Image Source: ELLE, Hollywood Life
Tristan Thompson is starting his 2022 by publicly apologizing to his 3-year-old daughter True Thompson’s mother and Keeping Up with Kardashians alum Khloé Kardashian.
The NBA player took to his social media to write an apology stating, "Today, paternity test results reveal that I fathered a child with Maralee Nichols. I take full responsibility for my actions. Now that paternity has been established I look forward to amicably raising our son. I sincerely apologize to everyone I've hurt or disappointed throughout this ordeal both publicly and privately.”
Tristan’s apology continued, "Khloé, you don't deserve this. You don't deserve the heartache and humiliation I have caused you. You don't deserve the way I have treated you over the years. My actions certainly have not lined up with the way I view you. I have the utmost respect and love for you. Regardless of what you may think. Again, I am so incredibly sorry."
The apology comes after Tristan Thompson denied having sex with Maralee Nichols in California where the paternity case was filed by the fitness model. According to the case filed, the ‘only’, possible date of conception of the child is March 2021, which is Tristan Thompson’s birthday and he state he was in Texas. Tristan said in court documents, "We did not have a serious ongoing relationship. We saw each other sporadically between December 2020 and March 13, 2021. [Nichols] told me that she had been involved with other athletes and understood the limitations of our relationship; to wit, that we might see each other on a sporadic basis for consensual sex only."
The apology Tristan Thompson wrote on his Instagram story. Image Source: Business Insider
But Maralee Nichols has claimed in a statement that the baby was conceived in April. She only filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles asking Tristan Thompson for child support and pregnancy-related fees. Maralee mentioned to E! News that she did not file any request for child support before the baby was born.
Tristan Thompson also filed a paternity suit against Maralee Nichols in Texas which was dismissed by the judge and is likely to be handled in Los Angeles. In her previous response to an NBA player’s lawsuit in texas, the fitness model said, "Tristan's threatened invocation of Texas law is puzzling, as this child will never reside in Texas for purposes of a custody determination. Tristan does not live in Texas, Maralee does not live in Texas and resides in California, and the child will be born in California. When born, California will be the 'home state' for any custody action; Texas will have no custody jurisdiction."
Tristan Thompson had previously said that the only way Maralee and he communicated was via Snapchat and their relationship was ‘based on sex only’. He said, "We did not have any dates in the traditional sense at any time; there were no dining at restaurants, going to movies, traveling or any other indicia of a normalized relationship. There were only Snapchats of 'where' and 'what time' we would hook up and what hotels would be used."
But Maralee Nichols had denied that their relationship was ‘based on sex only’, and said, "Tristan told me he was not having a sexual relationship with anyone else; it was not casual sex nor did we have any arrangement. Tristan and I communicated daily and talked on the phone. We would see each other several times a month”. She also denied that they only communicated via Snapchat and filed to submit text messages exchanged between herself and Tristan as evidence for her pregnancy lawsuit.
The source claimed that the texts that were retrieved showcased that Tristan wanted Maralee to terminate her pregnancy and mentioned that he had no plans to be involved in the child’s life and also tried to offer her money. A text sent by Tristan that was retrieved read, “You know how I feel. My feelings haven't changed at all. Won't be involved at all. Btw if you think having this baby is gonna make you some money. It's completely wrong. You are aware that I'm retiring after this season. So in terms of support it will be whatever is required monthly or someone who's unemployed. It's texas (sic) so it will be only a couple hundred dollars. So you better off taking this 75k I'm offering cause you won't get nothing near that with having a kid with a father who's unemployed.”
Harvey Englander, Maralee Nichols’ lawyer shared with Daily Mail after Tristan agreed that he is the father of the baby, "There was never any doubt that Tristan Thompson was the father of Maralee Nichols’ baby. Tristan made numerous false and defamatory statements and declarations about Maralee over the past few months, and she is taking his contrite statement today in the context of all of those statements."
On December 6th 2021, Maralee Nichols shared a picture of her and her newborn son with a caption, "Instead of focusing on any negativity, I am choosing to embrace being a mother and doing the best I can for my son. I do not want any further media attention, nor do I want a romantic relationship with Tristan. My goal is to raise our son in a safe, healthy, loving and private environment."
The two of them will maintain a 'healthy co-parenting relationship' for their 3-year-old daughter True. Image Source: The Liberacy
Talking about the relationship Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson is best described as ‘toxic’, and according to reports the couple have already broken up. Their tumultuous relationship began in 2016 and is still on the rocks because of the accusations of cheating from Tristan Thompson’s end that also included Khloé's little sister Kylie Jenner's best friend Jordyn Woods.
Khloé Kardashian is yet commented on Tristan Thompson’s public apology but it was previously reported that she was upset when the news of him becoming a father again surfaced the internet. A source close to Kardashian said, "Khloé is moving on. Tristan and Khloé have been broken up for a while, and things are okay between them." The two of them will maintain a 'healthy co-parenting relationship', reported by the source.
