers are embroiled in a bitter custody battle over their 14-year-old daughter Eloise. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star attempted to put on a brave face as she stepped out with Eloise for the first time since Phypers claimed that his adoption of the teenager was never made official.
Richards, 54, and her mini-me lookalike Eloise were spotted at Erewhon in Los Angeles over the holiday weekend, stocking up on groceries and looking like a happy duo. But behind the scenes, the drama is far from over. Phypers, 52, has accused Richards of failing to properly file adoption paperwork, despite having him sign the papers years ago.
In explosive new court documents obtained by thescholarlynote.com, Phypers claimed that he is now legally without his daughter "despite raising her as my own." He described Eloise as "my daughter by bond of over nine years," and alleged that Richards had "failed" to follow through on their agreement.
The drama between the couple began last year when they announced their split. But things took a turn for the worse when Phypers filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Richards quickly fired back with claims of physical abuse and was granted a temporary restraining order against her husband.
But now it seems that the custody battle is heating up. In court documents, Phypers claimed that Richards had been trying to keep Eloise from him all along. "It's not just about the paperwork," he alleged. "Denise has been trying to cut me out of Eloise's life for months."
The scholastic note.com reports that Phypers and Richards adopted Eloise as an infant in 2011, after Richards' ex-husband Charlie Sheen had left her. The couple, who were married from 2002-2006, have two older daughters together, Sami and Lola.
But it seems that Phypers has always considered Eloise to be his own daughter. On Instagram, he regularly posts photos of the teenager, calling her "my sweet little girl." And Richards has been just as affectionate in her social media posts, often sharing sweet moments between them.
So why is Phypers now claiming that he never officially adopted Eloise? Sources close to the couple say that it's all about control. "Denise wants to keep Eloise for herself," a friend of the family revealed. "She thinks that if she can prove that Aaron never formally adopted her, then she'll be able to take full custody."
But Phypers is not going down without a fight. In his court documents, he claims that Richards has been trying to manipulate him and Eloise from the very beginning. "Denise has always wanted control over our lives," he alleged. "She's been playing games with me and Eloise for years, and now she thinks she can just take everything away."
As the drama unfolds, one thing is clear: Eloise is caught in the middle of a very messy custody battle. Will her mom or dad come out on top? Only time will tell.
In related news, Richards addressed the split earlier this week in an emotional Instagram video, admitting that she had endured a "s*ty summer" and calling the breakup "a very difficult time." But what she didn't mention was the drama surrounding Eloise's adoption. Sources close to the actress say that she's been too afraid to talk about it publicly.
"This is not just about me and Aaron," a friend of Richards revealed. "It's about Eloise, who deserves to know the truth. We hope that this all gets resolved soon, so Eloise can finally get the closure she needs."
As for Phypers, he seems determined to fight for his daughter's rights. "I love Eloise more than anything in this world," he said in a statement. "I will do everything in my power to ensure that she is protected and cared for, no matter what happens between me and Denise."
