Tyrese Gibson arrested over unpaid child support

Actor and musician Tyrese Gibson, best known for his role in the Fast & Furious franchise, was arrested on Monday in Fulton County, Georgia, after failing to meet his court-ordered child support payments. The 45-year-old actor had been ordered to pay $10,000 per month in child support since April 2023, a responsibility he repeatedly refused to fulfill.

According to TMZ, Tyrese appeared in court for a scheduled hearing on Monday morning. The judge overseeing the case, Kevin Farmer, found the actor in contempt of court for neglecting to make the required payments. Tyrese was handcuffed and escorted out of the courtroom after refusing to comply with the court's previous orders.

The actor's refusal to pay the mandated child support of $10,000 per month for his daughter Soraya, whom he shares with ex-wife Samantha Lee, led to this legal outcome. The couple divorced in 2020 after three years of marriage. Judge Farmer gave Tyrese a chance to avoid jail time by offering an option: if he could pay $73,000, which included $7,500 to cover his ex-wife's legal fees, he would be released.

Tyrese's social media plea

In the lead-up to his court appearance, Tyrese took to social media to appeal for help. On Sunday, the actor posted a series of videos asking his followers to connect him with journalists and media outlets so he could tell his side of the story. He urged people to leave a fire emoji in the comments if they had media contacts and wanted to help him "share the truth."

This isn't the celebrity speaking. This isn't the singer or the actor. This is a father who just wants justice and for things to be done according to the law," Tyrese wrote in one of his posts.

Facing his fears

Just hours before his arrest, Tyrese shared his concerns about the court hearing. He admitted to being nervous about what awaited him with Judge Farmer. "Of course, I'm nervous about what will happen tomorrow, but the love a father has for his children cannot be fully explained," he wrote in another Instagram post on Monday morning.

Tyrese, who also has a teenage daughter from a previous marriage, expressed his deep commitment to fatherhood, regardless of the court's decision. "No matter the outcome today, I will always be their father," he added.

As legal proceedings continue, Tyrese's case highlights the complexities of child support and custody battles, even for celebrities.