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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > September > 17 > Entry
T.I. Responds To Child Support Suit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta rapper-actor T.I. has gone on a website he endorses and is a shareholder in, streetcred.com, to respond to the lawsuit brought by the mother of two of his children for court-ordered arrangement for payments.
He and the mother, Lashon Dixon, appeared in Fulton County Superior Court last Thursday, where she said she has had trouble supporting sons Domani and Messiah (above with T.I. at a recent video shoot) with the $2000 a month T.I. gives her. Dixon says she wants a more stable stipend commensurate with the multimillion-selling Grammy winner’s success.
Now, in a statement he and attorney John Mayoue released exclusively to streetcred.com, T.I. fires back:
“A lot of deceiving information has been reported regarding my recent child support proceeding. It is unfortunate that the media has been used to manipulate the circumstances and distort the facts. Those that know me, all know that there is nothing more important to me than my children. I have always supported all of my children financially, emotionally, and spiritually. This has always been the case and I will continue to do so in the future as this is my responsibility as a parent.
To clarify the recent reports, in addition to the $2000 per month I pay in cash to Lashon Dixon, the mother of my sons Domani and Messiah, I also pay for their private schooling, medical insurance, clothing, food, gifts, birthdays and extracurricular activities. Their extra-curricular activities have included football, basketball, baseball, acting lessons, summer camp, and any other activities that they express a desire to be involved in that will contribute to them leading balanced lives and developing into well rounded individuals. I have also made an attempt to help Lashon with additional payments that have included a down payment to purchase her home, purchase of an automobile for her transportation and other financial obligations. These expenses are documented and are far in excess of the $2000 cash payment that is being paid direct to Lashon. She has chosen not to work and to live 100% from her child support receipts. This is the reason for her difficulties in making ends meet for herself.
Not only do I support my boys 100% financially, I am also committed to their emotional and spiritual growth. While I would enjoy the luxury of being present for all of my children’s activities, unfortunately the demands of my career and the need to secure my family’s financial security as well as insuring my kid’s personal growth dictates that I travel constantly and work tirelessly. Despite my hectic schedule, I make it a priority to be present for important occasions in their lives. This includes being home for their birthdays, school functions and being present at as many of their extra-curricular activities as I am able. I also am available to them at all times to provide guidance and support as a father regardless of my schedule or location. They are my first priority.
Again, there is nothing more important to me than my children. This is demonstrated by my effort to support them in every way that I can. Any reasonable person knowing the facts would conclude that all of my children’s needs are being far exceeded. My support of them in every way is documented and cannot be legitimately challenged.
I believe that it is every parent’s responsibility to provide unconditional love and support for their kids. I have made every attempt to do so for my boys. Again, I provide 100% of their financial support. I should only be judged for my actions and not Lashon’s conscience decision not to work and not to contribute to the financial support of our boys.”
What’s your take on the reports thus far? Do you think — as some radio announcers have playfully suggested — that having a No. 1 song out about buying the woman in his life “Whatever You Like” stoked this? Or is she just simply trying to get her ducks in a row before March 2009, when T.I. is expected to be sentenced to at 366 days in prison after pleading guilty to federal weapon possession charges?
Comments
By LIL LADY CAPONE
September 17, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
I THINK THAT SHE NEEDS TO GET A JOB AND STOP LIVING OFF THE MONEY THAT IS BEING GIVEN FOR HER KIDS BENIFIT AND THAT SONG HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT
By rea
September 17, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this
Who cares. Can we please talk about things will affect our community and economy not how much TI pays for child support. come on people lets worry about our own pockets not TI.
By wanda
September 17, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this
I really think she should get a job. The man is doing everything for his kids. I’m a working mother myself. And I have kids.
By Princess
September 17, 2008 11:29 PM | Link to this
Personally, I think she should get out and get a job. In the times we live in it takes both parents and in some cases grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc to help in the raising of children. I think she should be glad in the child support she is giving because there are some of us single moms who have to fight to even get an mere 100.00 a week, and T.I. is giving her additional assistances as well. Com’on I mean give the man a break. I’m sorry but I think she should be glad that he is activitily involved in the lives of his children. Most fathers who are having to pay child support bitch and complain because they can afford (hell I hear every week when I get my mere 94.50). So be glad that you actually have a father in your childrens’ life that actually cares and is an active participate with his kids. Props go out to T.I. for being a role model for fathers.
