Djimon Hounsou custody proceedings are now in court, with the actor seeking joint legal and physical custody of his two young children with Ri'za Marie Simpson, according to court documents obtained by media.

The filing comes months after a December incident in Atlanta that led to Simpson’s arrest and a temporary restraining order that was later dismissed.

What Djimon Hounsou is asking the court to decide

Hounsou, best known to many viewers for Gladiator, filed papers in late January asking for shared authority over major parenting decisions and shared physical custody of the children.

The former couple have two children together:

  • A son born in 2022
  • A daughter born in 2023

Joint legal custody would allow both parents to participate in decisions such as schooling, health care and other major matters. Joint physical custody would involve both parents having substantial time with the children, though the exact schedule would be up to the court or an agreement between the parents.

Ri'za Marie Simpson’s response

Simpson did not oppose shared legal custody, according to the documents. Her position differs on where the children should primarily live.

She argued that she should receive primary physical custody, citing the parents’ employment and travel histories. In other words, the dispute is less about whether both parents should have a role and more about who should provide the children’s main home base.

Simpson also requested financial support. She said the breakup had a “significant impact on her finances,” a claim the court would weigh alongside income, caregiving arrangements and the children’s needs.

The December arrest and restraining order dispute

The custody case follows a December encounter that had already brought the former couple into contact with law enforcement.

Media previously reported that Hounsou contacted Atlanta police and said Simpson hit him in the face after he asked her to leave his home. Simpson was arrested on charges of simple assault and obstruction, with police alleging she provided false information to officers.

After the arrest, Simpson obtained a temporary restraining order. That order was later dismissed after she and Hounsou reached an agreement.

The current filing shifts the dispute from immediate safety restrictions to longer-term parenting arrangements. That is the less dramatic part of family court, which is often the part that actually determines how day-to-day life works.