Shocking! Tyrese Gibson’s Traumatic ‘Arrest’ Experience After Contempt of Court Drama!

Tyrese Gibson, the star of the “Fast & Furious” series, clarified reports on Tuesday and Wednesday about his reported arrest in Georgia, stating that he was only detained. The reason for his detention was his failure to meet child support payments, which led to him being cited for contempt of court.

The actor was taken into custody on Monday after Judge Kevin M. Farmer of Fulton County Superior Court demanded that Gibson pay over $73,500 to his ex-spouse, Samantha Lee. The couple had been married for three years before divorcing in 2020.

Gibson was cited for willful contempt of court due to his alleged failure to make child support payments for his 5-year-old daughter Soraya. Gibson also has a 17-year-old daughter named Shayla from a previous marriage. The judgment occurred during Lee’s third motion for contempt hearing. The judge ordered Gibson’s detention until he made the due payment, according to court documents that The Times reviewed on Tuesday.

Gibson clarified in a statement to The Times on Wednesday, “I was detained, not arrested, for less than two hours and was released immediately after my attorney, Tanya Mitchell Graham filed a Notice of Intent to Appeal. This was done minutes after the Judge’s ruling.”

The actor affirmed his commitment to supporting his daughters, stating, “I have never stopped paying child support; even without a court order, I have always supported both my daughters beyond any court mandate. Despite confusion regarding various custody and child support issues, I am currently at home, and the only ongoing litigation is the appeal we filed last year, and the appeal filed yesterday.”

Gibson announced he would be taking a break from social media for the time being. He also discussed his decade-long experience with child support issues, emphasizing the need for reform in the system.

Gibson pointed out systemic biases in the family court system, stating, “Many fathers and mothers, including myself, face significant biases in the family court system. Men striving to be present fathers are often penalized rather than supported. This is a significant issue in Black and Brown communities, and I deeply sympathize with those navigating this system without financial resources. Court biases can lead to unfair outcomes, widening the justice gap we see today.”

According to TMZ, Gibson was handcuffed and escorted out of the courtroom after the contempt of court ruling. New York Post reported that Gibson was later released after failing to pay his court-ordered monthly child support of $10,000.

Gibson was released from custody after his attorney, Tanya Mitchell Graham, filed an appeal. This gave the actor some time and did not require him to pay the overdue child support before his release. A similar appeal was filed by his attorney in April 2023 during Gibson’s divorce battle when he was initially ordered to pay child support.

Gibson addressed the arrest on his Instagram Stories on Tuesday, writing “Getting arrested wasn’t fun. It was very traumatic… One would ask why this judge Kevin M. Farmer HATE me so much?” He posted a second story targeting his ex-wife’s attorney, expressing that the arrest was challenging.

Google Drive links to appeal documents dated May 13, 2024, were included in Gibson’s post, referring to the appeal as a “nightmare” for the judge. The appeal listed three key issues and arguments, describing the child support demand as “over-reaching and punitive.”

Gibson’s attorneys, Graham and Beverly L. Cohen, argued that the couple’s divorce arbitrator validated their premarital agreement but invalidated part of it related to attorney fees. Lee is seeking $7,500 in attorney fees.

The attorneys also stated that Gibson has been voluntarily financially supporting Soraya since birth and during the divorce case “at the highest Basic Child Support Obligation.” They argued that the court awarding a retroactive, lump-sum child support payment will discourage other divorcees who voluntarily financially support their minor children during a divorce proceeding without the need of a temporary hearing and temporary court order.

The attorneys further argued that Gibson was already providing spousal support by giving Lee child support with a high-income deviation, enabling her to buy a house, reduce her work hours, and cover half of their child’s school tuition.

The document stated, “Instead of applauding Gibson for voluntary financial support to the minor child without court intervention, he was penalized for doing what was right.” The attorneys have yet to respond to requests for comment.

On Sunday, Gibson posted on Instagram, calling his ex’s legal tactics “goofy” and maintained his innocence, stating that their prenuptial agreement covered all aspects of their 2020 divorce. He also shared thoughts about fatherhood in a series of posts before and after his detention.