The basketball player has reached a paternity settlement with Maralee Nichols, a 31-year-old fitness model, and mother of his one-year-old son, Theo.
According to TMZ, Thompson will pay Nichols a monthly amount of $9,500 in child support. The NBA player has covered some of her legal fees.
TMZ stated that the 31-year-old athlete would be listed as Theo’s father on his birth certificate, but his sole custody will still remain with his mother. The duo will determine a visitation schedule at a later date.
Earlier this month, on December 1, Maralee celebrated Theo’s first birthday and marked the special occasion by writing a sweet message on her Instagram.
“I can not believe you are already one,” she wrote alongside a series of images, including two throwback photos from when she was pregnant with Theo and one latest photo. “Spending the past 365 days with you has been the best days of my life. You are the sweetest little boy; your smile brightens up any room.”
“You are my greatest blessing, my world, my heart in human form,” the fitness model added. “God knew I needed you. I love you more than anything. Happy 1st Birthday to my angel, Theo.”
Maralee Nichols first made headlines in December 2021 when the news broke out that she was pregnant with Tristan’s child. Tristan initially denied the claim. However, in January 2022, he admitted on his Instagram story that he was Theo’s father.
The footballer also publicly apologized to his girlfriend, Khloe Kardashian, for cheating on her with the fitness model.
“I take full responsibility for my actions,” he wrote on Instagram. “Now that paternity has been established, I look forward to amicably raising our son.”
“Khloé, you don’t deserve this. You don’t deserve the heartache and humiliation I have caused you,” he said for his Kardashian girlfriend. “You don’t deserve the way I have treated you over the years.”
According to Us Weekly, a source revealed to the outlet that the footballer had no immediate plans to develop a relationship with his son.
“Tristan is very absent from Theo’s life. He hasn’t met Theo, nor has he initiated any meetings. He doesn’t have any immediate plans to meet his son face to face.”
Thompson also hadn’t been in communication with Maralee and hasn’t sent her any money for child support to date,” the source added.
According to Page Six, “In legal documents obtained by the outlet at the time, Thompson appeared to threaten Nichols over child support and even encouraged her to get an abortion. He also allegedly offered her $75,000 to keep quiet about the baby.”
The 31-year-old Canada native tried his best to shut down the scandal, however, he failed when a paternity test proved that he was the father of Theo.
What are your views on Tristan Thompson settling suit with his ex Maralee Nichols? Let us know in the comments.