Tyrese Seeks Arrest Warrant For Ex-Wife Samantha Lee In Custody Fight

A custody fight that has already spilled into court over money is now getting considerably more serious. Tyrese Gibson is asking a Georgia judge to authorize an arrest warrant for his ex-wife Samantha Lee, accusing her of taking their daughter out of state and interfering with his parenting time. According to court documents reviewed by TMZ, the singer claims Samantha’s actions violated a parenting plan the former couple had agreed to just one month earlier.

Tyrese alleges the dispute dates back to September 2025, when Samantha relocated with their daughter, Soraya. He characterizes the move as “premeditated” and claims she failed to facilitate visitation afterward. The filing escalates a family court battle that has already produced years of arguments over custody and financial obligations.

Meanwhile, Samantha is opposing the warrant and disputes his version of events. In her response, she says she has primary custody of Soraya and claims Tyrese’s application contains inaccurate information about their ongoing custody fight. She also maintains that her relocation was known in advance and that she did not conceal it from him. TMZ reports that she is asking the court not to authorize his request.

The former couple married in 2017 and welcomed Soraya the following year before announcing their split in 2020. Their divorce has remained contentious well after the marriage ended. A judge ordered Tyrese to pay $10,690 per month in child support in 2022, and the actor was briefly taken into custody in 2024 during a hearing over unpaid support.

Their financial dispute has continued alongside the custody issues. Samantha’s attorneys have more recently sought nearly $492,000 in unpaid legal fees connected to the divorce case. Now, Tyrese is trying to put the legal pressure in the other direction, asking the court to authorize an arrest over what he says was a deliberate violation of his rights as Soraya’s father.