Tyrese is currently behind bars for unpaid child support and will have to pay $73,000 in order to be released.
TMZ confirmed the singer and actor was taken into custody following a court hearing in Fulton County, Georgia on Monday (September 9).
Judge Kevin Farmer held Tyrese in contempt of court for not paying $10K/month in support to ex-wife Samantha Lee for their 5-year-old daughter Soraya, despite having been ordered to since April of last year.
In an Instagram Live the day before court, he seemed to know an arrest was coming, noting how he’s never been to jail because he doesn’t do anything illegal. He also questioned why Lee’s lawyers didn’t check his bank statements to prove he’s been paying – though TMZ reports he was paying about $2,200 a month.
The $73k he now owes includes $7,500 for Samantha’s attorney fees, and the outlet reports Tyrese is currently making arrangements to pay it and will thus be released soon.
The news comes just days after the Fast & Furious star launched into a rant about his emotions and announced that he is quitting social media.
He posted a lengthy caption on Instagram over the weekend following the release of his film 1992 and his latest album, Beautiful Pain.
“I’m officially retired from social media,” he began. “I’m gonna go dark. I’m gonna pray I’m gonna turn my comments off because I don’t want to be reminded of this very nasty and unbearable narrative that REAL MEN don’t cry.
“And if and when a man has a child on the way with that beautiful woman or fiancé or wife, and she ultimately has a miscarriage [ I thank God I’ve never experienced this ] the only person who is depressed sad or even suicidal over that loss is NOT JUST the woman.”
Tyrese then shared his thoughts on masculinity: “REAL MEN these days are constantly being emasculated and someone has said lately even have the nerve to put the word TOXIC in front of MASCULINITY.. yes, the epic failure of trying to make me feel bad about literally being A MAN, an APLHA MALE, protective or OUTspoken FATHER or HEAD of my HOUSEHOLD.”
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He then referenced his contentious divorce and current relationship with girlfriend Zelie Timothy: “I am not about to put up another post about my ex Samantha or any of the feelings that I’m still harboring over her waking up on a Wednesday, August 2020 and filing for divorce.. Why BECAUSE THIS ALBUM THAT HAS BURNED DOWN THE INTERNET called BEAUTIFUL PAIN wouldn’t exist if I was still married!
“I’m also not gonna put up another post to try and get a childish and mature, petty social media trolls to understand that the love of my life in Zelie Timothy NEVER asked to be here? And the smiles that have been on my face, the intimacy, the flirting, the laughter, wild, sex, and love making would not be here had this woman NOT showed up to help me to discover the BEAUTY IN my PAIN! Sadly, we still live in the world. It feels like man versus woman, and we are reminded that men are from Mars lol.”
Tyrese also said he wanted phone calls from three famous people: “All I want right now is a call from 3 people DENZEL WASHINGTON, STEVIE WONDER, and KING ALPHA and our fearless leader the honorable MINISTER LOUIS FARRAKHAN.”
Though his team briefly took over his social media accounts, the Baby Boy star has since resumed posting on Instagram.
