Jesse Williams files motion to modify child custody agreement with ex-wife

Jesse Williams, 43, is back in court, this time in search of equal joint physical custody of his children, Sadie, 10, and Maceo, 9. We’re writing this since the actor has been in court several times prior to now, fighting for more time with his children.

According to court documents, Williams, who currently shares custody with his ex-wife, Aryn Drake-Lee, is asking for more time because his current contract allows him to have a maximum of two overnight stays per school yr..

“There is no question that spending more time with me is in the best interest of the children,” Williams said. “The children benefit from the love and stability I provide and continue to ask to spend more time with me. I am actively involved in Sadie and Maceo’s lives.”

The actor also accuses his ex-wife of getting a “bizarre obsession” with keeping him from participating of their children’s extracurricular activities, no matter his efforts to cultivate a healthy co-parenting relationship. He explained in recent court documents that she interferes with his relationship with his children by blocking FaceTime calls, not allowing him to attend various activities with their children and manipulating vacation schedules to minimize the time he spends with his two children. On that basis, Jackson argued that there’s “good reason” for his children to spend “less time” with Drake-Lee.

“I have never denied Aryn access to the children. I continue to model normal, healthy co-parenting, hoping she will see that this works better than chaos and conflict,” Williams argued. “Aryn’s behavior is the opposite — it is designed to undermine my care and my relationship with my children, and she is not concerned about the impact her behavior is having on our children.”

The former couple met in 2007, when Williams was still a teacher in New York City. They married in 2012 after five years together. The Power actor filed for divorce from Drake-Lee in 2017, and so they have been in legal battles over their children and funds ever since. The divorce was finalized in 2020, with Williams ordered to pay $40,000 a month in child support and each parties given joint legal and physical custody of the kids. The former couple returned to court in February 2022, with the actor accusing Drake-Lee of “repeatedly violating court orders” and “erratic, controlling behavior.”

That same yr, after leaving Grey’s Anatomy, Williams’ alimony payments were reduced to $6,413 per thirty days.