Tyrese Gibson has released a statement about being detained after reports claimed that he was arrested for not paying child support.
“I am in good spirits and confident in my legal team’s pursuit of justice,” Gibson said in a statement to Us Weekly on Wednesday, September 11. “I was detained, not arrested, for less than two hours and released immediately after the great work of my attorney, Tanya Mitchell Graham’s Notice of Intent to Appeal was filed into the Clerk’s Office minutes after the Judge’s ruling.”
“I have always supported both my daughters beyond any court mandate,” he continued. “Although there has been confusion regarding various custody and child support issues, I am currently home and there is no other litigation besides the appeal we filed last year, and the appeal filed yesterday.”
The actor shared he would be stepping away from social media to “focus” on his family. Gibson also noted that he has been an advocate for “parents navigating child support.”
“My personal experience has highlighted the flaws in the system, demonstrating the urgent need for reform. My goal is to raise awareness and push for legislative reforms to support families better,” he continued. “Many fathers and mothers, including myself, face significant biases in the family court system. Men striving to be present fathers are often penalized rather than supported. This is a significant issue in Black and Brown communities, and I deeply sympathize with those navigating this system without financial resources. Court biases can lead to unfair outcomes, widening the justice gap we see today.”
Earlier this week news broke that the R&B singer and actor was held in contempt for back child support and legal fees owed to his ex-wife Samantha Lee totaling $73,000.
It wasn’t expected for Gibson to remain in custody for an extended period as he was said to have made arrangements for the debt to be settled. However, updated reports noted that Gibson didn’t fork over what’s owed (at least not yet) but instead, his lawyer filed an appeal. The appeal doesn’t mean he’s able to walk away from the 5-figure debt, the matter is just now delayed until the appeal is dealt with.