Photo Credit:Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
NBA star Anthony Edwards is embroiled in a contentious legal battle with Ayesha Howard over the paternity and custody of their daughter, Aubri Summers, born in October 2024. Howard, who previously had a child with rapper Lil Baby, alleges that Edwards urged her to terminate the pregnancy upon learning of it and subsequently cut off communication. She has submitted alleged text messages in court to support her claims.
In September 2024, Edwards filed a petition in Georgia seeking a DNA test to confirm paternity and establish child support obligations. The test confirmed he is the biological father. However, Edwards has stated in court documents that he is not seeking custody or visitation rights, indicating that his interest lies solely in resolving financial responsibilities.
Howard has filed for sole legal and physical custody of Aubri and has requested that Edwards name be added to the birth certificate. She also seeks financial support for pregnancy-related expenses and child-rearing costs. The legal proceedings have been complicated by jurisdictional disputes, with Howard attempting to move the case to California, citing her residency, while Edwards argues that Georgia is the appropriate venue. A Los Angeles judge ruled in favor of Edwards, determining that Georgia has jurisdiction over the child support matters.
The situation has attracted public attention, especially after Edwards was fined $50,000 by the NBA for making inappropriate comments and gestures toward a fan who questioned him about his alleged children during a playoff game. This incident, coupled with the ongoing legal disputes, has raised concerns about Edwards public image and personal conduct. Edwards legal team claims that the media coverage of their paternity case has led to unnecessary doxxing and harassment.
Howard's team claim that she has not exposed any confidential information that could lead to Edwards reputational damage. They claim that Edwards main concern is the public scrutiny he has been facing over the 6 months the case went viral. Concern over reputation alone does not constitute sufficient grounds to overcome the presumption of public access of court records, her lawyer stated. Howard went ahead to claim she is raising her child with Edward alone with no financial or custodial support.
