American entertainer Tyrese Gibson, known for his role in the “Fast and Furious” franchise and his R&B music career, was arrested in court on Monday morning due to unpaid child support from his ex-wife, Samantha Lee.
Gibson, who shares a 5-year-old daughter named Soraya with Lee, appeared in Fulton County, Georgia, before Judge Kevin Farmer amid an ongoing child support dispute. Reports indicate that Judge Farmer was frustrated with Gibson’s refusal to comply with a court order requiring him to pay $10,000 (Ksh. 1.2 million) per month, a requirement that began last April.
As a result of his non-compliance, Gibson was found in contempt of court and was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs. Judge Farmer stated that Gibson could avoid jail time if he paid $73,000 (Ksh. 9.4 million), which included $7,500 (Ksh. 965,000) for Lee’s legal fees.
TMZ reports that Gibson is currently making arrangements to settle the debt. Prior to his arrest, Gibson hinted at the possibility of being detained in a post on Instagram, where he also criticized Judge Farmer and the family court system, alleging bias against fathers.
“Samantha’s lawyer Adam Gleklen and William Alexander, who are close with Judge Kevin M Farmer, are colluding,” Gibson wrote in the now-deleted post. “It’s clear they dislike me, but I need to remind them of my hard work and success. I’ve worked tirelessly since I was 14 to get here.”
He further expressed frustration with the family court system, stating, “#FamilyLawCourts are the WORST TOWARDS FATHERS.”
Gibson and Lee married in 2017, and Lee filed for divorce in 2020. The couple later released a joint statement describing the split as a “painful and significant development” in their lives. Besides Soraya, Gibson has a teenage daughter named Shayla from his previous marriage to Norma Mitchell.
