“Fast & Furious” star Tyrese Gibson found himself behind bars after a heated child support hearing in Atlanta, marking another chapter in his prolonged legal battle with ex-wife Samantha Lee according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The actor, who had previously alluded to the possibility of his arrest in a now-deleted Instagram post, is currently being held after being ordered to pay over $73,000 in child support to avoid jail time.
The latest court appearance, held at Fulton County Superior Court, was in relation to Gibson’s nonpayment of court-ordered child support for his daughter Soraya, whom he shares with Lee.
In April 2023, the court had mandated Gibson to pay $10,690 per month in child support.
However, Judge Kevin Farmer found Gibson in contempt for failing to meet these obligations. The actor was handcuffed and removed from the courtroom by a bailiff, according to TMZ, which first reported the story.
Judge Farmer gave Gibson an opportunity to avoid extended jail time if he paid the full $73,525.73 within 48 hours.
This sum includes $7,500 in legal fees owed to Lee. Reports suggest that Gibson had been making partial payments of $2,200 per month, a fraction of what the court had ordered.
Gibson is now working on securing the funds to cover the balance and ensure his release.
Gibson took to Instagram on Sunday, where he hinted at his potential arrest and criticized the fairness of the family court system, particularly in cases involving fathers. In his post, he accused Samantha’s legal team and Judge Farmer of collusion, writing,
“Samantha’s lawyer Adam Gleklen and William Alexander who are besties with the judge Kevin M Farmer [ collusion ].”
He also expressed frustration with the court’s rulings, stating that his attempts to have Judge Farmer removed from the case had been unsuccessful.
Reflecting on his career and the challenges he’s faced, Gibson added,
“It’s pretty clear that they hate my guts, but I must remind them and everything about my life and my success. I’ve worked my ass off since I was 14 years old to get here. #FamilyLawCourts are the WORST TOWARDS FATHERS.”
Gibson and Lee were married in 2017, but their relationship came to an end in 2020 when Lee filed for divorce.
The pair had released a joint statement at the time, describing the split as “a painful and significant development in our lives.”
Update! Tyrese has miraculously found the money he owes to his ex-wife Samantha Gibson and is arranging for it to be paid right now. He will likely be home for dinner. Photo credit @mrdennisbyron pic.twitter.com/c5gXenceic
— Dennis Byron (@MrDennisByron) September 9, 2024
