A few days ago, Tyrese Gibson made the news, claiming that he cannot pay the full amount of $10,000 a month in child support owed to his ex-wife Samantha Lee as a result of his fluctuating income. Well now, the Fast & Furious star is in hot water, defending the fact that he went on lavish vacations amidst his claims that he cannot pay what he owes.
The actor claims that his recent his recent trip to the Middle East, (Dubai and Egypt), with his current girlfriend, Zelie, cost him next to nothing. Tyrese’s ex-wife is apparently attempting to use this vacation evidence in their ongoing child support battle centering around their shared 4-year-old daughter, Soraya. In a new motion, the Baby Boy star and his attorney are asking the court to consider not using his trips as evidence.
Per court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, Tyrese also asked the court to deny Lee’s plea to have him held in contempt as a result.
In addition to fluctuating acting gigs, Tyrese has stated that his financial struggles are also a result of industry strikes. Tyrese claims that the strikes have also proactively affected his already reduced earnings.
Lee has alleged that Tyrese has only paid her less than half the required amount in December 2023 and January 2024. Tyrese admitted that he has not paid the full amount alleged by Lee. He has stated that his actions were not malicious, but could not be helped as a result of decreased income.
Tyrese’s lawyer argued in court that, “[Gibson] was gravely impacted just as everyone who works in Hollywood. Because of the six-month work stoppage in the film industry in 2023, and because [Gibson] has not shot a major film since 2022, [Gibson’s] income has decreased to less than twenty percent (20%) of what [Gibson] was earning in August 2022, which [Gibson] would like to prove at a hearing on this matter.”
In their motion to get the vacations ruled out as evidence, Tyrese’s lawyers also stated, “Undoubtedly, [Samantha’s] counsel will bring up [Tyrese’s] Holiday Trip where [Tyrese] utilized his frequent flyer miles to visit and stay with a friend in a foreign country, not knowing that the flight cost [Tyrese] nothing and that [Tyrese] was hosted by his good friend during his trip outside of the U.S.”
The judge has yet to officially rule on this new evidence/matter.
Photo Credit: Tyrese Gibson Instagram; Samantha Lee Instagram
