South Florida rapper Kodak Black, real name Bill Kapri, is currently embroiled in a severe custody dispute with Maranda Johnson, the mother of two of his children. The contentious case, being heard in Broward County court, involves accusations of domestic violence and unpaid child support. Johnson, age 23, alleges that Black has been violently abusive and has failed to provide adequate financial support for their 1-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. Despite these serious claims, Black has not faced any criminal charges related to domestic violence, as reported by CBS12.
Johnson has made headlines herself, having been arrested last Thursday at the courthouse after a custody hearing, charged with vandalism to Black's cars and engaging in a fight at their daughter's birthday party. Her attorney, Jodie Bassichis, called the arrest an "intimidation tactic" and indicated that her client's main goal was to exit a toxic relationship and secure child support. "All I wanted was to get away from a toxic relationship and have Dad do his part as a father," Johnson told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Johnson's legal strife includes lawsuits and criminal charges, which have piled up since she began the custody battle.
In response, Black's legal team has filed for full custody of the children. Black's attorney, Bradford Cohen, states that his client has consistently provided financial support for his children. He also referenced an incident at their daughter's birthday party, alleging Johnson became aggressive — a claim Johnson has vehemently denied. The Sun Sentinel notes that an emergency pick-up order was granted for Johnson in February after Black allegedly took their son and did not return him. Johnson has also pursued sole custody, citing Black's previous arrests and her own allegations of domestic violence.
The disputes seem to spiral beyond the immediate family matters, extending into allegations of unpaid child support. Johnson struggles with the reality of raising two toddlers while seeking to make a living via real estate, music, and reality TV. "It's a lot just doing it all alone when their dad is more than capable of helping," Johnson told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Yet, Black's attorneys assert that claims of financial negligence are unfounded and that Black has voluntarily agreed to pay child support, including the children's education.
Amid the legal turmoil, there have been escalating concerns regarding the children's safety. Johnson, along with at least one other mother of Black's children, has expressed worry about the children's well-being while in his care. There are reports of missed supervised visits and allegations of drug use by Black, which his attorneys dispute, attributing missed visits to scheduling conflicts. They continue to emphasize their client's commitment to finding a resolution that would enable co-parenting going forward, says reports from the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
