Attorney on Usher-Tameka divorce: ‘My client loves her husband, children’
Usher Raymond IV and Tameka Foster Raymond
We’re going to theorize that Friday’s sneaky 4:59 p.m. Fulton County Superior Court divorce filing by lawyers for Atlanta pop star Usher Raymond IV didn’t catch the singer’s wife Tameka Foster Raymond totally by surprise.
For starters, Foster Raymond has hired Randall M. Kessler, one of the city’s most tenacious family law attorneys. Kessler’s specialty: representing the wives and mothers of the rich, famous and often deadbeat. For years, Buzz has chronicled Kessler’s diligent work for clients as he’s shaken loose elusive child support payments out of the piggy banks of rapper/actor T.I., former boxing heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield, former Milwaukee Bucks forward Jason Caffey and former Atlanta Falcon Andre Rison.
Two years ago when Caffey was doing his best to ignore $74,000 in back child support, we vividly recall Kessler telling us: “We’ve tried to keep it out of court, but with this much at stake, my client cannot keep waiting and hoping for him to do the right thing. We intend to ask the court to incarcerate Mr. Caffey until he pays what he owes.”
Atlanta family law attorney Randall Kessler
When we spoke with Kessler Monday, he was characteristically cordial but a lot less chatty, given that the ink isn’t yet dry on the divorce’s case number.
Said Kessler to Buzz: “All I can tell you is that my client loves her husband and she loves her children. She’s trying to keep this as private as possible.”
Kessler did confirm for us a status conference in the case is set for July 15 in front of Fulton County Superior Court Judge Bensonetta Tipton Lane.
In Fulton County, such a conference is routinely set 30 days after a petition is filed so a judge or his or her reps can familiarize themselves with the case. Both parties are required to attend.
Routinely, petitions can also be filed seeking temporary custody and/or child support.
The couple has two sons together, 1 1/2-year-old Usher Raymond V and 6-month-old Naviyd Ely Raymond. Usher and Tameka were married in August of 2007.
So far, Usher’s reps have not issued any statements on the matter. And the singer was remaining silent Monday on both his Twitter pages and his official website, Usherworld.com.
As expected, Kessler was not eager to gaze into any crystal balls for us Monday.
“Every single case is different,” he explained. “Some of these cases get settled and some end up in court. I’ll say this: Kids always make everything more important.”
What’s your take on the split? What went wrong? Are you Team Usher or Team Tameka?
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180 comments Add your comment
melvinowens
June 15th, 2009
2:11 pm
she was probably cheating on him
Listen To Your Mother
June 15th, 2009
2:12 pm
Why is it these celebrity types always marry some Noboby that is clearly and untimately after nothing but MONEY? His mother tried to warn him – too bad he didn’t listen! Hook up with a gold digger with two “previous relationship” kids and this is what happens. Their little ones were nothing more than anchor babies. As the slick lawyer says, “kids make everything more important”.
captainObvious
June 15th, 2009
2:13 pm
This marriage lasted 2 years too long
V
June 15th, 2009
2:14 pm
I think he married a Confidant and not his Soulmate…
Jodi
June 15th, 2009
2:14 pm
Team Usher all the way
Girl I feel You!
June 15th, 2009
2:16 pm
It was bond to happen sooner or later, he just wasn’t ready to settle down and be commited to one and only one woman….He is a MAN!
steve
June 15th, 2009
2:17 pm
Usher, do you realized how dumb you look. Marrying this chick, having kids and now divorcing her. No one agreed with you and Tameka having this relationship and now you have lost a huge following of your fans. Chilli doesn’t look bad after all!!!
Oh well
June 15th, 2009
2:17 pm
She left her first husband and children for Usher….now it looks like she is leaving Usher…I wonder if she is going to leave the kids behind with Usher like she did her first husband….anyway I always thought she was wayyyyyy too old for him anyway. Just my opinion….
Jodi
June 15th, 2009
2:18 pm
V – you just answered my question on why in the world did he marry her.
Barry
June 15th, 2009
2:18 pm
Hey Y’all:
Usher was crazy to masrry this woman. But who knows? What he does have is an experienced “old lady” that can take care of his kids. He huist got p—-y whupped in the bed. Experience won. Now he has to “pay”.
drea
June 15th, 2009
2:19 pm
Team Usher. Usher you finally realized what your mother and everyone else tried to warn you of. Live and Learn. I still have nothing but LOVE for you.
kat68
June 15th, 2009
2:21 pm
I’m on Jesus team …
Oh well
June 15th, 2009
2:21 pm
Who really knows what happened between Usher and his wife. She looks AT LEAST 20 years older than he does….
Someone stated that she probably cheated on him…I beg to differ…He probably cheated on her..shoot he cheated with her when he was with Chilli. THAT alone should tell anyone that just because Chilli is wayyyyy better looking than Tameka has less than JACK to do with a man that cheats……
marc
June 15th, 2009
2:21 pm
Dude, I am so happy. Now I have another chance at being with him.
