Tyrese Gibson Arrested Over Failure To Pay $73,000 In Child Support Payments, Calls It ‘Baby Mama Drama’

On Monday, actor and singer Tyrese Gibson was jailed over his failure to make child support payments.

Gibson was found to have failed to pay over $73,000 in child support. Court records say, “The Court HEREBY ORDERS that the Respondent shall be taken into custody and incarcerated until such time as he purges himself of contempt by making a payment in the purge amount or until further order of this Court.”

Gibson posted a story on Instagram that acknowledged the incident. “Getting arrested wasn’t easy…as a matter of fact it was very traumatic,” he wrote. He went on to wonder why the judge and his ex-wife’s lawyer were so against him.

Gibson shares his daughter Soraya, 5, with his ex-wife Samantha Lee, who filed for divorce in 2020 after four years of marriage. At the time, the couple shared a joint statement that affirmed they intended to “remain the best of friends and strong co-parents.” They explained, “Our journey together has been a ride of both ups and downs, but it’s a journey that neither of us would have chosen to take with anyone else.”

Court documents indicate that Gibson has legally appealed having to pay Lee $10,690 in child support, the same amount Gibson pays to his first wife Norma Gibson for their daughter, Shayla.

On Tuesday, Lee’s attorney Adam Gleklen said that Lee did not want Gibson to be jailed, but since 2022 he has seldom met the support payment requirements. Gleklen said in a statement, “Mr. Gibson has chosen not to abide by the court’s child support order and he was held in willful contempt now for the third time…He only paid full child support three times in 20 months.”

Gibson had shared a video on Instagram Sunday before the hearing and predicted his arrest. He called Lee’s actions “goofy” and chalked up the occasion to “Baby momma drama.” Gibson insisted that he has “never not taken care of my kids.”