The custody battle involving ex-couple Robin Thicke and Paula Patton has escalated to involve cops. Over the weekend, police authorities had to settle an incident that took place in Patton's house in Malibu.
It is alleged that Patton has refused to let Thicke see their 6-year-old boy when his dad came to pick him up during his regular visits and as agreed upon in their joint custody of Julian. TMZ obtained a video with the cops telling the "Blurred Lines" singer that his son refuses to go with him.
Is Thicke also becoming a victim of parental alienation? Was the child made to believe his father was unfit to care for him, thus the change in attitude?
According to Inside Edition, Patton has accused her ex-husband of physically harming their son so that he has grown "fearful" of Thicke. It is alleged that the boy told his school that his father spanked him, prompting them to report the incident to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Spanking, however, is considered as a reasonable form of discipline in California, according to Think Defense.
But Patton also accused the singer of punching their son. The repeated alleged incidents of physical harm has prompted her to file a motion to limit Thicke's visitation rights.
Thicke, however, defends that the accusations are not true and that he would only lightly spank their son if needed in extreme cases. "This is the type of discipline to which Paula and I agreed during our marriage," Thicke said.
Thicke also claimed that Patton was being vengeful because his family did not allow her presence during the funeral of Alan Thicke, the singer's father, who died on Dec. 13. "Paula did not have a positive relationship with my father and often made negative comments to me about my father," Thicke said, E! Online reports.
The court has denied Patton's request for limited visitation. Their case remains active with the Department of Children and Family Services as of press time.
Patton and Thicke met in their teens and married 12 years later. They were together for almost 21 years before announcing their separation in 2014. They only have one child.
