Jaime King is reportedly mortified after losing custody of her kids to her ex-husband, Kyle Newman, due to her failure to complete her rehabilitation program.
The model is “devastated and embarrassed” after a judge declared that Newman will have sole physical custody of James, 11, and Leo, 9, a source close to the former couple told the US Sun Tuesday.
“She never thought it would go this far, she’s not handling this well,” the insider said. “But Kyle did what had to be done.”
The insider claimed that Newman did not feel that their children were safe with their mother and that he “had to do what he needed to do to protect” them.
“He still has love for Jaime as the mother of his kids but just wants her to get help,” the source noted. “All of Jaime’s friends want her to get better, her circle is worried about her.”
Their loved ones are apparently hoping that this will be the “tough wakeup call” King needs to make “permanent changes” to her lifestyle.
The source, however, emphasized that King is “a good mom when she is in the right headspace.”
King, 45, and Newman, 49, will share legal custody of the kids but they will live with their father, according to court documents obtained by People Monday.
Newman was also granted tie-breaking authority which means he will have the final say if they can’t agree on parenting decisions.
The “Hart of Dixie” actress was granted visitation rights, but only three times a week in specific hour blocks.
She also must be supervised after failing to complete a six-month drug and alcohol program with weekly testing and aftercare, a 26-week parenting program, individual counseling and conjoint counseling with minors, the outlet reported.
King’s mom, sister, brother-in-law and Newman’s brother are part of her approved supervisors.
The ruling came nearly six months after Newman requested sole custody following allegations that King was “strung out” and “drunk” while caring for their kids.
“Kyle is dealing with a serious situation affecting the safety and well-being of his children and asks for privacy for his children during this difficult process,” Newman’s attorney, Garry M. Gekht, told Page Six at the time.
Newman claimed that his kids had called him to pick them up and they were crying when he got there — only to find King looking “distressed,” “strung out,” “acting drunk” and appearing to not be wearing any pants.
“The children are currently in danger when in their mother’s care. Jaime King is suffering from drug and alcohol addiction and is emotionally abusing and neglecting our children; placing them in danger and exposing them to many disturbing people and situations, including sexual content,” Newman claimed in the filing.
King filed to divorce Newman on May 18, 2020, after 13 years of marriage and requested — and was granted — a partial restraining order related to child custody and visitation at the time.
Shortly after, the director claimed King was a “chronic drug addict and alcoholic” with an addiction to opiates.
They settled their divorce in September 2023 after a grueling court battle over money and custody.
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).