Tyrese Gibson arrested for failure to pay child support, claims judge has a personal vendetta

Actor and singer Tyrese Gibson was arrested in Fulton County, Georgia, on September 9, 2024, after being found in contempt of court for failing to pay child support to his ex-wife, Samantha Lee. The judge ordered Gibson, 45, to pay $73,500 to avoid jail time. Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE, Gibson claimed that the judge overseeing his case "hates my guts" and is using his power against him. "He wants to assert his power, and he doesn’t care who’s watching," Gibson stated, adding that it’s "unbearable being in court with him."

The arrest followed a motion filed by Lee, alleging that Gibson had not fulfilled his child support obligations. Court records obtained by PEOPLE show that Gibson plans to appeal the ruling. He shares a 17-year-old daughter, Shayla, with his first ex-wife, Norma Mitchell, in addition to a daughter with Lee.

Gibson took to Instagram on September 10, 2024, expressing his frustration. “Getting arrested wasn’t easy...As a matter of fact, it was very traumatic," he wrote. He further expressed confusion over the animosity between his ex-wife and the judge, saying, "One would ask why does this judge...and my ex Samantha...HATE ME SO MUCH?"

Despite the ongoing legal battle, Gibson emphasized his commitment to his children, stating, “I’m a father because that exchange between your son or your daughter is nothing that can be purchased.”