NBA Star Dwight Howard's Custody Battle Over 15-Year-Old Daughter Escalates To Contempt Of Court Claims

Dwight Howard is not backing down in his escalating custody battle.

The former athlete is demanding that his ex, Tiffany Render, be found in contempt of court, alleging she defamed him amid their legal fight.

Dwight Howard and Tiffany Render initially agreed to joint custody in January 2023, but their legal battle reignited in November of that same year.

The 39-year-old claims Render defied a court order by publicly badmouthing him, allegedly exposing their 15-year-old daughter to the negativity.

Howard insists that Render's actions were intentional and in direct violation of the court's orders. His petition argues that "[Tiffany] should be found to be in willful contempt of this Court."

In a petition Howard filed on January 8 in a Georgia court, he believes Render has ignored the legal agreement by making disparaging remarks about him.

His legal team argues that her actions are not only damaging to his reputation but also harmful to their child. According to In Touch, Howard's attorney stated in the filing that:

"[Tiffany] has willfully failed and refused to comply with those requirements and has continued to speak negatively, and publicly, about [Dwight] defaming his name and character and has done so in a manner in which the minor child is exposed to same."

Howard's courtroom war with Render took a dramatic turn, with reality TV now in the mix. Render claims Howard's push to hold her in contempt of court is not about defamation but rather her involvement in a reality show alongside another of his exes, Royce Reed.

In a statement to In Touch, Render revealed that "Ladies of Orange County FL" has finished filming and is currently being shopped to networks. Despite Howard's allegations, she insists she has not publicly trashed him or violated any court orders.

But Howard is not backing down. A hearing is set for March 27, and he is demanding that Render not destroy any texts, emails, or videos related to the case. His legal team has made it clear:

"[Tiffany] is further notified that a failure to comply with this notice may result in sanctions for any destruction or failures to preserve any such evidence, including, without limitation, adverse inferences against [Tiffany] at trial, as well as an award of expenses and attorney's fees necessitated by such conduct."

Prior to his recent filing, Howard issued a subpoena to Render in November 2024, demanding all communications related to their daughter.

The Blast reported that he wanted every email and text Render exchanged with Layla's doctors, teachers, coaches, tutors, and even youth group leaders. 

His legal team demanded all messages from January 2024 onward, insisting that these communications were crucial to the case.

But Howard did not stop there. The subpoena also ordered Render to turn over her 2023 tax return, all of that year's pay stubs, andany employment records. On top of that, he wanted any evidence she planned to use against him in the ongoing custody dispute.

Howard's custody battle previously took a major turn in his favor. The father-of-five initially agreed to joint custody in January 2023, but by November of that year, he returned to court, accusing Render of poor parenting.

In his filing, he pointed to "several changes" affecting Layla's welfare, including concerns about her safety, behavior, and social media activity. He alleged that his daughter had been posting inappropriate content online and attributed it to Render's lack of discipline.

His arguments swayed the court, which ruled in his favor in January 2024, awarding him temporary primary custody and halting his $3,000 monthly child support payments. Meanwhile, Render was given visitation rights, with the schedule determined by mutual agreement.

Howard's custody war for his daughter is his first time in the courtroom. Before his 2023 legal battle with Render, he was embroiled in another family dispute, this time over visitation rights for his son, David.

In 2020, Edelmira Vega Rios, the mother of Howard's late ex-girlfriend Melissa Rios, took legal action, demanding the right to remain in David's life. She argued that she had been a constant presence since his birth and that maintaining their bond was in his best interest.

Edelmira's petition went beyond occasional visits; she sought regular time with David, including during his schooling. She clarified that she wanted an active role in his upbringing, not just limited contact.

With accusations flying, Dwight Howard's custody battle for his daughter is only getting messier.