Actor and singer Tyrese Gibson, best known for his role in Fast and Furious, was arrested in court on Monday over unpaid child support charges stemming from his ongoing legal battle with ex-wife Samantha Lee. The 44-year-old was found in contempt of court after failing to pay the $10,000 monthly child support ordered by Judge Kevin Farmer since April 2022, as reported by TMZ.
Gibson, father to 5-year-old daughter Soraya with Lee, appeared in Fulton County, Georgia, where the judge ruled that his repeated refusal to pay resulted in his arrest. According to reports, Gibson was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs after Judge Farmer declared he could avoid jail if he immediately paid $73,000, which included $7,500 to cover Lee’s legal fees.
Despite his arrest, Gibson appeared to have anticipated the outcome of the hearing. Over the weekend, he posted a now-deleted Instagram message accusing Samantha’s lawyers and Judge Farmer of “collusion.” He shared his frustrations, revealing that he had already attempted to get the judge recused from the case twice.
“We are APPEALING ALL OF HIS RULINGS,” the Sweet Lady singer wrote, expressing disbelief that the judge had denied his own recusal request. TMZ also reported that Gibson is now making arrangements to settle the debt.
The drama surrounding Gibson’s child support battle has been ongoing, with his legal team continuing to push back against the rulings in an effort to overturn them.