Jesse Williams is asking for the $40,000 monthly child support payments he's been paying his ex-wife, Aryn Drake-Lee, to be reduced.
In court documents, the 41-year-old actor, who was ordered to pay the determined amount to his ex-wife Aryn Drake-Lee in 2019, has filed for modification, citing his recent change in income due to his departure from "Grey's Anatomy."
The former couple shares two children, Sadie, 8, and Maceo, 6.
Williams, who announced his departure from the show last year after almost 12 seasons, tied the knot with Drake-Lee in 2012. The two separated five years later and finalized their divorce in October 2020, with both being awarded joint physical custody of the kids.
"I am requesting the Court reduce the child support to a reasonable amount I can afford given the significant reduction in my income and the now fluctuating nature of my income," Williams, who has been starring in the Broadway play "Take Me Out," said in his declaration to the court.
Williams is now making $1,668 per week for his work on Broadway -- a far cry from the $6.2 million he made on Grey's Anatomy, not to mention the $183,000 in residuals he also took home.
The show, Williams said, was the primary source of income for his family throughout his marriage and for him, post-separation.
The actor went on to declare that their children's lifestyle did not and does not reflect the $40,000 a month he's been paying Drake-Lee.
"Our children's lifestyle was/is in no way reflective of the $40,000 per month child support. Our children have a modest lifestyle. They do not have expensive hobbies or attend expensive camps," he said. "They do not fly by private jet when we take vacations, and we do not have any vacation homes. I agreed to the child support solely due to my then significant "Grey's" income."
He also explained his reason for leaving the show, something Drake-Lee said in her motion to deny Williams' modification of support he chose to do, alleging that it was a decision he made to put his needs ahead of his children's.
