Tyrese Gibson asked a court for full physical custody of his youngest daughter, Soraya Gibson, after her mother moved 2,500 miles away with her.
On October 3, Tyrese filed court documents requesting full custody of Soraya, 7, after his ex-wife Samantha Gibson moved to Oregon in the Pacific Northwest.
Tyrese, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, accused Samantha of moving their daughter 2,500 miles away, against his wishes, Us Weekly reports exclusively.
Tyrese and Samantha wed in 2017 and they welcomed Soraya in 2018. They separated in 2020 and have been in bitter custody disputes. Samantha was awarded primary custody of Soraya in 2023.
Tyrese filed court papers for custody of Soraya on the same day he surrendered to Fulton County police (Oct. 3).
He was wanted by police on a charge of cruelty to animals after his four dogs killed a neighbor’s 5-year-old Spaniel named Henry.
The actor told the court Samantha emailed him on August 13, telling him she planned to move to Oregon with Soraya.
Samantha wrote, “I’ve spent a lot of time in prayer, fasting, and careful consideration, and after much wrestling with the decision, I truly believe God is leading me to move out of state to the West Coast — specifically … Oregon.”
She continued: “This isn’t a decision I take lightly, and my intention is to be as transparent and collaborative as possible. My lease is up in September, and I’m planning for a late October move.”
Samantha told Tyrese’s attorney that she looked into private schools in Oregon.
“I want to be very clear that I have no desire to interfere with Soraya’s relationship with her father. In fact, I want to propose a plan that I believe gives Tyrese more uninterrupted, quality time with her than in recent years, while also respecting her education and stability during the school year.”
Tyrese opposed the cross-country move in a text message to Samantha on September 5.
“No, Samantha. No way. No how. I do not agree,” he wrote. “The [previous agreement] we made regarding school selection was never tied to any out-of-state relocation for Soraya. It was specific to Atlanta and the surrounding areas, where I could still be an active and present father. Any attempt to twist that into consent for a cross-country move is manipulative, baseless, and directly against Georgia law.”
Tyrese is pictured with his longtime girlfriend, Zelie Timothy (left) and his older daughter, Shayla Gibson, 18, at a movie premiere on March 30, 2022 in Los Angeles.
In his text message to Samantha, Tyrese said Soraya should live in Atlanta, where he and Shayla live.
“The excitement of Shayla being able to spend more time with her baby sister, and Soraya having her big sister close by, means everything to me as a father. And you are not going to take that away from me — or from Soraya’s big sister, Shayla.”
“And I need to remind you of this: my father just passed away nine days ago. My mother died three years ago on Valentine’s Day, as you already know. The never-ending trauma I live with daily has been unbearable at times. But the one place I find joy, levity, beauty, and magic in this world is in my relationship with Soraya. That bond is sacred,” Tyrese wrote.
He continued: “If God is leading you to Portland, then He is leading you — not Soraya. You are free to go, but our daughter will remain in Atlanta, where her life, her stability, her sister, and her father are.”