By Princess
September 17, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this
Personally, I think she should get out and get a job. In the times we live in it takes both parents and in some cases grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc to help in the raising of children. I think she should be glad in the child support she is giving because there are some of us single moms who have to fight to even get an mere 100.00 a week, and T.I. is giving her additional assistances as well. Com’on I mean give the man a break. I’m sorry but I think she should be glad that he is activitily involved in the lives of his children. Most fathers who are having to pay child support bitch and complain because they can afford (hell I hear every week when I get my mere 94.50). So be glad that you actually have a father in your childrens’ life that actually cares and is an active participate with his kids. Props go out to T.I. for being a role model for fathers.
By NavyMom
September 18, 2008 12:37 AM | Link to this
I think she should get out and get a job and not expect T.I. to afford her a lavish lifestyle. I am certain that he does more for his kids than $2000 per month but she is not his responsibility. Women who have kids with wealthy people and expect them to furnish a lavish lifestyle for them make me sick. It should be about the children not her. If she had a job that $2000+ per month would go a lot farther.
By Zo
September 18, 2008 1:16 AM | Link to this
T.I is speaking the truth maybe his word will carry some weight. It’s too many mothers out here living off child support. The sad part is that they (mothers)want money they can’t afford to give if the shoe was on the other foot. I think this is just a extension of the welfare system. Lazy folks who want someone else to pave the way in the “name of the kids”. Pimping never dies it multiplies.
T.I come by and get a cut or send the boys. www.regencybarbershop.com
By Dionna
September 18, 2008 2:25 AM | Link to this
Sounds like T.I. is doing a pretty good job with supporting his children. As long as he helps provide for their college education she should be satisfied. She needs to get a job if she is unable to survive on $2000 per month after he has provided food, healthcare, tuition and other incidentals, sounds like a mother issue and not a children’s issue. Lashon do not pass go, do not collect your $2000 get a job!!!!!
By Melissa
September 18, 2008 6:35 AM | Link to this
I wish these women would see that 1.they are “lucky” to have children with someone who WANTS to support them AND their kids and 2. that she has someone who is financially stable (and wealthy) to far exceed what most children get. I think T.I. (and other fathers who did not have these things when they were kids) to have the best and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. My dad grew up in the projects and was not as rich as TI is but did his best to provide for us and buy us things that he did not have. I see so many pictures of TI and all his kids and that is probably one of the reasons for the guns, etc. People do not realize that the world is REALLY bad and people hate and will harm your family just to get what they want, and his main concern is probably to protect his kids and family by whatever means. Even though it is extreme to have so many guns you really have to consider that, by him being a celebrity who did grow up with hood folks, some people feel like they deserve the same things that he has now and will stop at nothing to get it.
By Devil's Advocate
September 18, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this
Many parents see the value in being home once their kids get home from school each day. Many parents see the value in being available to volunteer in their child’s school. Since T.I. cares so much about the well being of his children, you would think he would prefer that their mother is available to help the boys with their homework, drive them to their extracurricular activities, and be a presence in their lives instead of having them sit in an after school program or be taken care of by someone else until their mom gets home from work around 6:00 or 7:00 each night. Given that these boys only have one parent who is present in their lives every day, you would think that T.I. would want that parent to be available and present for these boys. He has the means, so why not?
By Vikki
September 18, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this
She needs to go out and work like other people do. I work 45 hours a week and bring home 1200. a month. I got 3 kids I raise on that. We get by okay, no private school of course wish I could afford that for them. I pay the bills and buy food -we don’t want for anything really just not always easy to go out to eat or rent a movie etc. This woman is handed more than I make and everything for the kids is paid for and she STILL thinks she needs more money… she needs to WAKE UP and try living in the real world with the rest of us who struggle just to get by. Be nice if my kids could go to camp and football and baseball but thats extras for us ,,,, stuff we know we can’t afford and she wants to complain. She did this wrong if she thinks she’ll get public sympathy for her little 2000 a month and no job, it’s unbelieveable to me what some people think they deserve.
By lala
September 18, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this
It’s women like this that make it hard for those of us who dont even get child support or have that father figure in there childs life. $2000 in child support is more than enough to take care of some kids and to top it off that is just pocket money cause he is already providing everything else!!! get out of here if he out here telling us all of this in his statement about having everything documented you know he is doing it. I am amazed as to why she is not working she not disabled is she? I guess just be cause he has the fortune and fame doesnt mean that he has to give you a piece of that also… Now if T.I. was a no body and she was getting that 2gs a month i bet her @$$ wouldnt be complaining.. Get a job support yourself and dont depend on anyone to take care of you!!
By Giselle
September 18, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
That is the problem so many women make that money is for the children If she worked 2000.00 a month would be more than enough to support her kids, it’s people out there that do work and don’t make that much money. I was married to a professional football player and I still worked, Some women are just lazy and don’t want to help themselves much less their children,like he states the kids are his first priorty not her needs.
