Actor and singer Tyrese Gibson, 45, was arrested on Monday, September 9, 2024, following a child support dispute with his ex-wife, Samantha Lee. The incident occurred in a Fulton County, Georgia courtroom after Gibson was held in contempt of court for failing to meet court-ordered payments for their five-year-old daughter, Soraya.
Gibson’s Ongoing Legal Battle
Gibson has been embroiled in a lengthy legal battle over child support since his April 2023 court order to pay $10,690 per month. During Monday’s hearing, Judge Kevin Farmer found Gibson had not paid the required amount, leading to his temporary detention. According to TMZ, Gibson had only been paying around $2,200 per month, far below the mandated sum.
The judge offered Gibson a chance to avoid jail by paying a total of $73,000, which includes $7,500 for his ex-wife’s attorney fees. Despite the looming threat of incarceration, Gibson reportedly managed to gather the funds. Journalist Dennis Byron, who was present in the courtroom, tweeted, “Tyrese has miraculously found the money he owes… He will likely be home for dinner.”
Social Media Reactions
Before the court hearing, Gibson took to social media to express his concerns about being arrested. In a since-deleted post, he accused the judge of increasing his payments without cause, stating, “We are APPEALING ALL OF HIS RULINGS… [Judge Farmer] illegally went against our prenup.”
In a separate Instagram post, Gibson shared photos with his children, writing, “The love that a father can have for his children can’t quite be explained… Whatever the outcome is today… I am and will forever be their FATHER.”
Gibson also alleged gender bias in the court system. “When you were born a man, you go into a courtroom… and understand there is a preset menu that says, ‘You were born a man, f–k you.’”
The actor and his ex-wife divorced in 2020, and since then, disputes over finances and custody have continued.