Jesse Williams and Aryn Drake-Lee.Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images
Jesse Williamshas been granted various visitation days with his kids in New York City, overruling ex-wifeAryn Drake-Lee’s previous request to keep their children in Los Angeles.
TheGrey’s Anatomystar and the real estate agent, both 41, were together for over 10 years and married for five before hefiled for divorce in April 2017. The two share daughter Sadie, 8, and son Maceo, 7.
While Drake-Lee previously argued against Williams' visitation in N.Y., the court awarded that their two kids can visit the actor in N.Y. on specific days in October, November and December.
The court also ordered 10 sessions of co-parenting counseling for Williams and Drake-Lee.
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Aryn Drake-Lee and Jesse Williams.Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
The order also stated that “each party is restrained from making derogatory remarks about the other party, either directly or indirectly to the minor children, nor allow any third party to do so.”
In addition, the judge ordered that Williams and Drake-Lee are not to “discuss this case with or in front of the minor children nor allow anyone else to do so” or use their children as “a messenger to deliver messages to the other parent.”
“The parties shall not ask excessive questions or interrogate the children about what happened while when in the other parents' custody,” the order stated.
The judge also ordered that neither Williams or Drake-Lee may “post derogatory remarks about the other party that the minor children can see in social media.”
“It turns out the court does think it’s good for children to regularly fly on overnight flights to accommodate a parent who won’t do the same for them,” she wrote. “Who knew? I knew…Those of us who walk this path know what it is and know what we need to do to protect ourselves and our babes to the best of our ability.”
“Every day we show up and do what’s needed despite the circumstances. I know I journey this road with my head held high and my integrity in tact. Let’s see how long it takes for the usual suspects to leak targeted language and storylines painting a particular party as the victim,” she added.
Earlier this month, Williams filed legal documents to change his custody agreement with Drake-Lee, claiming that his ex-wife was not honoring his previous visitation agreement that he had during his spring Broadway run.
He also alleged in the documents that Drake-Lee has not honored previously custody agreement commitments, such as an order allowing the non-custodial parent to call the children once per day.
Williams’s ex also alleged that she is “experiencing emotional distress” from her communication with Williams and his legal team. “I am being bullied [and] harassed,” she said.
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This isn’t the first time Williams and Drake-Lee have found themselves in court. Since their split. the pair have weathereda series of legal battlesregarding custody of their children and Williams’s child support.
In June 2018, Williams was ordered to pay more than$50,000 per month in child supportin addition to the$50,695 per month in spousal supportthat he had paid Drake-Lee since January of that year. Months later, the actorfiled an appeal to fight the order, claiming he pays too much.
Nearly a year later, in March, Williams and Drake-Leesettled their child custody dispute, which stated they will continue to share legal custody of their two kids. The judge also recommended that the exes seek co-parenting counseling, as “both seek a great deal of fine-tuning in their custody and visitation orders, much of which a court is not as well equipped to handle.”
Williams’s monthly child support payments were “temporarily” lowered a month later, in April — a modification that came following his May 2021 departure fromGrey’s Anatomy. He went frompaying his ex-wife $40,000 in child supporteach month to$6,413.
source: people.com