By Frederick Douglass (Bailey)
September 18, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
WHO CARES?!?!?
Sonia Murray, what gives you the credibility to be “in” the know? Because you went to private school?
Like Terrance Moore, you suffer from a bad case of the “idis”. Find something interesting to write about, since you have passed the test and they accept you to be a good representative of our culture. Consider these:
1) What is the current role of college frats and sororities in the new hip hop world?
2) Give us more information about OutKast…the greatest hip-hop group of all time (and from ATL).
3) Write about the jeans revolution that hip hop culture is experiencing now. Most of us ‘adults’ are still wearing five pocket Lee’s. Whats going on?
4) Write an article about the “ATL sound”. Define that…remember the Philly Sound? Probably not, because you listening to Steely Dan back then. Research it. Own it. Win an award.
5) Thank me later.
LOL!!
By had enough
September 18, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
She needs to get a job. He is not obligated to take care of her. He is only obligated to take care of their children, which I believe he does. My children are grown now 24 and 26, and they never got a dime, time or anything from their father, and our son has the same birthday as his father, he never even called to tell him happy birthday. So she should be greatful that TI is in their lives.
By Blackbird
September 18, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
I believe both parents should contribute to the welfare and well being of their children, and it seems like Ms.Dixon doesnt share that opinion. She may provide the day to day needs, cooking the food, washing the clothes, etc. but it by no means excuses her if she is able to work outside of the home and provide “extra”. As a single Mom myself, I just wish I could get the child support she does!
By wan
September 18, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
She needs to get off her lazy a— and get a job.. Stop spending the kids money to support her life style. He gives her $2000 a month, plus pay for school, and other activies the boys are involved in. She needs to put some of that in a college fund for the boys. I am a single mom, not receiving any support.
The nerve of some women Just triffling!
By babymommafromhell
September 18, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
It’s simple. She’s a hater. She is no longer satisfied with the $2000 in cash???(are you crazy?) that she gets every month because she is jealous. And make no mistake. I see my male friends and family who have substantially less to offer financially than TI go through the same thing or worse. Some women hate to see a man that they are not involved with have anything. This is a classic case. We all need to make better choices in we procreate with and teach our children to do the same.
By JDW
September 18, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
Some women fail to realize it is “child support” not “baby mama support”. She needs to get a job.
He is already paying for private schooling, medical insurance, clothing, food, gifts, birthdays and extracurricular activities. What is she providing?
GET A JOB, LADY!
By City Boyzrus
September 18, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
T.I. I feel ya. My child’s mother doesn’t work. I support my son 100%. I recently filed for legtimation,and legal visitation. His statement sounds like he has checks, and receipts for his purchases;however T.I. u made one mistake. U didn’t pay 25.00 for a child support case. I put myself on child support because legally even though ur doing the right thing; by law ur payments must go thru Child Support Enforement, or all money received will be considered gifts. I hope she’s not geting food stamps,TANF, or any other goverment assistance, because you’ll find urself in the arrears. I learned from others mistakes to assertive in my case. I wish u luck man, but the law is the law.
By Sick of this s**t!!!!
September 18, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
I raised 2 sons without support and almost no contact from their father. They are now 19 and 21. I have always worked, sometimes 2 jobs. Women who actually get support and have the nerve to complain when it’s a little late or complain that it’s not enough make me sick. They have no idea how blessed they are to have what they have. T.I., thank you for being the wonderful father that you are to all of your children. God Bless you!
By Sick of this s**t!!!!
September 18, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
I raised 2 sons without support and almost no contact from their father. They are now 19 and 21. I have always worked, sometimes 2 jobs. Women who actually get support and have the nerve to complain when it’s a little late or complain that it’s not enough make me sick. They have no idea how blessed they are to have what they have. T.I., thank you for being the wonderful father that you are to all of your children. God Bless you!
By LeShay
September 18, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
i feel that clifford has a very good effort to support his kids by that woman.she jus being greedy now..she spending her kids money on her..dats why she can’t make ends meet..wat a f***!!
By LeShay
September 18, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
i feel that clifford has a very good effort to support his kids by that woman.she jus being greedy now..she spending her kids money on her..dats why she can’t make ends meet..wat a f***!!
By LeShay
September 18, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
i feel that clifford has a very good effort to support his kids by that woman.she jus being greedy now..she spending her kids money on her..dats why she can’t make ends meet..wat a f***!!
