Rumer Willis and her former partner, Derek Richard Thomas, are in the middle of a custody dispute over their 3-year-old daughter, Louetta, after splitting in 2024, about a year after the child was born. The conflict has now escalated into court filings from both sides, with each accusing the other of misconduct and dishonesty.
In a January court declaration, Demi Moore, Rumer Willis’s mother, described Thomas as aggressive and controlling. She said he seemed determined to control Rumer’s environment and showed no care or support toward her or the baby. Moore also recounted an incident around the time of Louetta’s birth, alleging that Thomas behaved inappropriately during the delivery and later reacted angrily when Moore and Rumer’s sisters visited to offer support. According to Moore, Thomas complained that they had come over without his permission and berated Rumer about it.
Thomas has strongly denied those claims in his own filing. He says he has never acted aggressively or inappropriately and accuses Rumer of coordinating a media campaign against him across multiple outlets. He also alleges that Rumer has exploited their daughter in sponsored content that he says includes adult sexual humor, and claims he did not consent to Louetta’s involvement.
Thomas further argues that he has remained a present father, saying he FaceTimed Louetta daily for roughly a year and repeatedly tried to arrange in-person visits. He claims Rumer kept changing the conditions for those visits, making consistent contact difficult. He also disputes the reasons behind Rumer’s decision to take Louetta to Idaho after the January 2025 wildfires, saying it was not just to escape toxic air but was instead an attempt to establish residency there.
In addition, Thomas denies allegations that he used drugs, acted violently, or failed to provide financial support for his daughter. He says he is willing to pay reasonable child support and claims his average monthly income is a little over $2,000, which he says should be considered in any support calculation. He is asking the court to set clear visitation dates, arguing that the current situation has become chaotic and unreasonable.
What began as a private breakup has turned into a public and increasingly bitter legal fight. With both sides presenting sharply different versions of events, the custody dispute may continue for an extended period as the court weighs the competing claims.
