Jaime Lynn King just recently broke her silence. This follows her losing exclusive physical custody of her two children, James and Leo, to ex-husband Kyle Newman. Consequently, the actress has been embroiled in a stormy legal contest. For now, she’s able to speak openly about her fears and concerns. She was particularly worried after hearing last week that she would indeed have to go through a half-year rehabilitation program.
King is the proud mama of 11-year-old James and 9-year-old Leo. She opened up about how she got clean after using at an early age of 17 years old. She has overcome tremendous obstacles in her life. Now, the court has placed draconian conditions, such as having her visitation rights to see her sons supervised. She is only allowed to see them three times a week, for just one hour at a time. First, she needs to finish a drug and alcohol rehabilitation regimen and a 26-week parenting class.
Things like that, I had absolutely no idea when I got married very young. What I didn’t understand was that this is how the world works. I had no idea that legal systems functioned this way, King shared, reflecting on her experiences.
Beyond the required programs, King is currently required, through her case’s stipulation, to participate in individual counseling to work on case-related concerns. Joint counseling with her sons will happen when their therapist feels it is time to do so. In her remarks, she focused the most on the hurdles she encounters away from work. In addition, she highlighted the challenges in the legal system that regulates child custody agreements.
“It’s terrifying when to be able to be free means that you have to pay a very extreme price, and I’m not just talking about financially,” King stated, highlighting the emotional toll this situation has taken on her.
Though King and Newman were married in 2007, the pair have since divorced, setting the stage for King and Newman’s contentious current custody battle. In an interview, the actress opened up about her challenges in dealing with the legal system. She highlighted how difficult it’s been on women especially.
“I’ve been in abusive relationships in the past and, you know, even from the comments to the system, it’s very messed up, and what they do to women and how they can turn it on us is mind-blowing,” she remarked.
Acknowledging the obstacles she endures, King refuses to let down her guard and continue the role of mother. “My duty as a mother is to protect my children. And that’s all that matters to me. This is scary,” she said, expressing her determination to fight for her rights as a parent.
King’s plight helps to raise awareness about what can be the very difficult and confusing realities of custody disputes. She continues to balance her responsibilities all while trying to remain a communicative mother and role model to her two sons. Undeterred, she decides she’ll fight to bring about reform in the system.
“It’s very upsetting, and I will do everything in my power to change this system, and it’s not a will. I’m going to. There’s no price to pay for freedom,” King concluded, signaling her resolve amidst adversity.