Tyrese Gibson is back in court, and this time, the battle centers on his 7-year-old daughter, Soraya.
Per new filings obtained by Us Weekly, the actor is asking a judge to grant him primary custody after his ex-wife, Samantha Gibson, moved their daughter from Georgia to Oregon earlier this fall. The Fast and the Furious actor says that he never agreed to the cross-country relocation of his daughter and believes the move undermines his ability to be a present parent.
In documents filed on October 3, Tyrese, revealed that he learned of Samantha’s plans in mid-August, when she emailed him about her intention to relocate.
In the message, Samantha told him, “I’ve spent a lot of time in prayer, fasting, and careful consideration, and after much wrestling with the decision, I truly believe God is leading me to move out of state to the West Coast — specifically … Oregon.”
She explained that the move would come once her lease ended, adding, “This isn’t a decision I take lightly, and my intention is to be as transparent and collaborative as possible. … I have no desire to interfere with Soraya’s relationship with her father.”
But Tyrese says he objected immediately. His September text reply, included in the filing, was firm and decisive. “No, Samantha. No way. No how. I do not agree. … Any attempt to twist that into consent for a cross-country move is manipulative, baseless, and directly against Georgia law.”
The actor’s filing explains that most of his family life is rooted in Atlanta, including his older daughter, Shayla, who recently chose to attend college there. The 46-year-old wrote, “Now, more than ever, Soraya needs family stability — not more chaos. … And you are not going to take that away from me — or from Soraya’s big sister, Shayla.”
Tyrese also described the emotional timing of everything, sharing, “My father just passed away nine days ago… The never-ending trauma I live with daily has been unbearable at times. But the one place I find joy… is in my relationship with Soraya.”
He ended his message to Samantha with a clear stance on his position. “If God is leading you to Portland, then He is leading you — not Soraya. … Soraya stays in Atlanta. End of discussion.”
Samantha, who was awarded primary custody in 2023, fired back with her own filing in early November. She acknowledged the move to Oregon but insists the parenting plan never required Tyrese’s permission to relocate.
Her team says she notified him, shared school options, and complied with their agreement. Her attorney wrote, “There is… no provision in the original parenting plan … that requires [Tyrese’s] consent for [Samantha] to move.”
Samantha also argues that Tyrese didn’t fully utilize his parenting time when Soraya lived in Atlanta. She claims that he relied heavily on a nanny and often slept during the day while his daughter was with him due to working overnight in the studio.
After tying the knot in 2017, Tyrese and Samantha separated in 2020. Their split has led to a long stretch of court battles over custody and support. A recent adjustment reduced Tyrese’s payments from $10,000 to $5,500 per month after his income changed.
For now, both sides are asking the court to modify the existing agreement in opposite directions. The case remains active.
Photo Credit: Samantha Gibson Instagram
