Rumer Willis Accuses Ex Derek Richard Thomas of 'Insane Emotional Abuse' as She Fights for Custody of Daughter Louetta, 3

The actress claimed in a court filing there was a "persistent pattern" of alleged abuse from Thomas that she claims sometimes happened in front of their daughter

NEED TO KNOW

• In a court filing, Rumer Willis alleges Derek Richard Thomas subjected her to emotional abuse before and after their 2024 breakup
• Willis claims Thomas’ behavior, including prolonged verbal attacks, has negatively impacted their 3-year-old daughter Louetta
• Thomas denies the abuse allegations and disputes Willis’ request for primary custody and court-ordered drug testing

Rumer Willis has accused her ex Derek Richard Thomas of emotional abuse after filing court documents for custody of their 3-year-old daughter Louetta.

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, the actress, 37, has been fighting for custody of her toddler daughter since last July, when Thomas, 30, first filed an order for child custody and visitation.

In a declaration opposing Thomas' request for a child custody order, Willis claimed that Thomas has displayed a "persistent pattern" of "insane emotional abuse" that's been occurring since before their breakup in 2024. She added that the alleged abuse was "often in front of the minor child or while they were trapped in the car with him."

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Willis, who filed for primary physical custody of Louetta, alleged in the filing that Thomas has engaged in "ongoing coercive control through prolonged circular verbal attacks that he is unable or unwilling to stop."

She also claimed that Thomas engaged in this type of attack for "over six hours at a time on what became a daily basis." Willis further alleged that Thomas' "erratic and bizarre" behavior "escalated" after the birth of their daughter in April 2023.

"I was constantly trying to keep the peace and walk on eggshells," she claimed in the filing. "He wanted to isolate me from my friends and family. He constantly called me a liar with no reason behind it. He told me I was a bad girlfriend all the time."

Willis, who is the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, alleged in her declaration that Thomas exhibited "paranoid behavior" and that he claimed she and her mom were "plotting" to take Louetta away from him.

"For a long time, it was difficult for me to stand up to [Thomas] as I tried to avoid his emotional tirades and abuse even for a long time after he moved out," Willis claimed.

She also alleged in the filing that Thomas' behavior has left Louetta "traumatized" and "crying a lot," which is why she doesn't want him to have "overnights or time with Louetta" without a Evidence Code Section 730 child custody evaluation.

Willis also said in the declaration that she is concerned about Thomas' now-fiancée Lizzie Loch being present during his custodial time due to his alleged "history of fighting in relationships, and in front of the child."

Thomas fired back at Willis in a reply declaration made in support of his request for child custody order, claiming that she only made this request because she is "enraged" by their daughter's "clear affection" for Loch. He also denied Willis' abuse claims but said that their relationship was "unhealthy."

"I have committed no acts of domestic violence in any form, including any active coercive control. [Our] relationship was unhealthy and appropriately came to an end, but it was not all characterized by any violence, physical or emotional attacks or intimidation on my part," he claimed.

"The decision to end the relationship between myself and [Rumer] was a mutual decision made in our mutual best interests," Thomas continued.

He also pushed back on Willis' request that he submit to court-ordered drug testing due to his alleged "chronic daily marijuana use and evidence of behavior indicative of someone under the influence of drugs for extended periods of time."

Thomas said in the filing that he's not a "current user of marijuana," although he admitted that he was previously a user of the substance "as legally allowed." However, he claimed that he never used marijuana to the degree that he was "unable to fully and properly fulfill my duties and obligations as Louetta's father."

In her declaration, Willis alleged Thomas was once so high that he could not "even watch [Louetta] for those couple of minutes without her rolling off the couch."

She also claimed in the declaration that Thomas let Louetta "fall off the bed once in November 2023" and alleged that he "then made it all about him that I was upset about him letting her fall off the bed instead of just comforting her baby and helping her feel better."

Willis also claims that she asked that Thomas not be allowed to bathe with Louetta, saying it is "highly inappropriate" for him to bathe with her "naked at her age."

In his filing, Thomas claimed that his daughter has "never suffered for any want in my care, has never been injured in any way, has not suffered trauma or emotional or physical abuse of any kind nor been neglected at any time she's been in my care. [Rumer] fails to detail, even a single credible instance of any mistreatment or neglect by me."

In other parts of her filing, Willis accused Thomas of causing "high stress and chaos" when she visited her "extremely ill" dad Bruce Willis, who has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.

She also claimed in her filing that Thomas has not paid her "any support" and expects her "wealthy family to take care of everything." However, she said that's not possible since she doesn't rely on her parents for her expenses and is "going to be in severe debt with attorney fees."

Willis' mom Moore, 63, backed up her claims against Thomas in Willis' filing, saying in a declaration that she witnessed his allegedly "aggressive" behavior when her daughter gave birth to Louetta at home.

"[Thomas] had no consideration to Rumer, the baby, the process or anyone else for that matter," Moore alleged in the declaration. "He essentially ruined what should've been one of the happiest moments of [Rumer's] life."

"We intend to try this case in the court and not in the press," Thomas' lawyer Mike Kretzmer said in a statement to PEOPLE. "Mr. Thomas is a devoted, loving caring father to Louetta. It is most unfortunate to put it mildly that Miss Willis is actively obstructing Mr. Thomas‘s relationship with his daughter. Miss Willis has made many inaccurate and false statements about the nature of the relationship between herself and Mr. Thomas, Mr. Thomas‘s care and treatment of Louetta and allegations of drug abuse and domestic violence. We deny each and all of these allegations made against Mr. Thomas and we look forward to presenting truthful accurate information to the court in the near future."

Willis' rep did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Willis confirmed her split from Thomas in August 2024. The two had been together since 2022, and confirmed in December of that year that they were expecting their first baby together.

They went on to welcome their daughter Louetta Isley Thomas Willis on April 18, 2023.

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