Tyrese Gibson is asking a Georgia court to intervene after learning that his 7-year-old daughter was relocated across the country without his consent.
According to court filings obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday, December 4, the actor and musician submitted a request for primary custody of his daughter, Soraya, after her mother, Samantha Gibson, moved from Georgia to Oregon.
The filing, dated October 3, argues that the move placed more than 2,500 miles between Tyrese and his daughter and disrupted an arrangement that had previously allowed him to remain actively involved in her daily life.
In the court documents, Tyrese states that he objected to the relocation as soon as he became aware of it and maintains that he never agreed to Soraya leaving Georgia.
Tyrese and Samantha were married in 2017 and separated in 2020, finalizing their divorce after years of legal disputes related to custody and support. In 2023, Samantha was awarded primary custody of Soraya, with Tyrese retaining parenting time.
According to the new filing, Samantha notified Tyrese in August of her intention to move west after her lease expired, citing personal and spiritual reflection as the reasons.
Tyrese contends the relocation blindsided him, particularly because the pair had recently negotiated a revised child support agreement. In messages included with the filing, he emphasized that their prior discussions about school choices were specific to the Atlanta area and did not include plans for an out-of-state move.
In his motion, Tyrese argued that Atlanta remains the most stable environment for Soraya, noting that he lives there along with his older daughter, Shayla. He highlighted the importance of the sisters growing up near one another and described his bond with Soraya as a key source of stability following the recent loss of both parents.
Financial details were also outlined in the court records. Tyrese had previously been ordered to pay $10,000 per month in child support based on a significantly higher income. A revised agreement lowered that amount to $5,500 per month, reflecting a reported change in earnings.
Samantha later responded in court, confirming that she is now living in Oregon with Soraya and disputing the claim that Tyrese’s consent was required for the move. She also alleged that he did not consistently use his designated parenting time while Soraya lived in Georgia.