R&B singer Tyrese Gibson was arrested on Monday, September 9, after being held in contempt of court for failing to pay child support.

The arrest was ordered by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer, who instructed Gibson to pay a substantial sum of $73,500 to his ex-wife, Samantha Lee.

The contempt ruling started from Gibson’s alleged non-payment of child support for the couple’s 5-year-old daughter, Soraya. The Fast and Furious actor, who was also ordered to pay $10,000 monthly, was found to be in “willful contempt” during a hearing related to Lee’s third motion for contempt. Following the ruling, Gibson was detained by a bailiff who handcuffed him and escorted him out of the courtroom, as reported by TMZ.

Gibson’s legal team, led by attorney Tanya Mitchell Graham, swiftly filed a notice of intent to appeal the decision.

The actor was subsequently released from custody after the appeal was filed, which temporarily postponed the need to make the overdue payment. This move mirrors a previous appeal filed in April 2023 during the contentious divorce proceedings.

In a response posted to his Instagram Stories, Gibson expressed his distress over the arrest, describing the experience as “traumatic”. He questioned the motives of Judge Farmer and criticised his ex-wife’s attorney, accusing them of unfair treatment.

He also shared links to appeal documents, which he described as a “nightmare” for the judge. The documents, though not confirmed as officially filed, argued that the child support demand was excessive and punitive.

Gibson’s attorneys, Graham and Beverly Cohen contested the validity of the court’s decision, arguing that Gibson had been financially supporting Soraya voluntarily and at a higher level than required. They claimed that the court’s ruling on retroactive support payments could deter other parents from providing voluntary financial support during divorce proceedings.

Additionally, they contended that the high child support payment effectively functioned as alimony, benefiting Lee financially in ways not originally contemplated.

Despite the controversy surrounding the case, Gibson’s representatives did not provide immediate comments. The legal battle continues as the actor challenges the court’s decision, with further developments expected in the coming weeks.