Rumer Willis wins primary custody of daughter following bitter court battle with ex

Rumer Willis, the eldest child of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, has won primary physical custody of her three-year-old daughter following a contentious court battle with her ex-partner, Derek Richard Thomas.

The 37-year-old, who split from Derek in August 2024 after two years of dating, will share joint legal custody of Louetta with her ex, according to court documents. The court also ruled that Rumer and Derek will participate in co-parenting counseling and will maintain communication through a co-parenting app.

Derek will be granted time with Louetta every other weekend starting from June 20, and these visits will transition into overnight stays from August onwards, after which no nannies or third parties will monitor them. “Mr Thomas is very pleased with the interim determination by the court on the custody issues,” said his attorney, Mike Kretzmer, to People. 

“Judge White was properly focused on the issues at hand and carefully weighed the evidence presented. We are pleased that the court established a custody and visitation order that provides Mr Thomas with a solid and meaningful opportunity to restore and grow his relationship with his daughter Louetta.”

The statement continued: “We look forward to presenting further evidence that Mr Thomas is a loving, devoted and committed father to Louetta when the court again hears this case.”

“As I previously said, Mr Thomas will try issues pertaining to custody of Louetta in court and will not distort matters by trying this case in the press.”

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The ruling comes after Rumer made explosive accusations in court documents alleging emotional abuse at the hands of Derek, with her mother, Demi, alleging that his behavior was “aggressive”. The A-lister claimed that he “appears to want to dictate and control Rumer’s environment to his needs,” and “wants to put Rumer at odds with our family, and creates unnecessary stress and fear for Rumer to this day.”

Learn more about Rumer’s daughter Louetta below…

Following Derek’s request for a child custody order, Rumer countered this with an allegation of his “persistent pattern” of “insane emotional abuse”, including “in front of the minor child or while they were trapped in the car with him.”

The actress added that she didn’t want Derek to have “overnights or time with Louetta” due to his alleged behavior. “I have committed no acts of domestic violence in any form, including any active coercive control,” Derek said in a reply declaration. 

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“[Our] relationship was unhealthy and appropriately came to an end, but it was not all characterized by any violence, physical or emotional attacks or intimidation on my part.” 

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“The decision to end the relationship between myself and [Rumer] was a mutual decision made in our mutual best interests,” he concluded. Rumer previously shared insight into her fraught relationship with Derek, revealing on The Inside Edit podcast that she realized she needed to leave after hearing her best friend Maeve Reilly’s wedding vows. 

“Your wedding literally was a huge reckoning moment for me in my life. I heard your vows, and I just realized that the situation I was in was never going to look like that, no matter how much effort I put in,” she admitted. “And I was just watching you guys, just weeping, holding my child, and I just thought, you know what? I need to have more value for myself.”