Raymond Discusses Her Famous Ex
As the sordid details of her dissolved marriage continue to leak out to the press, Tameka Raymond is speaking out. The mother of Usher’s two sons sat down recently with The Grio.com to discuss her falling out with the singer and to share details of her life without him. As previously reported, the child custody case between the two has taken a nasty turn, one that includes claims of infidelity with two of Tameka’s bridesmaids. With that accusation and others on full public display, Raymond says she never wanted things to come to this. “I did not start this. I did not file this. Usher did,” said Raymond to Grio writer Kirsten West Savali. “I begged him to withdraw the petition, but he didn’t listen. […] Why would I try to keep his children away from him? We have joint custody and I want to continue to have their father around to help out. Raising children is a lot of work.”
In addition to denying reports that she started the child custody battle, Raymond also discussed Usher’s legions of fans that continue to follow her online. According to the stylist and entrepreneur, she’s followed on Twitter by at least 100 women who dub themselves “Mrs. Raymond” in homage to the platinum-selling superstar. Those same women and others who she says are “married to a poster” have accused her of wedding the singer for money.
“I had enough money of my own to last a lifetime and I think it’s an insult to my ex-husband to insinuate that I chased him for those reasons. What, because he’s affluent, he’s not lovable?” said Raymond incredulously. “Even more hilarious is that these people spreading the rumors don’t even know him, yet they ‘love’ him. I’ve known Usher over 10 years, why is it impossible to believe that I loved him? There are over 100 ‘Mrs. Raymonds’ following me on Twitter and they’re married to a poster. It’s just a backwards concept.”
Throughout the interview Raymond maintains that her sons with the singer; Usher, 4, and Naviyd Ely, 3 as well as her three other children are her main priority.
Raymond’s full interview with The Grio can be viewed here. –danielle canada
