Sometimes when I cover a story I truly wish I had more information about it. Like in the case of Usher’s custody battle, I would love to have been able to watch the entire trial, since it was public from what I know. (TMZ had video of Usher’s testimony, but I’m not aware of it airing in full anywhere.) There aren’t enough hours in the day to pay attention to everything I’d like to know, so I come away from this story about Usher’s custody battle just wishing I could feel better about it. If I knew what the judge knew, would I think this was the right decision? Anyway Usher gained primary custody of his two children with his ex, Tameka Foster. He will be the main caregiver for their sons Usher V, 5 and Naviyd Ely, 3. Tameka just lost her oldest son Kile Glover, 11, (from a previous relationship) who died following a tragic boating accident. This has got to be hard on Tameka, and she’s vowing to appeal the decision. Here’s more on her statements about the ruling:
The bitter custody battle between Usher and his ex wife Tameka Foster ended on Friday, with the singer winning primary custody of the former couple’s two sons. After issuing a statement addressing the death of her son Kile Glover and her custody case with Usher earlier this month, Foster took to Twitter this time to send a brief message after the healines broke.
“Money can buy many things… But in the end. Truth & goodness will prevail,” she tweeted. “I must continue to believe this. Stand firm.” Her previous tweets read: “A woman’s loyalty is tested when her man has nothing… A mans loyalty is tested when he has everything!” and “Don’t fear the enemy that attacks you… Fear the fake friend that hugs you. There’s not much worse.”
The details of Foster’s access to or visitation rights of her children have not yet been released, but the ruling comes as somewhat of a surprise, given the emotionally charged accusations slung back and forth between Usher and Foster during the trial. Foster accused her ex of being too absorbed in his career to be a good father and that he had used drugs in the presence of his sons. She also told Global Grind that she never wanted to enter the custody battle to begin with and was satisfied with their previously agreed upon “joint custody” arrangement.
Usher was, at one point, held in contempt of court for canceling his wife’s credit card at Saks Fifth Avenue. The court ordered Usher to reinstate the card because Foster argued that she needed use of that particular credit card in order to fulfill her duties as a stylist.Usher filed for divorce in 2009 after the couple had been married for two years. The couple’s relationship was fraught with drama with rumors that circulated about Foster reportedly controlling the singer, Usher’s mother’s disapproval, etc.Neither party has commented on the ruling.This is another personal setback for Foster, who is still mourning the tragic loss of her son Kile Glover. The 11-year-old died from severe injuries sustained when he was struck by a Jet-Ski in July.
We’ve heard that Tameka has gone off on Usher, according to his testimony in court, and that she attacked him for bringing his new girlfriend with him during a custody hand off. That incident may have swayed the judge in Usher’s favor. There have been plenty of other incidents we’ve heard about in which she’s gone off on people and threatened them, so I guess I can see how the judge ruled this way. TMZ has a new report claiming that Usher’s law firm had a close relationship with the judge and that “Usher’s lawyer’s law firm threw an election fundraiser back in 2008 for the judge who presided over the trial… the law firm that represented Usher raised $1,278 for [Judge] Lane in March 2008.” That definitely may have influenced the decision. Even though I’ve never liked Tameka and have reported on her antics for years, I still feel for her for losing her older son and then losing custody of her two boys to Usher. It must be hard to take. I just hope Tameka is ok and that she’ll still be to spend time with her children. Hopefully this is in their best interests.
Header photo from December, 2008. Credit: PRPhotos. Photo of Usher and Tameka below from May, 2007. Usher is shown with his sons on 8-3-11 (stroller) and 8-20-10. Credit: WENN.com
Well I think Usher is a douchebag for doing this, she just lost her son and he’s taking away her little ones from her.
I don’t know the details but I feel for Tameka.
So if she’s not a fit parent he should leave the kids in her custody because her son died? It’s very sad that she lost her son but this custody battle has been going on long before her son’s accident and subsequent death.
First off Tameka didn’t have custody of her other three kids which says a lot about her, and they were already in court for custody way before the accident with her child, not to mention she didn’t have primary custody of her two kids with Usher to being with they had shared custody.
After Kile’s accident Usher offered a quickie custody settlement that was very generous to her, and she refused it and insisted on going to court. He was very gentlemanly to her and she rejected it entirely in the hopes of getting more. I’m very sorry that she lost her son, but this serves her right for being so petty.
***I THINK. I hope I’m remembering this correctly.***
That is what I recall also. He also wanted to postpone the hearings but she accused him of pretending to be sympathetic.
Tameka seems like a hot mess.
Its very telling that her other sons’ father had primary custody too
Is that so?? That defo speeks volumes! Why is anybody surprised that she lost?
