The last time Jennifer Hudson and her ex David Otunga made headlines they were going to trial because they couldn’t agree on the custody terms for their 9-year-old son David Otunga Jr.
The trial was set for August 5 but it’s not going to happen now because the former couple reached a deal in a Chicago family court, which puts an end to their nasty legal battle.
According to the Chicago Tribune, on Tuesday, July 16, in Cook County court they not only ironed out the actual custody parts but child support, as well. In April, reports emerged that Otunga wanted Hudson to pay his housing costs, aside from the child support she was already giving him.
The two were engaged for a decade but never married, which is why the singer’s lawyers argued that she shouldn’t be responsible for paying Otunga’s bills. They started fighting publicly over their son in March 2017.
Since then Otunga — a Harvard Graduate and an employee of the WWE — accused his former fiancée of being too busy with her career to be a good parent. It was something Hudson denied and her lawyer scoffed at.
“To accept David’s proposition that because he is present, he is a better parent would be to do a disservice to working parents in general and to Jennifer in particular,” court documents read.
At one point, Otunga even wanted Hudson’s sister Julia Hudson to testify about his ex’s parenting.
And in 2017 Hudson got a protective order against Otunga after she accused him of shoving her while she held their son. It’s something he denied and his attorney called a lie so she could gain custody.
The order stated that Otunga couldn’t be around their son until their next court date unless Hudson gave him written permission. Hudson dropped the order shortly afterward, and at the same time Otunga agreed that he wouldn’t return to her home.
The “American Idol” competitor has remained silent about the settlement, but her ex posted a photo to Instagram this week.
“In the words of Ice Cube, “Today was a good day!” wrote Otunga in a picture with his legal team. “#BestCustodyLawyersInChicago #OtungaDreamTeam.”
