Djimon Hounsou faced a new court fight after his former partner accused him of violating a custody order. Ri’za Marie Simpson claimed the ex of Kimora Lee Simmons took their children to California without providing enough advance notice.
The contempt request marked another contentious chapter in their ongoing custody dispute. Simpson also argued that the trip disrupted the children’s school schedule.
Ri’za Marie Simpson alleges Djimon Hounsou violated court travel order
According to TMZ, Simpson filed her petition earlier this month over an August 15 trip. She claimed Hounsou’s attorney told her about plans to take their children from Georgia to California.
Simpson said a previous court order required advance written notice for out-of-state travel. The traveling parent also had to provide the trip dates and accommodation details. However, Simpson claimed she received “at best an hour and a half of ‘advance notice.’” She argued that the notification fell nowhere near the court’s requirements.
The former couple shares two young children, a son born in 2022 and a daughter born in 2023. Simpson also argued that the California trip did not serve their children’s best interests.
According to her filing, the travel caused the children to miss their entire third week of school. She now wants the court to find Hounsou in willful contempt.
Simpson also asked the judge to make the actor cover her attorney’s fees and related expenses. A contempt ruling could potentially bring financial penalties or affect future custody arrangements.
Hounsou launched the custody case in January when he sought joint legal and physical custody. Simpson agreed to shared legal custody but requested primary physical custody herself.
She based that request partly on their respective employment schedules and travel demands. The former partners have since continued navigating an increasingly complicated family court battle.
The custody dispute followed another legal incident involving Simpson. Authorities arrested and charged her with simple assault roughly one month before Hounsou’s January filing. The charge stemmed from allegations that Simpson punched Hounsou in the face. Neither that matter nor the custody dispute has fully concluded.
Hounsou had not publicly responded to the new contempt petition.
