Jesse Williams and Ex-Wife Both Claim 'Emotional Distress' in Damning Duel Custody Court Filings

Mar. 15, 2025

Aryn Drake-Lee and Jesse Williams.Photo: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images

Jesse Williamsand ex-wifeAryn Drake-Leetraded filings in court this week amid a contentious custody battle that spilled into the public eye.

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 Drakelee-Williams, 8, and son Maceo Drakelee-Williams, 7.

A previous court order granted Williams custody during his spring run in the play that allowed him four consecutive days a month in N.Y. with his children. But Drake-Lee, Williams said in his request, is now not honoring that agreement, specifically during the four weekends he’s requested beginning this October — many of which, Williams noted in the documents, coincide with school breaks.

He also complained 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.

“Aryn almost never answers my Facetime calls for the children,” Williams alleged, claiming she once blocked him from speaking with his kids for 24 days straight. “Aryn’s habitual violation of this long- standing court order is emotionally damaging not only for the children but admittedly for me. I cannot describe how emotionally devastating it is to continuously step out of an engagement and/or find a quiet, well-lit place for my one sliver of time in a day to see my children (via FaceTime), the two people I love the most in the world, only to sit there staring at myself waiting as it rings and rings and rings without her answering, or her just refusing and canceling the call. I know the children can hear the sound of my distinct FaceTime calls at the same time of day each day and see Aryn refuse them.”

“I attempted to resolve these issues with Aryn informally. Aryn refused,” Williams wrote in the papers. “Aryn’s conduct demonstrates her continued, unrelenting intent to frustrate my relationship with the children.

Jesse Williams and Aryn Drake-Lee.John Shearer/Getty Images

“I am not in agreement with a 7 year old and 8 year old being asked to fly on overnight red eye fights on a regular basis' missing at least 2 days of school per month,” she wrote, refuting his knowledge of their time off schedule. “Considering how exhausting and regressive these requests were for our children in the spring, I suspect that even more than just the 2 days a month will be missed as a result.”

“This was a temporary solution given for a temporary situation the first time. This is now a request that covers 8 out of 12 months of 2022. The majority of the school calendar year,” she added in the papers. “[Williams] will have been out of town more than in town, and he is requesting that the children be thrown upside down to accommodate that.”

She went on to say that Williams “refuses to work towards co-parenting solutions that create the stability that our children needs,” and argued that “he doesn’t have a history of engaging with a consistent schedule that supports the needs of our children” as she is the “primary attachment caregiver.” She claimed, instead, he sees the kids more as “cargo” he can ship back-and-forth at will.

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.

The court has not yet made a decision in the custody case. PEOPLE has reached out to representatives for Williams and Drake-Lee for comment.

On Wednesday, Drake-Lee appeared to make her feelings about the matter public, sharing an Instagram post that seemingly referenced the pains of co-parenting long-distance.

“Is it good for the health and wellness of a 7 year old and 8 year old to be taken out of school on a regular basis to fly cross country overnight on a red eye to be on the ground for two days? Is it reasonable for them to return dazed and confused and then be expected to pick right up and survive at school the rest of the week?” she asked. “I don’t think so! Neither do any of the parents who actually parent on a routine basis.”

“There’s a name for the condition of an adult who expects their children to indulge, caregiver and service that adult’s desires at the children’s expense…”

In her hashtags, Drake-Lee said that it was “receipt season” that told her followers that she’s “stayed quiet for far too long.”

Stefanie Keenan/WireImage

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.

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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.

Take Me Outwill begin Broadway performances again will on Oct. 27.

source: people.com