Judge Orders Tyrese Held for $73K Child Support: ‘Arrest Wasn’t Fun’

Actor and singer Tyrese Gibson has been ordered to serve time in jail after a judge in Georgia found him in contempt for failing to pay child support. Court documents indicate that a Fulton County judge issued an order on Monday stating that Gibson should be “taken into custody and incarcerated” due to his unpaid child support obligations.

In expressing his distress over the situation, Gibson revealed on social media that the arrest was a traumatic experience for him. He questioned the motives of the judge, Kevin M Farmer, posting, “Getting arrested wasn’t fun, as a matter of fact, it was very traumatic. One would ask why does this judge Kevin M Farmer HATE me so much?” He included details of his appeal in his post.

The 45-year-old actor shares a five-year-old daughter with his ex-wife, Samantha Lee. The couple married in early 2017 but divorced in 2020. Besides his younger daughter, Gibson has an older daughter from a previous marriage to Norma Mitchell, from whom he also divorced in 2009.

According to the court’s directives, Gibson could be released after he meets the conditions for “purging himself of contempt,” which involves paying approximately $73,500 to Fulton County.

Following news of his arrest, the specific details about when and where he was taken into custody remain unclear. A spokesperson for the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and a city jail representative stated that no one by the name of Tyrese Gibson had been booked into their facilities.

As a parent, Gibson faces serious repercussions if he neglects his child support payments under Georgia law. The state implements strict penalties, which can include incarceration, offsetting of federal and state income tax refunds, revocation of professional licenses, suspension of driver’s licenses, and wage garnishment.

Despite the challenges, Gibson expressed his unwavering love for his children in an Instagram post, captioning photos of them, “The love that a father can have for his children can’t quite be explained… Whatever the outcome is today… I am and will forever be their FATHER.”

Gibson has indicated plans to appeal the judge’s ruling regarding his contempt status. The ongoing legal battles continue to unfold as Gibson navigates the complexities of parenthood and legal obligations.

Source: USA TODAY