Demi Moore is standing by her daughter, Rumer Willis, in her bitter custody battle with her ex-boyfriend, Derek Richard Thomas.
Rumer and Derek, who split in 2024 after two years together, have been locked in a contentious custody battle over their three-year-old daughter, Louetta, since July 2025.
The pair have gone back and forth, leveling allegations against one another, with Rumer accusing Derek of “insane, emotional abuse” and “ongoing coercive control,” which he vehemently denies.
Demi added to her daughter’s argument by claiming that Derek “appears to want to dictate and control Rumer’s environment to his needs.”
Sharing an example in court documents, Demi alleged that Derek displayed “aggressive” behavior during Louetta’s home birth in April 2023.
“Rumer had a home birth. I was present for the birth along with Rumer’s siblings. While Rumer was giving birth to Louetta in the birthing tub, Derek, without asking, and without having showered, got into the birthing tub in an aggressive and sudden manner,” Demi recalled in her declaration, according to documents obtained by Us Weekly.
“Everyone was shocked. Rumer asked him to get out immediately, and he did. He then spent the rest of the birth acting angry and pouting, and making it all about him.
© Instagram“No consideration to Rumer, the baby, the process, or anyone else for that matter. He essentially ruined what should’ve been one of the happiest moments of her life.”
Demi also recalled returning to the former couple’s home the next day with her daughter Scout, only for Derek to “angrily complain that we were there cleaning.”
“I heard him pressure Rumer not to have me and her sisters there with her for support. I heard him berate and angrily complain to Rumer ‘how dare we come over without his permission,'” Demi alleged.
© Getty Images“He stayed in the room with Rumer for at least 30 minutes that morning less than 12 hours after Rumer had given birth. He would not leave her alone. It ended only when Rumer left the room to get away from him.”
She continued: “After cleaning, I had my first moment to hold my newborn granddaughter. I was holding her and Derek suddenly whipped off his shirt and demanded I give him the baby so he could have what he called ‘skin to skin contact.’
“He would not let Rumer put clothes on Louetta when she was clearly cold and needing to be bundled and swaddled. He showed absolutely no respect, care, concern, compassion or support toward anyone, especially Rumer and the baby.
© Instagram“Derek constantly sucks the joy out of all encounters with him,” Demi added. “He wants to put Rumer at odds with our family, and creates unnecessary stress and fear for Rumer to this day.”
Demi also accused Derek of bringing Louetta home “filthy” with an “unchanged diaper” after being in his care.
“On many occasions, he brings Louetta back filthy to my house with an unchanged diaper. He has left her car seat filthy, and his general attitude is that it is unimportant. He does not pick up after himself. He clearly expected Rumer or me or our staff to do everything for him,” she penned in the docs.
© Getty ImagesDerek has denied all the allegations against him, and his attorney, Mike Kretzmer, told Page Six that he will “try this case in court and not in press.”
“Ms. Willis’ statements are inaccurate and false and we intend to demonstrate this in court. Mr. Thomas is a loving, capable and wholly appropriate father to their child,” he said.
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