GIT R DONE
June 15th, 2009
2:22 pm
It was clear that she was trying to do everything in her power to hold on to him. Two babies and a botched plastic surgery later he files for divorce. Things that make you go WTG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAY TO GO…….Usher we know you can do soooooo much better the next go around!
mrlucky
June 15th, 2009
2:22 pm
Mr Usher married a older woman with a familyhe is a young wealthy singer and considered a attractive catch probably by many woman. I think he made a error in the beginning and will unfortunately be paying for it until the END!
The sad part is there are children involved and Ultimately they are the true sufferers
marc
June 15th, 2009
2:24 pm
everybody say…..A…men… Everybody Say A…..Men Amen, Amen.. USHER GETTING DIVORCED…A…Men…
Danielle
June 15th, 2009
2:26 pm
Married or Single, I still have much love for Usher.. 8701..
CJ
June 15th, 2009
2:35 pm
Usher is “family”. I’m proud he’s chosen June to come out!
Jackie
June 15th, 2009
2:35 pm
I hope he had a prenup…
Atlanta Native
June 15th, 2009
2:35 pm
None of our business, really. You can’t help but to wonder, however, what could have changed so drastically in 2 years time – less than that if you believe how long they’ve been separated.
tt
June 15th, 2009
2:36 pm
My sentiments exactly. I knew this would happen. She got what she wanted – more money.
charlie
June 15th, 2009
2:36 pm
It is so apparent that the marriage was doomed from the beginning. She already had children and he was obviously attractive to her with all his wealth. She had to feed the children from her previous marriage. It is unfornate that Usher decided to have children with her. This clearly appears to be driven by her desire to obtain financial freedom. I am sorry Usher is on the end requiring him to potentially write a check. The advice of Usher’s Mother is probably all he thinks about now.
SecretKeeper
June 15th, 2009
2:36 pm
He probably woke up early and saw her before she shaved.
Kiki
June 15th, 2009
2:36 pm
Looks like Tameka was making love in da club….Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,….Usher is telling Tameka “You don’t have to call…it’s ok girl..I will be all right tonight….
Tara
June 15th, 2009
2:37 pm
She almost died trying to keep him so I’m sure she made him get married cuz she was preggers! Tameka, move on..he’s not worth it. His dumb arse should not have gotten married. He’s a big kid….he probably only sees his babies when the cameras are around. Take the high road Tameka…go back to work and take care of those cute kiddies.
cece
June 15th, 2009
2:37 pm
Dang Usher why didnt you listen to your mother. havent you heard, mother knows whats best. Anyway its too late, damage has been done and you have 2 beautiful boys. just take care of the them as I know you would and move on. take care!!!
Sylvia
June 15th, 2009
2:39 pm
Usher was p-whip, mama’s knows best, should have listen to her. Tameka did what me and any other women that has a man in Usher’s position. Have plenty of children to love by this man, thereore he will be paying out big money until they are 18 or 21. I’m sure that a pre-nup was signed so she will not get too much from the marriage. Tameka looks older than Usher mamma Usher make the mistake not Tamika she knew what she was doing. She was just a old mother hen waiting for her turn.
ms jb
June 15th, 2009
2:39 pm
I agree with you, mrlucky. Also she makes all women look bad with this mess!!!!!
SUGAR PIE
June 15th, 2009
2:39 pm
WHEN ARE THE CHILDREN GONNA REALIZE..MOTHER KNOWS BEST! (IN THIS CASE).. SHE SAW THAT GOLD DIGGA COMING A MILE AWAY. UNFORTUNATE FOR THE CHILDREN THE PARENTS WERE TOO SELFISH TO WAIT AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER BETTTER BEFORE MAKING THE SERIOUS DECISION TO WED.DIVORCE IS HARD ENOUGH ON THE PARENTS. NOW THE KIDS HAVE TO GO THOUGH IT TOO. GOOD LUCK….
LYNN
June 15th, 2009
2:40 pm
totally agree with you tt…she was only after the money..popping out 2 babies in 2 years..WTH
Sylvia
June 15th, 2009
2:40 pm
Enter your comments here
Macho Dance Observer
June 15th, 2009
2:43 pm
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Bensonetta Tipton Lane suffers no fools. Randall Kessler will run up a big tab and lose. Kessler pretends to be noble but he loves media attention too much to truly settle a case outside of the spotlights. Randall Kessler wants to do (in the words of Judge Lane) his “Macho Dance”.
Sorry that Usher’s got to deal with this Bozo Kessler.
Deeeetroit
June 15th, 2009
2:43 pm
I knew it would happen. But one thing, would you all being saying he is too old if, the ages were in reverse. He’s 38 , she’s 30, but anyhow, is it a double standard here. I can’t understand what was the attraction to her in the first place? Definitely not beauty.
Em
June 15th, 2009
2:43 pm
I am so sad, that they are divorcing. Divorces are no joke! I still have love for you Usher.
Not Judging but...
June 15th, 2009
2:49 pm
I hate they are divorcing and I hope they can keep an amicable and civil relationship for their precious boys. It’s not story that it truly “takes a village” to raise children these days – so that they are confident, secure and loved.
