Tyrese Gibson is demanding primary custody of his 7-year old daughter.
According to Us Weekly, Tyrese accused ex-wife Samantha Gibson of moving their 7-year-old daughter, Soraya, 2,500 miles away from him, despite his objections.
The actor is seeking a grant from the judge for primary custody.
The Fast and the Furious star says that he never agreed to the cross-country relocation of his daughter and believes the move undermines his ability to be a present parent.
Tyrese and Samantha wed in 2017 and split in 2020. The exes have been in and out of court for years. Samantha was awarded primary custody in 2023.
“No, Samantha. No way”
In documents filed on October 3, Tyrese, revealed that he learned of Samantha’s plans on Aug 13, when she emailed him about her intention to relocate.
In the alleged email, Samantha told Tyrese, “I’ve spent a lot of time in prayer, fasting, and careful consideration, and after much wrestling with the decision, I truly believe God is leading me to move out of state to the West Coast — specifically … Oregon.”
The letter continued, “This isn’t a decision I take lightly, and my intention is to be as transparent and collaborative as possible. My lease is up in September, and I’m planning for a late October move.” Samantha said she had already looked into different schools.
Samantha allegedly added in the letter, “I want to be very clear that I have no desire to interfere with Soraya’s relationship with her father. In fact, I want to propose a plan that I believe gives Tyrese more uninterrupted, quality time with her than in recent years, while also respecting her education and stability during the school year.”
She noted that Oregon was closer to Los Angeles, where Tyrese also owns a home, and that this move “could make travel easier and more convenient for extended visits.”
But Tyrese says he objected immediately. His September text reply, included in the filing, was firm and decisive. “No, Samantha. No way. No how. I do not agree. … Any attempt to twist that into consent for a cross-country move is manipulative, baseless, and directly against Georgia law.”
According to court documents, the “Signs of Lovemaking” singer had been previously ordered to pay $10,000 per month in child support in 2022. In the new agreement, the child support was amended to $5,550 per month.
Tyrese emphasized in further text that his youngest daughter needed family stability, considering that her older sister is graduating from high school in Atlanta, and such a move would hurt both children.
“If God is leading you to Portland, then He is leading you — not Soraya,” Tyrese texted. “You are free to go, but our daughter will remain in Atlanta, where her life, her stability, her sister, and her father are.”