Tameka Raymond, Usher’s ex-wife, suffered fresh heartache today after losing the custody battle over their two sons.
Usher, 33, was awarded primary care of 4-year-old Usher Raymond V and Naviyd, 3, after a ruling by Georgia judge, TMZ reports.
It comes just weeks after Tameka Raymond’s 11-year-old son Kile – from a previous relationship – tragically died following a freak jet ski accident last month.
The former couple was both giving evidence last week, with Tameka trying to prevent Usher from taking sole custody of their two young sons, while closing arguments were also delivered.
It was a messy battle which saw Tameka Raymond accuses Usher of being an absent father – while he branded her a bad mother who was unable to bond with their children.
Usher was awarded primary care of 4-year-old Usher Raymond V and Naviyd, 3, after a ruling by Georgia judge
Their two sons will no spend most of their time with their father – while it is unclear how much access Tameka will get to her boys.
Usher and Tameka Raymond, 41, previously had a co-parenting agreement in place.
According to Fox Atlanta, an attorney representing the singer said at an earlier hearing: “We believe the evidence is that Ms Raymond is incapable of being a proper parent to these children.
“That she does not have the emotional stability or capacity to bond with them, and therefore she is handicapped.”
However Tameka Raymond’s attorney Lisa West told the court the pop star is on the road all the time, and cannot rely on the “village” of his mother, grandmother and aunt, who all attended, to keep the children.
She added that he does not have a good relationship with his mother, and said Tameka is determined to fight for custody.
Usher and Tameka Raymond divorced in 2009 and both sides admitted the current co-parenting arrangement is not working.
They have been attending Fulton County for various hearings over the past several months, with both giving testimony.
Usher, whose surname is Raymond, told the court on Monday last week that he tries to focus on his children when they are with him, but sometimes he has to juggle other commitments.
According to the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he said: “I try to do all of my work when I don’t have the children, but there may be times when there’s an obligation of something that comes up.”
Tameka Raymond, Usher’s ex-wife, has accused the singer of feigning grief over the sudden death of her son Kile Glover in a bid to win sympathy in their bitter custody battle.
Tameka Raymond slams Usher in newly-filed court documents, claiming he visited his former stepson, Kile Glover, in hospital only once before the 11-year-old was taken off life support.
According to TMZ, Tameka Raymond is asking the judge to deny her ex’s request to delay their next custody hearing, claiming he is only pretending to need the extra time to mourn Kile Glover’s death.
Usher, real name Usher Terry Raymond IV, and fashion stylist Tameka Raymond, who divorced in 2009 after two years of marriage, are currently fighting for custody of their two sons, Usher Raymond V, 4, and Naviyd, 3.
According to TMZ, Usher, 33, requested their August 13 hearing be delayed, claiming heading to court “in the immediate wake of this tragedy” would cause “unnecessary stress and strain” for all parties involved.
He also fears the court might rule against him in the case in favor of a grieving mother, according to the website.
Tameka Raymond has accused Usher of feigning grief over the sudden death of her son Kile Glover in a bid to win sympathy in their bitter custody battle
But Tameka has scoffed at the request in subsequent filings, claiming Usher’s attempt to delay the hearing is “simply a transparent sham”, calling his feelings for Kile “bogus”, reports suggest.
The grieving mother claims Usher “visited Kile in the hospital only once” in the 15 days he was on life support following a freak boating accident last month.
Tameka Raymond also claims Usher refused to tweet a message asking followers to “please pray for Kile”, instead opting to tweet a photo of his breakfast.
She asks the judge to move forward with the hearing as scheduled, and claims it will help her to move on from the tragedy, TMZ reports.
Kile Glover, Tameka Raymond’s son with Atlanta-based clothier Ryan Glover, was struck in the head during a jet ski collision while riding an inner tube on Lake Lanier in Atlanta, Georgia on July 6.
According to authorities, a family friend who was riding a jet ski behind the pontoon lost control and collided with Kile Glover’s tube.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Kile Glover was with an unidentified 15-year-old girl at the time and both children were airlifted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston.
He was later declared brain dead.
Kile Glover was taken off life support by doctors, who determined that he would not recover from his injuries, two weeks after the accident.
Tameka Raymond subsequently led mourners at his funeral, held in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 27.
Tameka Raymond and Usher’s sons are both believed to have been present at the service.
