Some fans didn't realize that Tyrese Gibson was getting divorced until they saw him canoodling with someone new. So what happened to his soon-to-be ex-wife Samantha Lee Gibson, why did they split, and just who is his high-profile ex?
How Did Tyrese Meet His Wife?
The story goes that Tyrese met his wife through mutual friends, but no word on whether those friends were famous or not.
After about a year of dating, the two were married on Valentine's Day in 2017. The next year, they welcomed their daughter Soraya.
Why Did Tyrese And Samantha Lee Gibson Split?
Though his marriage was relatively quiet, fans were surprised when Tyrese and his wife announced their separation in late 2020. Their joint statement was shared via Instagram, on Tyrese's page, and stated that the two "decided to make a statement of a painful and significant development" in their lives.
However, they noted, their "intention is to remain the best of friends & strong coparents" for their toddler daughter. The statement elaborated that Samantha and Tyrese felt blessed to have found each other and grateful for their almost-four years of marriage.
Neither half of the couple publicized the reason for the split at that time, but they seemed to be ending on good terms. Not long after, however, Tyrese posted his own message on Instagram that seemed to tell a different story.
Fans Read Between The Lines Of Tyrese's Declaration
In his personal post, Tyrese seemed to waver from the joint statement he and Samantha Lee Gibson previously made. He started off by stating, "Black families and marriages are under attack..." and noting that the pain had sent him back to the studio to work on new music (though who knows whether he'll return for a 'Fast & Furious' reboot rather than releasing a new album).
He called Samantha the love of his life, thanked her, and said, "I hope you know that I did the very best I could... I truly did..."
Tyrese also expounded on the fact that he was not raised to be a husband or father, so how could he (or anyone) learn to be that without an example. Then, he expressed hope that he and Samantha would one day reconcile, and signed his message "Your forever husband."
The thing is, though fans read between the lines and thought something was amiss, as in, maybe Tyrese had stepped out on his marriage. Samantha Lee Gibson has since posted tributes to Tyrese, including one on his birthday, so publicly, the two seemed to be on good terms.
Yet sources say that Samantha Lee Gibson is the one who filed for divorce after Tyrese "cut her off financially" and locked her and their daughter out of the family home. After that, Samantha asked for $20,000 per month in child support, something Tyrese reportedly wasn't happy about.
It seems that their facade on Instagram was just that, and there was more to their split than just two people going their separate ways. And less than three months later, Tyrese was reportedly dating someone new (kind of a Hollywood trend, that one).
But who is Tyrese's soon-to-be ex-wife, and what is she all about?
Who Is Samantha Lee Gibson?
Back when Samantha Lee Gibson had just married Tyrese, fans wanted to know who had just tied the knot with their favorite artist and actor. It turns out that before she met Gibson, Samantha attended college, earned a master's degree, and became a counselor with a background in social work.
She was making her own money when they met, sources say, and was clearly a good match for Tyrese.
In terms of her background, Tyrese's fans weren't happy at first about him calling his new wife a "#BlackQueen." But then, details emerged about Samantha's background; she is reportedly African-American, Jamaican, and Ecuadorian.
Not that it was fans' business what her background is, of course, but it seemed that people who wanted to come after Tyrese had manufactured a reason to do so.
What Is Samantha Lee Gibson Doing Now?
Now that she's split from Tyrese and, fans can assume, dealing with divorce court and child support, what is Samantha Lee Gibson doing?
Samantha Lee Gibson Is A Licensed Clinician
Samantha Lee Gibson's Instagram pretty much says it all; she has a crown, notes that she's Soraya's mama, and lists herself as a UGA Alum and Licensed Clinician. She also reps for a sportswear brand, which she also links in her bio.
Though she might be asking for $20K per month in child support, it's clear that Lee can take care of herself (and her daughter). She also participates in a podcast and other community-building endeavors, earning her self-proclaimed title of "redeemed queen," no matter what Tyrese is doing in the periphery.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErZ%2Bippeoe6S7zGiuoaddnsBuwNirnKydXZy2o7%2FOp6pmq5%2Bku27AzmaZnmWVrXq4tcWeZKyZnZa7tbTAZqOenV2ctqO%2Fzqdm