Jesse Williams and his ex-wife, Aryn Drake-Lee, had a back and forth about her new boyfriend, where the Grey’s Anatomy star demanded information about the man, In Touch can exclusively report.
On May 23, Aryn filed an emergency motion demanding Jesse’s legal team be disqualified from the case due to “egregious misconduct that amount to fraud upon the court, the systemic use of hearsay in place of any admissible or substantiated evidence and repeated, escalating violations” of her constitutional rights to due process.
Aryn and Jesse, 43, split in 2017 after nearly five years of marriage. The exes share two kids.
They finalized a settlement in 2020, but have been in and out of court ever since.
Late last year, Jesse asked the court to modify the custody schedule to be 50/50 and for sole legal custody when it came to medical decisions.
Aryn said she was not opposed to Jesse having more time with the kids but had some objections to the proposal.
Jesse said, “The children and I are crazy about each other, and we have a deeply loving active and closely bonded relationship. There is absolutely no reason why Aryn should have more custodial time with the children than me.” He also claimed Aryn had refused to answer certain questions about her new boyfriend.
Jesse Williams and Aryn-Drake Lee.
In response, Aryn also accused Jesse of being a bully who often threatened to take her to court if she didn’t comply with his demands.
As In Touch first reported, the judge awarded Jesse sole legal custody of the kids after a court hearing. Aryn accused the judge of not allowing her to present evidence. She filed an appeal of the decision, which is pending.
Now, in her new filing, Aryn claims Jesse’s lawyers repeatedly presented factual claims about medical decisions, behavior and communications “with no supporting admissible evidence, violating evidentiary standards.”
Aryn also attached a transcript from a hearing that took place on March 20 in the case.
The exes were present in the court when the judge awarded Jesse sole legal custody. They also talked about Aryn’s boyfriend.
The court asked what the issue was. Jesse’s lawyer said the existing order prohibited either party from introducing their children to a romantic partner unless they’ve been dating for six months.
“And that never happened,” his lawyer said. “And so the information wasn’t — we don’t know when [Aryn] introduced the children. So what [Jesse] had asked was, ‘Please tell me how long you’ve been dating this person.’ And that was never responded to.”
Jesse Williams and Aryn Drake-Lee.
Jesse told the judge, “Can I just say, the issue is not for me. It’s not anybody’s personal life. Her personal life is her own. The first thing I said was ‘Congratulations. It’s terrific.’”
He continued, “She insisted we put in the order originally — it’s in our order today to my knowledge – that if you’re going to put somebody on a pickup list for their regular life, school et cetera, give the other party their contact information.”
Jesse added, “When I get a new nanny or I have a new romantic partner, I supply her with — I give her a picture of her driver’s license, her passport, their phone number, just so that you know who is driving our children around in a major city. That’s all.”
He said, “She sent me a notice saying he is on the pickup list. Whether she did or not is her prerogative, but she told me, ‘He is now on the pickup list.’” Jesse said he told Aryn, “Just bring by the contact information and feel free to give him mine. And she just said, ‘No.’”
Aryn said, “Nobody was ever added to any pickup list of any kind.”
The court then told her she did not need to add anything because he would not be making any orders on the request for more information about her boyfriend.
In response to Aryn demanding his lawyers be disqualified, Jesse said her request should be denied since there is no emergency.
His lawyer argued, “On May 14, 2025, Aryn filed a Notice of Appeal of the Court’s orders entered on April 16, 2025, and May 6, 2025. Aryn is now attempting yet a third (3rd) strategy to nullify the Court’s orders by way of this meritless Ex Parte Application. Aryn cannot demonstrate any harm to the children as required by California law to warrant Ex Parte orders, nor can she demonstrate any other justification supporting this Ex Parte Application. Aryn’s Ex Parte should be denied.”
The judge has yet to rule.
