Jaime King & Jana Kramer Bond Over 'Terrifying' Child Custody System: 'I Didn’t Know That Legal Systems Work Like This'

They say it is easier to open up to somebody who has walked in your shoes, and it seems that is what Jaime King had in her talk with Jana Kramer.

The actress is finally speaking up on losing the custody of her two kids to her estranged husband, Kyle Newman in a sit down with podcaster Kramer.

Jaime King and her ex-husband tied the knot in 2007 in Los Angeles. The couple stayed together for 13 years before she filed for divorce five years ago in 2020.

King became vulnerable about her fears regarding the child custody system after losing custody of her two children, James and Leo, to her ex-husband, Newman.

During her appearance on the "Whine Down with Jana Kramer" podcast, she described the experience as "terrifying" and emphasized her role as a mother in protecting her children.

King reflected on her past, admitting that she was unprepared for the realities of marriage and custody when she tied the knot at a young age. She shared her belief in the sanctity of love and family, stating, "I just didn't know that the world works like this." 

The TV star added, "I thought that, you know, when you choose to love someone, then you love that person." Her candid discussion highlights her challenges in navigating the legal complexities of her custody battle.

Kramer shared her guest's sentiments, expressing her agreement with King regarding the serious flaws in the legal system, particularly concerning how it treats women in abusive situations.

She shared her own experiences with abusive relationships and mentioned the disturbing ways the legal and custody system can manipulate narratives against women.

King elaborated on her struggles, claiming that her ex-husband maliciously described their relationship in court during their custody battle. She explained how daunting it is to seek freedom financially and emotionally at such a high cost.

Determined to advocate for change, King firmly stated her commitment to reforming the system, emphasizing that there is no price too great for freedom.

As shared by The Blast, the actress lost physical custody of her two sons following a court ruling related to her upcoming six-month rehab program. 

Although she and her ex-partner will share legal custody, Newman was granted tie-breaking authority over legal decisions. As a result, the boys will primarily reside with him.

The actress has been allowed to visit her sons three times a week, but these visits must be supervised. Family members, including her mother, sister, brother-in-law, and Newman's brother, Kevin, are also approved supervisors for these visits.

The court has stipulated that supervised visitation will continue until she completes a series of required programs that will enable her to gain unsupervised access to her children.

King's 6-month drug and alcohol rehabilitation program also comes with weekly testing and aftercare. She must also go on a 26-week parenting course, individual counseling, and potentially conjoint counseling with her sons as recommended by their therapist.

King sought legal protection by filing a domestic violence prevention petition and an emergency motion addressing custody and visitation rights for their children.

The custody battle between King and Newman intensified in April 2024 when the model requested a modification of their spousal and child support agreement.

She argued that she could not meet the financial obligations set in April 2022. In response, Newman claimed that King had neglected to comply with the court's orders regarding support for over a year.

Additionally, he accused her of stalling the finalization of their divorce settlement by not signing the required judgment, contending that she could not change a court order unilaterally as she had attempted.

When Newman filed for full custody of his children, he claimed they had experienced trauma while living with their mother. In his filing, he recounted a troubling incident where he received a call from his children, who were distressed and begging him to get them from King's house. 

When he arrived around 7:45 am, he allegedly found King on the floor wearing a navy blue and white varsity jacket, with her hair in pigtails and possibly dressed in very short shorts. There were two men present, and she appeared exhausted and distressed, having been drinking, and asked for his help to get up.

During their interaction, King expressed her concerns about their children's behavior, calling them "bad boys" and emphasizing the need to address their actions. 

Afterward, Newman took the children to school, where one of the boys confided in a school therapist about their mother's worrying behavior. King's former husband had previously raised concerns with the Department of Children and Family Services, but no action had been taken.