Rumer Willis and Derek Richard Thomas’ custody dispute has escalated again, with Thomas rejecting drug allegations and accusing his ex of obstructing his court-ordered time with their 3-year-old daughter, Louetta.
Derek Richard Thomas is pushing back against Rumer Willis in their ongoing custody battle, denying allegations about drug abuse and claiming the actress has interfered with his relationship with their daughter. In an Aug. 27 declaration filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by PEOPLE, Thomas said Willis has repeatedly frustrated his access to Louetta.
Thomas rejected Willis’ previous claims concerning his alleged drug use, conduct that could endanger Louetta and his efforts to cooperate as a co-parent. He also alleged that Willis has done “everything in her power to interfere, block and frustrate” his relationship with their daughter, framing the latest filing as a response to her effort to change the existing custody arrangement.
The dispute centers in part on a June 9 custody order that granted Willis primary physical custody while giving Thomas parenting time every other weekend beginning June 20. According to the filing, Thomas said the arrangement called for six weeks of supervised visits before his parenting time shifted to unmonitored and overnight visits, but he alleges that transition has been repeatedly disrupted.
Thomas described one July visit in which he says a disagreement arose over an approved monitor. He alleged Willis later arrived with police and took Louetta from his care about 40 minutes into the visit, while officers characterized the disagreement as a civil matter. Thomas said he chose not to escalate the situation in front of their daughter.
The musician’s declaration came in response to an ex parte application from Willis seeking to vacate the June 9 order. Thomas is asking the court to leave that order in place, while Willis has previously raised concerns about his behavior and requested safeguards around his parenting time, including a custody evaluation.
The former couple’s legal dispute dates back to July 2025, when Thomas sought custody and visitation. In earlier filings, Willis accused Thomas of emotional abuse and alleged his behavior negatively affected Louetta, claims he has denied. Willis and Thomas began dating in 2022, welcomed Louetta in April 2023 and confirmed their split in 2024.
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