Erica Mena is speaking out amid her long-running legal battle with her ex-husband, Safaree Samuels.
The Love and Hip Hop couple, who tied the knot in October 2019, have had a tumultuous public relationship following the birth of their two children in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Safaree mentioned a shift in Erica after welcoming their kids even tweeting that getting married was a mistake.
Erica filed for divorce on May 24, 2021, referring to their marriage as “irretrievably broken” with “no hope of reconciliation” in court documents obtained, per PageSix.
Since the filing, Erica alleges that she has experienced financial strain from carrying the full weight of parenting their two children. However, in a recent post, the reality star shared an update that suggests that financial burden has been lifted.
“Asking for half is not asking for too much.”
She began, “For 2½ years and counting – I’ve endured malicious filings, unnecessary legal attacks and intentional financial pressure, all while being the only consistent present parent for my two youngest children. The only one handling medical care, education, childcare and the everyday costs of raising two growing children, as I have since the day they were born.”
“Yesterday wasn’t about revenge,” Erica continued. “It was about receipts, facts and accountability.”
In the caption, she suggests that Safaree’s alleged lack of financial help has been an intentional attack.
“After years of intentional hardship and financial burden placed on me, I finally stood up for the expenses I’ve carried alone🙌🏽 medical, childcare, education. While parenting full-time and filling in where effort, presence and responsibility are by choice repeatedly consistently absent,” she wrote.
Adding, “Asking for half is not asking for too much.”
In the lengthy caption, Erica also praised the attorney, Lisa Weber, writing that “she stood firm on principle and led this case with integrity, precision and moral clarity.”
She concluded the statement writing, “I’ve been choosing peace — but I will NEVER choose silence when it comes to my children.”
Fans dropped in the comments of the Instagram post supporting the model on her victory and praising her for advocating for herself and children.
TMZ reports that the couple’s divorce was finalized September 12, 2022, with Safaree being ordered to pay $4,305 per month in child support.