Already have an account?
Get back to the

Usher’s Ex on Their Reignited Custody Battle: ‘To Be Reduced to a Bitter Baby Mama Is Hurtful’

Tameka Foster
Usher's ex-wife Tameka Foster is speaking out about her custody battle

Usher and his ex-wife may have shared a hug in court last week, but things between the couple are icy.

Tameka Foster appeared on "Good Morning America" Wednesday to speak out for the first time about their son Usher V's near-drowning in the superstar's pool on August 5 and the couple's reignited custody battle.

"I don't know if there is a way for blood pressure to peak higher so quick," the stylist, 42, said about her ex, who has primary custody of their two sons, calling to tell her about the accident. "I was mad because I was like: How did this happen? Who was watching him? Why was my son under water for nearly 3 minutes?"

Though "mad," Foster said she didn't fault Usher. "I didn't blame him for it," she noted. "I just was angry it happened on his watch. Because while accidents happen, never have my children been injured on my watch."

Of course she knows about accidents. It was just a year ago that she buried her 11-year-old son, Kile Glover, from a previous marriage, who suffered a brain injury while swimming in a lake. She said this incident with Usher V made her relive the earlier tragedy, noting, "I even said on the phone: 'I've had this call before.'"

As for their custody battle — they faced off in court Friday with Foster seeking a new custody arrangement in light of pool accident (a judge ruled against her) — she said she did that because Usher, 34, is rarely home and she wants their children to be with her when he is traveling.

"I would like to have my first right of refusal, which means when he is not present the kids come home to their mom," she explained. "They don't stay home with the nanny and watch whatever show he is on. They come home to their mother."

Foster was asked about a psychological exam she took as part of the custody battle in which it was determined that she has a "moderately severe mental disorder." She said she will be retested and indicated that there has been a smear campaign against her by Usher's team.

"I'm an individual. I don't have a publicist. I don't have a manager. I don't have an agent. I've just got some regular working class friends and family members. We don't know how to fight the machine," she replied. "It is hurtful because it's so hard from the truth. You're talking about a woman who had her own career. To be reduced to some baby mama that's bitter and a gold digger is hurtful."

And while she says she doesn't hate Usher ("absolutely not … he's the father of my children"), Dan Abrams, who interviewed her, noted she didn't think the hug the R&B singer gave her in court was sincere and he only did it because cameras were rolling.

The exes will face off in court again on August 27 when they have another custody hearing. Meanwhile, Usher V is doing well after being released from the hospital.

More Celebrity Features on Yahoo!:

The Gosselin Kids Are All Grown Up — but Kate and Jon Still Can’t Seem to Get Along

Why Does Kanye West Need an Armored Car?

Oprah on Stedman: 'We're Like an Old Married Couple'

In this article

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!