Maybe he is a better parent than her but it’s sad for her to lose one to an accident then custody if the other 2. I remember hearing about how controlling and bitchy she was when he married her but damn is she that bad to the babies? Usher looks to cute in the pic of him and the kids.
Good luck Tameka.
I read on a website that Usher tried to postpone the audience, he formally requested because of the loss of Tameka’s son. So I don’t think he’s heartless. His request was denied.
In all honesty…if she is already an emotional mess and then having the stress of a deceased child – its probably for her best interest to have some to time to grieve – this is just a sad situation all around. I don’t see Usher being heartless either.
I think its very telling that she doesnt have custody of her 1st 2 kids but then I dont think their father was wealthy enough for her to have anything to gain by keeping them. Its also funny most tabs covering this are leaving that part out.
I wouldnt usually assume money is the main reason she wants custody but in this case I do. I dont know much about Usher other than Im sure he’s a pig like many other celebs but then most of the women these guys hook-up with go into just wanting the lifestyle, not exactly expecting a committed relationship.
I am baffled as to why Usher has to continue to pay for her Saks card? I wish I knew more details too but it looks like he really got nailed in the divorce settlement. I know he also has to pay her legal fees for her fighting him in court..lol. I couldnt imagine having to do that.
He has to pay her legal fees for her taking him to court? Damn! It’s funny how she’s now trying to shame him about his money, but she had no problem spending that money or receiving it now.
I read somewhere that he had to continue to pay the Saks card because it’s a business expense for her (she’s a stylist I think). I still don’t understand why he has to foot the bill for her business, but that might have been something that was included in their divorce settlement.
Not sure $1300 buys anyone’s loyalty. That’s laughable
Agreed!
I ain’t sayin she’s a gold digger…wait, yes I am. I feel for her as a mother losing her kids but they seem like they will be better off with their dad. Throughout this whole ordeal she seemed more preoccupied with how much money she could squeeze our of her ex rather than the welfare of her children. Good luck to those kids!
I find this story so interesting and I’m glad this site is covering it. Tameka also has a son from when she was a teenager, so with the death of her 11 year old son, she has 4 children now. My understanding is that Usher divorced Tameka because he believed her second child with him, Navyid, was not his. He claimed they were not having sex preceding this pregnancy and asked, “How did this happen?” She claimed they did have sex one time that caused the pregnancy. He requested a paternity test, and I don’t know what happened with that. My guess is that he had nothing to gain by revealing the truth of his paternity, since it would only end up hurting both his little boys. Also, by law, I think, he’s the father and is required to support the child since Tameka was married to him at the time. It’s tragic about her son’s death and Usher paid for a private plane for her to get to the hospital more quickly. I didn’t know she didn’t have joint custody of her 2 boys with her last husband. I thought she said she had joint custody. If anyone knows about this, I’d love to hear it.
I have been following this since the trial started and truthfully was a little surprised that it wasn’t being carried here, although I can also understand the hesitation.
The cynic in me was concerned that Usher and his notorious cheap ways were trying to get out of paying child support. But then i read some very biased reporting on Straight from the A, that made it clear that the “source” that had been leaking all those stories about Tameka & Usher, was Tameka. I think she was always looking for own fame.
I feel very sad for her, but like the other posters commented its very telling that her other boys father also has custody. Hopefully they will be able to deal with each other like adults and co-parent for the benefit of their children.
Also i am not sure how all other states deal with nominating judges but in IL judges are nominated from the private sector to run in the elections to become judges. It is not uncommon for privately owned law firms to hold fundraising for those individuals, although 1300$ is pretty sad. Tameka is grasping at straws.
Ive been following this and Im glad Usher got his kids. That woman is a piece of work. And why is it that outlets are only making it out to seem like Tameka has only three kids? She has five, she lost custody of the first two to thier father, had the third one(who recently perished)and lost custody of him to his father. That woman has an established history of being an unfit mother. I dont feel for her the slightest.
Hmmm. It is very, very telling that she doesn’t have custody of all of her children. Unless there is some sort of agreement between the parents on custody, I know the courts try very very hard to give it joint custody. They will always go back to that as a general rule of thumb, even if the parents hate each other they will still try to give joint. This makes me think that there is some hard evidence about her that proves her unfit. Plain and simple to me. Not because he bought the custody, Money rarely is a factor and if the father has that kind of money the court generally will make him up the support amounts to adjust to the lifestyle.
I cannot imagine losing a child though, so my heart bleeds for her.
Wow, talk about a hellish streak of bad fortune…
This was an unfortunate mistake to have these two marry each other. What were they thinking? I haven’t heard good things about Tameka, and I’ve heard some trash on Usher, too. Too bad there are children involved. No woman wants to lose her children, but if she hasn’t been the best mother…I don’t know the real facts, but how is he going to take care of these kids while pursuing his career? Lots of nannies, I assume.
lost her meal ticket..got to get job now..