Jaime King has lost custody of her two sons, 11-year-old James and 9-year-old Leo, to her ex-husband Kyle Newman following a series of legal battles stemming from allegations of substance abuse and a failed rehabilitation program. A judge ruled earlier this month that Newman would have sole physical custody, while the couple will share legal custody with Newman granted tie-breaking authority on decisions regarding the children.
The custody ruling was filed on March 11, 2025, in the Los Angeles County Superior Court and made public on March 17. King, age 45, is allowed supervised visitation with her children but must adhere to strict conditions that include only being able to see them three times per week in specific time blocks. Her approved supervisors during these visits comprise family members including her mother, sister, brother-in-law, and Newman’s brother.
In court documents, King was required to complete several rehabilitation programs—including a six-month drug and alcohol program with weekly testing, a 26-week parenting program, individual counseling, and conjoint therapy with the children. However, evidence presented in court indicated that she had not completed these requirements, which effectively jeopardized her custody hopes.
Newman, 49, had previously expressed concern for the safety of their children, claiming in his petition for sole custody that King had been “strung out” and “drunk” during the times she was responsible for their care. He recounted one alarming incident where James and Leo allegedly called him from their mother’s home, pleading for him to pick them up. Upon arriving, Newman described King as appearing distressed and unable to maintain her composure, stating that, "Jaime looked distressed, strung out and was acting drunk. She gestured for me to come over to her because she tried to get up but could not stand."
During this incident, King purportedly expressed concerns about their sons, remarking, "Those are bad boys. We have to do something about our boys. Their behavior is not right," which further fueled Newman’s concerns regarding her ability to parent.
The ex-couple, who tied the knot in 2007, have faced ongoing legal disagreements since King filed for divorce in 2020, citing irreconcilable differences after 12 years of marriage. As part of the divorce proceedings, King also sought a restraining order against Newman, which was granted. The custody dispute continued to unfold until court documents culminated in the recent ruling favoring Newman.
Throughout the proceedings, Newman alleged that King has a long-standing issue with substance abuse. He stated she had abused opiates during her pregnancies, which allegedly resulted in their youngest son, Leo, being born addicted to opiates. Furthermore, Newman recalled that friends had staged an intervention for King in 2020, which led her to briefly seek help at a Utah rehab center. However, she left the facility shortly after claiming she had not used drugs, as no substances were found in her system during her stay.
As part of the custody agreement, the court stated that King would be allowed to visit her children only in supervised environments. Notably, she is permitted to see them two hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as four hours every other Sunday. On days outside of her visitation, King is allowed to FaceTime her children for 20-minute increments but only during specified hours.
Despite her current situation, sources close to King have indicated that she is devastated by the ruling, underscoring her desire to one day regain full custody of her sons. According to an insider, King is “devastated and embarrassed” by the outcome, as she never anticipated the custody battle would escalate to this extent. Her friends remain hopeful that this challenging experience serves as a pivotal turning point for her, leading to genuine recovery and change.
In reflecting on the turbulent relationship, some insiders have noted that Newman maintains a degree of care for King, stating, “He still has love for Jaime as the mother of his kids but just wants her to get help.” There are hopes that over time the situation can improve, prompting a healthier family dynamic moving forward.
As the legal proceedings unfold and as King continues her rehabilitation journey, both parents are tasked with navigating co-parenting in hopes of ensuring the best for their children amid the challenges they face.
If you or someone you care about is affected by the issues raised in this story, please call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
