Djimon Hounsou is simply trying to be an active, present father. He's seeking joint custody of his children—a son born in 2022 and daughter born in 2023—and wants to ensure he's involved in both their legal and physical upbringing.
Sources close to the situation say this custody battle is anything but amicable. Ri'za Marie Simpson isn't backing down either—she's fighting for primary physical custody while claiming Djimon's acting career and frequent travel make him an unstable parent. She's also asking HIM for child support, which is a power move.
Court docs filed in late January 2026 show Djimon seeking joint legal AND physical custody of their two children (son born 2022, daughter born 2023). In December 2025, Atlanta police were called after Djimon claimed Ri'za hit him in the face—she was arrested for simple assault and obstruction. She later obtained a temporary restraining order against him but dismissed it after reaching an agreement.
This custody war is far from over, and the December incident is going to play center stage when these two face off in court. Whoever has the better legal team is about to win this fight.
Djimon Hounsou is taking his baby mama Ri'za Marie Simpson back to court—and this time, it's all about who gets the kids. According to court documents obtained by Celebrity Bytes, the 'Gladiator' actor filed papers in late January 2026 seeking joint legal and physical custody of their two children: a son born in 2022 and a daughter born just last year. But here's where it gets messy—Ri'za isn't going down without a fight.
In her response filings, Ri'za agreed to shared legal custody but argued she should be awarded primary physical custody of both kids. Her reasoning? She cited their respective employment and travel histories, essentially painting herself as the more stable parent while implying Djimon's acting career keeps him constantly on the move.
The woman also dropped a bombshell—she's asking Djimon for child support, claiming the breakup has had a 'significant impact on her finances.' This custody battle comes months after a dramatic December incident that landed Ri'za in handcuffs. TMZ first reported that Djimon contacted Atlanta police, claiming Ri'za hit him in the face after he asked her to leave his home. She was arrested and charged with simple assault and obstruction for allegedly providing false information to officers.
Following that arrest, Ri'za obtained a temporary restraining order against Djimon—but she later dismissed it after reaching some kind of agreement with him. The timing is eyebrow-raising to say the least: Djimon filed his custody papers in late January while Ri'za was still dealing with legal fallout from December's alleged assault. Sources familiar with the situation tell Celebrity Bytes this has been an ugly split, with both parties digging their heels in over parenting time and financial obligations.
Neither side appears willing to compromise, which means this could turn into a prolonged courtroom battle. With accusations of domestic violence lurking in the background and competing claims about who's the better parent, Djimon and Ri'za are headed for a showdown that will determine how these two children split their lives between two households.
