Jaime King has officially broken her silence amid a string of gut-wrenching events that played out in both courtrooms and tabloid headlines. The former "Hart of Dixie" star and longtime member of Taylor Swift's inner circle spoke out this weekend, addressing both her sudden eviction from a pricey Los Angeles rental and the heartbreaking custody ruling over her two sons.
"I'm currently focused on what matters most: my children," King told Us Weekly, after confirming that the situation with her landlord was "resolved privately." The comment comes just days after reports revealed she had been locked out of her $10,145-a-month Hollywood Hills home for falling more than $42,000 behind on rent.
A judge recently awarded sole physical custody of King's sons, James Knight, 11, and Leo Thames, 9, to her ex-husband, filmmaker Kyle Newman. While King and Newman will share joint legal custody, King's visitation has been significantly restricted to three supervised visits per week. This harsh ruling stems from concerns about King's stability, as court orders mandated that she complete a six-month rehabilitation program for substance abuse, including weekly testing and a 26-week parenting course.
The custody agreement was put in place after Newman alleged he found King "strung out" and intoxicated while caring for their children. Though King's representatives have not directly addressed these allegations, they have suggested that the difficulties she is facing compounded her struggles.
As if the custody battle wasn't enough, King's landlord, Sheila Irani, filed a lawsuit against her in January 2025, alleging that King owed around $42,580 in back rent. Court documents indicate that King had stopped providing payments since January 2025, despite having moved into the rented property in April 2023.
In the height of the eviction drama, unsettling scenes unfolded as moving trucks appeared outside King’s former residence. A source revealed that personal belongings, such as a wooden daybed and bulky furniture, were put out for pickup due to delays in King’s rental payments, and adjustments she needed to make for her financial situation.
Keen to assert her position, King's legal team has denied the landlord's claims of "malicious" tenancy. They provided a statement illustrating how she has been attempting to raise the funds necessary to clear her debts, while also dealing with the stress triggered by active litigation regarding her children's custody. The attorney stated, "[King] has expressed multiple times to [Irani] that she has a desire to pay the past due rent and vacate the premises. However, she has suffered setbacks due to the Los Angeles wildfires and ongoing custody issues, which have been incredibly distracting and stressful."
Despite the adversity, those close to King have maintained that she is working diligently to regain stability. "She's taking steps to get healthy and rebuild," a friend mentioned. King’s determination underscores the importance of her children as her primary motivation in this challenging chapter of her life.
In the midst of all these disturbances, King has expressed ongoing commitment towards completing the court’s rehab program. She has limited, supervised visitation rights with her sons, during which King is only allowed to see them on the approved days arranged by family members. King’s mother, sister, and brother-in-law are designated to supervise these visitations, highlighting a fragile but significant bridge to her children.
Furthermore, the mental health aspect of her situation is aptly underscored by the pressure of the custody battle. King has filed previous petitions for changes in spousal and child support, indicating that her ongoing financial stresses have become intertwined with her attempts to restore her family dynamics.
Moreover, the media’s spotlight on her tumultuous past hasn't escaped King. She is aware of the impact of public scrutiny as she navigates these legal hurdles and struggles for the wellbeing of her family. As King moves forward, her friendship with Taylor Swift—a strong and supportive bond that has been evident since both were in their teens—adds an encouraging layer of community to her personal life.
The custody decision, an unfortunate culmination of King’s prior attempts to shield her struggles with addiction, becomes a turning point in motivating her to hit reset. Friends advocate that King focuses with unwavering determination on healing and rebuilding her life, in hopes that she can restore her role as a mother to her sons.
Overall, Jaime King’s endeavors in the coming months will likely dictate her new path—with ample support from her friends and a renewed sense of purpose driving her towards a hopeful future. While her professional engagements may have fluctuated in the backdrop, they will certainly be primed for a comeback as she strives to balance motherhood and recovery. The arduous journey towards reclaiming her life solidifies the resolve she has for her family, epitomizing the indomitable spirit of a mother focused on bringing her children back into her arms once more.
