Till death do us part, or nah? Breaking up is hard to do, but it’s even more difficult if you have children. Ex-lovers Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry aren’t the only famous exes who brutally battled it out in court over the custody of their kid. Celebrity custody battles blossom into huge blow-outs, playing out in a media circus, including everything from accusations of infidelity and STDs, substance abuse and unfit parenting.
Countless celeb fall-outs could rightfully be deemed nasty, but we’ve gathered the ugliest duels between exes over their children in the most notorious custody battles.
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Gorgeous actress Halle Berry and former boyfriend Gabriel Aubry have been fighting over their 4-year-old daughter, Nahla, ever since the pair split in 2010. A judge ordered the actress to pay her ex, a former model, a reported $20,000 a month in child support for Nahla, of whom they share custody. A judge also denied Berry’s request to relocate with Nahla to France, where her husband, actor Olivier Martinez, is from.
Michael Jackson vs. Deborah Rowe
After the late Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe divorced in 2001, Rowe willingly gave up all legal rights to their children. When Jackson was accused of child molestation in 2003, Rowe began a battle to obtain visitation rights. A private custody settlement was reached in September 2006.
Dwyane Wade vs. Siovaughn Funches
Not only was this high school sweethearts custody battle nasty, so was their divorce. Siohvaughn Wade was granted what the court described as “regular parenting time” on alternating weekends in Miami, as well as several other times during the year, including Mother’s Day. Wade was granted full custody of the couples two boys after a lengthy, mud-slinging battle.
Whitney Houston vs. Bobby Brown
The rocky marriage of Houston and Brown was on front street for all to witness, but their biggest battle came when trying to determine custody of their daughter Bobbi Kirstina. Houston was eventually awarded legal and physical custody in 2007.
Britney Spears vs. Kevin Federline
After Spears and Federline divorced, Spears was initially granted physical custody of their two sons. Federline accused Spears of abusing drugs and alcohol. She lost custody of the boys in 2007 after she was caught driving without a license.
Usher Raymond vs. Tameka Foster
The high profile divorce and custody battle over the ex-spouses two sons lived on for years after their 2009 divorce. During their litigation, each of the parties threw out multiple allegations against the other ranging from infidelity to history of violence. Usher was granted primary custody.
Denise Richards vs. Charlie Sheen
After three years of marital bliss, Richards filed for divorce in 2005 claiming Sheen was unfaithful, abusive and addicted to both pornography and prostitutes. The Wild Thing actress asked the court for an emergency court order to stop Sheen from seeing the children, alleging a serious issue in Sheen’s home could adversely affect them.
The bombshell mom asked the court to require that a monitor be present during Lee’s visits with their two sons, Brandon, 5, and Dylan, 3. The 47 year old accused her former husband of alcohol abuse and of being a “very angry, unstable man who presents a danger to others.” A California judge turned Anderson down, saying she saw no evidence of a need for monitoring.