By Powell
September 18, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
Like the famous words of Diddy, it is child support not baby mama support, if she is physical able to work then she should because TI obligations is to his children not her. Now don’t get me wrong they may have a very good relationship for the sake of there kids, but at the end of the day his loyalty lies with his kids not her.
By Powell
September 18, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this
Like the famous words of Diddy, it is child support not baby mama support, if she is physical able to work then she should because TI obligations is to his children not her. Now don’t get me wrong they may have a very good relationship for the sake of there kids, but at the end of the day his loyalty lies with his kids not her.
By Powell
September 18, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this
Like the famous words of Diddy, it is child support not baby mama support, if she is physical able to work then she should because TI obligations is to his children not her. Now don’t get me wrong they may have a very good relationship for the sake of there kids, but at the end of the day his loyalty lies with his kids not her.
By wilson
September 18, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
Hell 2 grand aint squat. Athletes have to kick in way more then that. Up the ante mr flosser. What happened to “You can have whatever you like”
By OW
September 18, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
What should matter to the mother is the Children are being taken care of. Maybe she is afraid when TI is locked up the accountant or family will not give her anything…so she get the courts to do it for her. TI, check and balance, use checks, even for your Sons mother.
By micho
September 18, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
She’s just mad because she not getting “Whatever she likes” That man goes above and beyond by helping her with her own personal finances and this is how she thanks him…by trying to manipulate the law in order to receive a bigger hand-out? She’s definitely not an independant mother and is not setting a good example for her children…its no wonder why he didn’t choose to stay with her. She has clearly mistaken his kindness for blindess and that makes her wrong in the worst way…immorally.
By TC
September 18, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this
Lashon Dixon…..get off your lazy behind and get a job! Living off what TI does for his kids is for the kids and not for you. So go get a job. TI you are doing a wonderful job and I constantly hear you praise your children. Its women like this one that makes it hard on good fathers like yourself. God Bless you man.
By Lis
September 18, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
TT - I’ll have your baby - for FREE - you wouldn’t have to pay no child S’port!
By Danielle
September 18, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
I think that Lashon needs to get a job. What was she doing before she had the kids? She just got lucky and had babies with a celebrity so she’s gonna try to take him to the cleaners.
By Lynn
September 18, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
If he is already doing all that he says financially and has documentation then he might be able to continue paying 2000 a month. However, there are new rules for child support. He might need to just move the kids into his home and not worry about paying her anything.
By Lynn
September 18, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
If he is already doing all that he says financially and has documentation then he might be able to continue paying 2000 a month. However, there are new rules for child support. He might need to just move the kids into his home and not worry about paying her anything.
By liya
September 19, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
WHAT??? ARE YOU PEOPLE SERIOUS??? FIRST OF ALL T. I. NEED TO KEEP IT REAL. WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE ARE YOU SETTING FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND THE FANS THAT SUPPORT YOU. LASHON DIXON WAS WITH YOU WHEN YOU HAD NOTHING. A SOME POINT YOU LOVED HER ENOUGH TO HAVE TWO KIDS BY HER. $2000 IS A SLAP IN THE FACE. I UNDERSTAND THAT HE HAS MOVED ON WITH TINY AND THEY HAVE KIDS TOGETHER…BUT TINY GETS AN ALLOWANCE FROM HIM 5 TIMES THAT AMOUNT JUST TO GO SHOPPING AND T.I. IS TAKING CARE OF HER DAUGHTER FROM A PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIP. SO WHY WOULDN’T YOU GIVE HER MORE MONEY FOR THOSE BOYS. HE TALKS ABOUT HIS MORALS AND VALUES BUT IF HE WAS SO RIGHT HE WOULD STOP HAVING BABIES OUT OF WEDLOCK. HE SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH LOVE IN HIS HEART FOR HIS KIDS TO JUST SAY TO LASHON…I KNOW WE ARE NOT TOGETHER BUT I DO NOT WANT YOU TO STRUGGLE WITH MY KIDS WHEN THEY ARE HOME WITH YOU. THATS THE MORAL THING TO DO…ALL OF YOU ON HERE TALKING ABOUT SHE NEEDS TO GET A JOB…YES THAT IS TRUE BUT NO JOB IS GOING TO AMOUNT TO THE MILLIONS HE MAKE…I AM NOT SAYING SUPPORT HER BUT MAKE IT LESS STRESSFUL FOR HER…IF IT WAS YOU…$2000 WOULD BE NOTHING TO YOU EITHER WHEN HE IS BUYING $200,000 BENTLEYS FOR HIS UGLY GIRLFRIEND TINY…SO BEFORE YOU JUDGE…PUT YOURSELF IN HER SHOES