However, I thought from early in his career, that Usher may be homosexual. Not that it matters to me one way or another how anyone chooses to live their lives (judge not, lest you be judged), but I do wonder if he was trying to keep up an image.
Either way, divorce is painful for all sides and I hope they can get through this as healthily as possible. Especially for their children…
1truGApeach
June 15th, 2009
2:50 pm
I really think he should have stayed with Chili. Also, Usher please take care of those beautiful babies.
What it love?
June 15th, 2009
2:51 pm
What it really love on either side:Usher or Tamika. We really don’t know what has taken place. Why the surgery? Why another child if the marriage was already in trouble? We all know that we thought Chili was the one for Usher. Was marrying Tamika a way to stand up to his mother and get back at her for not accepting Chili, because she did not want her son to marry a woman with an already made family. So he goes out to marry a woman with a large already made family, and separates his business tides from mom. Grow up Usher and Tamika stop having babies at the drop of a hat and be the best mom you can be without a man. Usher temper tandrums can cost you a lot of money and wasted time.
What it love?
June 15th, 2009
2:51 pm
Enter your comments here
Melissa
June 15th, 2009
2:52 pm
LOL @ SecretKeeper – you wrong for that!
But seriously, Momma Raymond saw through all that Maybelline, as we did, but Ursh had to learn for himself. He’s going to payin’ out the azz for a long time to come – my only prayer is that Ursh and Maneka (especially Maneka) don’t use the boys as puppets.
Yea...
June 15th, 2009
2:52 pm
I heard this was coming months ago from a friend. Hear that Usher and Chilli are getting back together…and that is straight from her (Chilli’s) mouth!
Anthony
June 15th, 2009
2:53 pm
They both screwed up. He violated God’s law by messing around with a married woman and she by cheating on her first husband. Nothing was ever going to come of this because they went about it the wrong way. The only thing that looks worst than the cheating, is putting 5 innocent and an innocent ex-husband in the middle of all of this mess. Do you think she gets down on her knees from this day forth and apologize profusively to the ex-husband so that he takes her back? She has to feel like crap and Usher reall can’t feel like a ‘REAL MAN,” with all of this b.s going on.
God bless the chidlren!
ocbmom58
June 15th, 2009
2:54 pm
I think he was committed to her until she went to South America to have plastic surgery. I think that he had no idea what she was going for and only found out when she almost died. I think that was the last straw. And as everyone else says Momma knows best.
Em
June 15th, 2009
2:55 pm
Everything will be alright Tameka, Let him go! He is too young for you any way. He would have been cheating all the time probably anyway. I belive that you both are good people, but some things just don’t work, especially when some people start marrying people eight, nine and ten year older, this is especially when women marry men younger than they are. Get someone close to your age!!
SeeThroughTheBS
June 15th, 2009
2:56 pm
I’m a record producer and stated the fact back when the announcement of Usher’s engagement and forthcoming child that it wasn’t about Tameka. Everyone in the music industry knows that Usher is just another GAY man that wanted children. To be honest he could have accomplished having children with a less costly surrogate mother since this is all Tameka used her body for. Tameka knew this about Usher because he wasn’t feeling her from the start, but to loan her womb out for this pricey sum of money is what makes her the gold digger that she is. Usher got the children and Tameka got the golden coins. The only person that had any common sense in the entire matter was Usher’s mom, but hey she has 2 grand kids to spoil, so she benefited as well
Jodi
June 15th, 2009
2:58 pm
I’m sorry although I liked him and Chilli together…he shouldn’t be backtracking. They ended that relationship for a reason…so I hope that is a false rumor.
ant banks
June 15th, 2009
2:58 pm
ursha will use this experience to write an album that will sell millions and reap untold fortunes!! he did this with “confessions.” everybody will be okay. ursha has plenty of money.
now these li’l huzzies roun’ here havin’ babies for guys makin’ less than minimum wage…these are the ones that y’all need to be worryin’ about. these are the ones more likely to be on welfare. not ursha’s kids
Anthony
June 15th, 2009
2:59 pm
The lady is not ugly and beauty is not the greatest asset when chossing a mate. 90% of the people on here focusing on the lady’s looks are probably to young or dumb to understand what love really is all about or they’re immature haters posing as adults. She looks like an ordinary sistah, not a superstar that has all day to work with a personal trainer, makeup artsist, hairstylist, or clothing designer.
AMack
June 15th, 2009
3:00 pm
I have never liked Tameka. What kind of mother goes off to a foreign country to have plastic surgery 2 months after giving birth (and keeping it a secret from her husband to boot??)? Come one…gimme a break. Usher should have listened to his mama when this first all started. She was right on. I just hope Usher was smart enough to sign a prenup so the gold digger won’t get much.
Forrest_Gump
June 15th, 2009
3:01 pm
Stupid is what Stupid does ! ! . What a Fool you are Usher. What a fool. You get everything you deserve!. Your momma told you not to and you did it anyway. So pay up. Period. Point Blank. ! !