Kehlani Seeks Restraining Order Against Ex Amid Child Custody Dispute

Kehlani is taking legal action amid a custody battle with her former partner.

The R&B star has filed a temporary restraining order against her ex-boyfriend, Javaughn Young-White, in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The documents, obtained on Tuesday by USA TODAY, reveal that the filing was made last Friday.

This legal move comes two weeks after Young-White filed a petition seeking full custody of their daughter, Adeya, born in 2019.

Under the restraining order, Young-White is barred from contacting Kehlani and Adeya through any means, including phone and email, while it is in effect. He is also required to maintain a distance of at least 100 yards from them, Kehlani’s home, and Adeya’s school or childcare facility.

During this period, Kehlani retains full physical and legal custody over their daughter.

In the court documents, Commissioner Jeffrey W. Korn highlighted concerns of potential child abduction, citing Young-White’s history of abuse towards Kehlani and his lack of cooperation in co-parenting. Although specifics about the alleged abuse are not detailed in the filing, the commissioner’s concerns led to restrictions on Young-White’s interactions and movements.

As a result, Young-White is prohibited from traveling with Adeya outside California or applying for travel-related documents such as passports. Furthermore, the order forbids him from possessing or purchasing firearms and ammunition.

A hearing concerning Kehlani’s restraining order request is scheduled for September 3.

The custody issues deepened on July 24 when Young-White filed a complaint against Kehlani, alleging she is involved in a cult. He asserted that this group controls her actions, including decisions regarding the upbringing of their daughter.

According to Young-White, he was barred from visiting Adeya for months after the cult’s alleged leader, Neto, claimed to have had a vision that Young-White posed a danger to their daughter.

Young-White further accused Kehlani of leaving Adeya in the care of cult members while she is away on tour. He requested full custody of Adeya, pointing to Kehlani’s busy schedule, her alleged involvement with the cult, and a self-admitted diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Additionally, Young-White demanded a psychological evaluation of Kehlani to assess her mental health.

In his filing, Young-White stated, “I am not here to disparage (Kehlani). However, the environment that she has created for herself is not the type of environment that a child should be living in and therefore, I bring myself to the mercy and wisdom of the court to save my daughter before it is too late.”

In response to these allegations, Kehlani took to Instagram Stories to issue a lengthy statement. She strongly denied any claims of putting her child in harm’s way or leaving her child with individuals deemed dangerous or unsafe.

Commenting on the cult allegations, Kehlani stated that she does “not align with any of the allegations made against my former religious community that have been stated in the media.”

“I have always taken great care to ensure that my child remains protected and safe at all times,” Kehlani continued. “My child and my commitment to motherhood have always been my sole driving forces in this life and will always remain so. This is who I am and what I have always been focused on.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kehlani requests restraining order against ex-boyfriend amid child custody battle