Demi Moore has become involved in daughter Rumer Willis’ custody dispute with ex Derek Richard Thomas over their daughter, Louetta, according to court filings and public statements reported this week. Rumer, 37, welcomed Louetta in April 2023 after beginning her relationship with Thomas the year before. The couple split by 2024, and since then they have been engaged in an increasingly contentious legal battle over custody and parenting responsibilities.
In the filings, Rumer accused Thomas of a “persistent pattern” of emotional abuse and described his behavior as erratic and bizarre, saying it worsened after Louetta’s birth. Demi supported those claims in a declaration submitted in January, where she described what she said she personally witnessed during Louetta’s home birth. Moore alleged that Thomas unexpectedly got into the birthing tub without asking and without showering, surprising everyone present. She said Rumer asked him to leave immediately, and claimed he then spent the rest of the birth angry and withdrawn, turning attention away from Rumer and the baby.
Moore also said Thomas behaved aggressively the day after the birth, complaining when family members came over to help and support Rumer. She claimed he pressured Rumer not to have her mother and sisters present and continued arguing with her less than 12 hours after the delivery. According to Moore, he refused to leave Rumer alone until she walked out of the room to get away from him. She further alleged that when she tried to hold Louetta for the first time, Thomas abruptly demanded the baby back for skin-to-skin contact, and that he resisted when the child needed to be bundled and swaddled.
Beyond the birth-related allegations, Moore accused Thomas of trying to isolate Rumer from her family and create stress and fear around her. She claimed he repeatedly made encounters difficult and attempted to cut Rumer off from her support system. Moore also said Louetta was often returned to her home dirty, with an unchanged diaper and a filthy car seat, and that Thomas left basic care and cleanup responsibilities to Rumer, Moore, or household staff.
Moore added that Rumer is currently providing all financial and physical support for Louetta and said Thomas has not shown a genuine commitment to sharing parental duties. She portrayed him as unwilling to take responsibility or contribute meaningfully to the child’s care.
Thomas, however, is strongly denying the allegations. His attorney said the matter should be decided in court rather than in the press and rejected claims of domestic violence. The lawyer called Thomas a loving and capable father and said he wants to maintain a relationship with his daughter. He also accused Rumer of obstructing that relationship without justification.
The custody case remains ongoing, with both sides presenting sharply different accounts of Thomas’ behavior and his role as a parent.
