News Scrap

Former Love & Hip Hop star Safaree Samuels is fighting to lower his child support payments to ex-wife Erica Mena, citing changes in income and custody arrangements. The public feud between the exes has once again spilled over to social media, with both parties airing their grievances and accusations. In recent court filings, Safaree, 43, claims that his financial circumstances have changed since their initial divorce settlement, which currently has him paying $4,305 per month for their two young children.

In a petition filed in Georgia this past June, Safaree explained that the original child support agreement was based on his income of $61,157 per month and Mena’s income of $41,289 per month. He is now asking the court to consider his revised financial situation, claiming that the existing arrangement is no longer sustainable.

Erica Mena Fires Back with Deleted Instagram Post

In response to Safaree’s request, Erica Mena took to Instagram to make some pointed accusations. In a since-deleted post, Mena shared a calendar screenshot that suggested Safaree had only seen their children 16 times this year. She used this as ammunition to question his commitment as a father, writing, “Imagine trying to detect child support from your BM (when that’s all they get from you since he skips out on birthdays and Christmas by choice) and you’ve only seen your kids 16 times this whole year so far.”

Mena went on to call out Safaree’s public persona, implying that he puts on a facade for social media. “SMH, but yet you act like you this big money man for the gram. And all you have to do is pick your kids up at school. You don’t EVER have to make contact with me. I swear when I say these are my kids I say it with my chest for a MILLION reasons,” she wrote.

Safaree Responds with Allegations of His Own

After Mena’s public post, Safaree responded by uploading a YouTube video, in which he accused Mena of being controlling and abusive. In the video, Safaree shared his side of the story, explaining that he has been dealing with a toxic co-parenting situation that has impacted his mental health. He expressed frustration over what he described as a smear campaign by Mena, claiming that she’s trying to paint him as a deadbeat dad.

“It’s just so jarring to me, this deadbeat narrative,” Safaree said in the video. “When it comes to being a father in a co-parenting situation where someone wants full control, it’s not easy. I love my kids, but I have to put myself first because I’m either going to end up in jail or worse dealing with someone who has no anger management.”

Accusations of Physical Abuse and Harassment

In his YouTube video, Safaree went on to share allegations of physical abuse by Erica Mena, claiming she has anger issues and even showed up at his Florida home unannounced, banging on his windows at 5 a.m. He detailed incidents where he called the police due to her behavior, and alleged that she has broken items in his home during heated exchanges.

Safaree also accused Mena of using their children as leverage, alleging that she has tried to prevent him from seeing their kids unless it’s on her terms. He showed documentation from a summer camp he enrolled his children in, explaining how Mena reacted negatively to his decision to sign them up. According to Safaree, Mena’s need for control is making it difficult for him to maintain a healthy relationship with his kids. He stated, “I paid $2,000 for summer camp, but she got so mad that I didn’t ask her first. She didn’t want them going, so they only attended three days.”

Safaree alleged that Mena sent a naked photo of him to his mother and sister in a bid to humiliate him. “She texted a naked picture of me to my mom and sister, for what? Just to make some kind of point,” he claimed. He went on to explain that he has endured fake Instagram accounts harassing his family, and hinted that Mena may be behind them.

Erica Mena’s Response to Abuse Allegations

Erica Mena has yet to publicly respond to the specific accusations of abuse, but in her initial post, she emphasized that Safaree is not involved in their children’s lives as much as he claims. While she removed the post shortly after publishing it, her words have circulated widely on social media, drawing support from fans who sympathize with her situation as a single mother.

Mena has often been vocal about the struggles she’s faced as a mother, and in past episodes of Love & Hip Hop, she shared her side of the tumultuous relationship with Safaree. The ex-couple’s co-parenting issues have been well-documented on the show, with both accusing each other of neglect and emotional abuse.

What’s Next in the Legal Battle?

As Safaree’s petition moves through the courts, the couple’s private battle continues to play out in the public eye. Both Safaree and Mena have been using social media as a platform to air their grievances, giving fans a front-row seat to their highly personal disputes. The court will have to review Safaree’s request for a reduction in child support, considering any changes in his income and the custody arrangement.

In the meantime, both parties appear set on defending their own versions of the truth, with Safaree claiming that he’s trying to be a good father, despite Mena’s alleged interference, and Mena portraying him as a less-than-committed parent who prioritizes his image over his children.

The ongoing drama between Safaree Samuels and Erica Mena highlights the complexities of co-parenting after a messy breakup, especially when both parties are in the public eye. As they continue to clash over child support, custody, and personal grievances, fans of the former Love & Hip Hop couple are left watching a very personal situation unfold online. Whether or not the court will grant Safaree’s request for reduced payments remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the tension between these two shows no sign of easing anytime soon.