News

Grey’s Anatomy’s Jesse Williams’ Ex Demands Legal Custody of Kids After Losing Rights Due to ‘Hearsay’

Ryan Naumann

Published

on

GettyImages-101908982
Jesse Williams and Aryn Drake-Lee.

Jesse Williams’ ex-wife, Aryn Drake-Lee, was back in court days after the Grey’s Anatomy star accused her of violating a court order, and accused the court of a “serious infringement on her parental rights” after being stripped of legal custody, In Touch can exclusively report.

On May 12, Aryn filed a declaration, obtained by In Touch, where she slammed Jesse, 43, and the judge presiding over their bitter divorce battle.

As In Touch first reported, back in March, a Los Angeles judge awarded Jesse sole legal custody of their kids when it comes to their medical decisions.

Earlier this month, Jesse filed an emergency motion accusing Aryn of refusing to follow the court order.

He claimed she was interfering with a healthcare treatment for one of their kids.

He said she “aggressively” told the child’s doctor that she did not consent to the treatment and would sue if he touched their kid.

GettyImages-93047673
GettyImages-93047673 Jesse and Aryn attend the Prada book launch cocktail held at Prada Rodeo Drive on November 13, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. Jesse Williams and Aryn Drake-Lee.

Jesse wrote, “I will be unable to obtain healthcare for the children … unless this Court makes Ex Parte orders preventing Aryn from interfering with the children’s healthcare.”

He wrote, “The doctor was clearly shocked. I apologized to him, and he said he was not comfortable, and he asked us to leave. As I took the children to the car, they asked ‘What is wrong with Mom? Did we get kicked out?’”

On May 6, the judge ordered Aryn not to interfere with their kid’s procedure.

Now, in her newly filed declaration, Aryn claimed the decision to award Jesse sole legal custody was made without “any evidentiary hearings.”

“I assert that no facts, evidence, or substantiated findings of harm, danger or unfitness were presented to justify such a serious infringement on my parental rights. This decision was based solely on hearsay and lacks the procedural due process guaranteed under California law and the U.S. Constitution.”

Aryn also claimed her children were “held as protected property within an irrevocable, non-statutory private trust for which they are the sole beneficiaries.”

She makes an argument that because the kids are protected property under the trust, that the court had no authority to make decisions regarding their kids.

“The minor children are named and encompassed within this trust as property protected by equitable title, and any state action that seeks to assert authority over their mental, physical or emotional health without due process or threat of immediate irreparable harm constitutes a breach of trust.”

GettyImages-82130519
GettyImages-82130519 Actor Jesse Williams (R) and Aryn Drake-Lee attend the premiere of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" at the Ziegfeld Theatre on July 28, 2008 in New York City. ( Jesse Williams and Aryn Drake-Lee.

She demanded the court reconsider the order awarding Jesse sole legal custody and to restore her legal custody rights. She also asked that the court stop making orders regarding the children.

As In Touch first reported, late last year, Jesse filed court documents asking for the custody arrangement to be modified to provide him more time with his two kids with Aryn.

The actor asked for a schedule that would provide 50/50 custody. Jesse and Aryn were married from 2012 until their divorce was finalized in 2020.

Per their settlement, they agreed to share joint legal and physical custody. Jesse was originally ordered to pay $40,000 per month in child support but it was lowered in 2022 after he claimed his income had dropped since the initial order. The support was slashed down to $6,413.

In his motion to modify custody, Jesse told the court, “The children and I are crazy about each other, and we have a deeply loving active and closely bonded relationship. There is absolutely no reason why Aryn should have more custodial time with the children than me.”

“They almost always ask me how many days they will be with me week to week and if they can ‘just stay longer.’ I moved to a home only 15 minutes from Aryn to make transitions as easy as possible but even with proximity, the number of transitions is unnecessarily challenging for our children and causes unnecessary interactions between me and Aryn,” Jesse added.

Aryn did not oppose Jesse having more time with the kids but did not want them to be cared for by third parties. She wanted to have custody if Jesse was out of town.

In addition, she accused her ex-husband and his legal team of bullying her throughout the divorce. She said Jesse often made “threats to take” her to court if she doesn’t comply with his demands.

Aryn added, “The majority of [Jesse’s] requests are not in the best interests of our children. They orient around serving [Jesse’s] desires at the expense of our children’s mental, psychological, emotional and physical health. He is asking that the three of us be on call to accommodate his inconsistencies at all times.”

The case is ongoing.

Trending News

TV News4 days ago

NBC Staffers Reportedly Hoped Savannah Guthrie Wouldn’t Return Amid Tragedy: ‘You Can’t Trust Anyone’

News4 days ago

Candace Owens Slams Erika Kirk for Claiming She’s the ‘Sole Provider’: ‘Discounts Who Charlie Was’

Reality TV4 days ago

‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Star Jessi Ngatikaura ‘Extremely Unhappy’ With Her $25K Plastic Surgery

Celebrity News5 days ago

‘Below Deck’ Alum Sues Network for $633 Million Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

Crime4 days ago

Ex-SWAT Chief Says ‘98 Percent’ of Deputies Gave Sheriff ‘Vote of No Confidence’ Amid Nancy Guthrie Search

Exclusive4 days ago

Meghan Markle Believes She’s ‘In the Same League’ As This Oscar-Winning Actress (Exclusive)

TV News4 days ago

‘Today’ Producers Reportedly Planning Savannah Guthrie’s Return: ‘There Have Already Been Meetings’

Reality TV4 days ago

Sister Wives’ Janelle Brown Remembers Son Garrison in Emotional Message 2 Years After His Death

TV News5 days ago

Savannah Guthrie’s Emotional Conversation With ‘Today’ Colleagues Revealed as Mom Remains Missing

Exclusive4 days ago

Royals Considering ‘Suing’ Sarah Ferguson to Stop Tell-All Book From Causing ‘Lasting Damage’ (Exclusive)

Celebrity News18 hours ago

Jillian Michaels Slams ‘The View’ Host Joy Behar in Expletive-Filled Outburst

Celebrity News4 days ago

Chet Hanks Flaunts New Veneers He Got in Colombia After Claiming He’s Stuck There