Is Usher going too hard after Tameka Raymond?

Opinion

by Charing Ball |

Usher Raymond, Grammy award winning artist and recent divorcee, has reportedly served Tameka Foster (formerly Raymond), his ex-wife and mother of his two children, papers — and I am not talking about the song.

According to TMZ, sources have confirmed that Usher’s lawyer have sent a letter to Tameka informing her that the 12,000 sq. ft. Georgia home, which she has been residing in for the last few years, is going on the market. Usher, who legally owns the $3 million home, is giving his ex-wife 60 days to vacate the premises, as required under their 2009 divorce agreement.

A divorce is a horrible thing to have to go through, especially when it appears that both sides are hell-bent on making this dissolution as thorny as possible. There were allegations of cheating (with not one, but two of Foster’s bridesmaids), accusations of gold digging, which Usher recently made on Oprah’s couch — and plenty of courtroom weeping. After a while, watching the whole Raymond vs. Raymond (see what I did there?) breakdown was like watching one of those really bad Nollywood movies: long, terribly acted, pointless but in a strange way, fairly compelling.

What makes two people, who once pledged their undying love for one another, suddenly turn into mortal, hostile enemies?

In July, Foster lost Kile, her 11-year-old son from her previous marriage, in a freak jet ski accident. A month afterwards, she would lose two more of her five children in a bitter custody battle. On top of that, according to TMZ, the former hairstylist and wardrobe stylist has been unable to support herself and has been financially dependent on Usher since their separation.  Sure, he has the legal standing to sell off his property, but wouldn’t the civilized thing to do be to wait until the mother of your children was in better financial and emotional standing before giving her the boot out the door?

Perhaps Usher was inspired by Steve Harvey, revered relationship “expert,” talk show host, radio personality and proud owner of hundreds of colorful suits. Mary Shackelford, his second wife of almost 10 years, took to YouTube last year to give her version of the dissolution of their marriage including allegations that he was unfaithful, evicted her, took their son and left her penniless. Harvey responded by serving her with a box of chocolates, a Valentine’s Day card, and a notice of appearance to go back to court hidden insider for the gag order issued against her. Smooth.

Or maybe Tameka is following in the footsteps of Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, ex-wife of Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade. She too would lose custody of their two sons after a very public four-year battle, and suffering the humiliation of being arrested and accused of kidnapping when she failed to hand the boys over to Wade’s sister after a visit in June. However, Siohvaughn would contend as recently as six days ago that Wade had been physically abusive with her while she was pregnant and had been intimate with his now girlfriend Gabrielle Union (whom Siohvaughn unsuccessfully sued) while they were still officially a couple.

Plus, Funches-Wade is certain that the courts were “seduced by his celebrity” in explaining why these legal outcomes did not turn out her way. But like Tameka, she was left out in the cold.

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