Usher's son's pool accident leads ex-wife to demand custody

Sources close to Usher say the superstar singer and actor’s ex-wife, Tameka Foster Raymond, has long been looking for a reason to reopen the custody arrangement regarding the former couple’s two children. Following the near-death of the duo’s son Usher Raymond V in a swimming pool mishap, Tameka’s attorneys requested a custody hearing — now set for Friday.

Even after their divorce in 2009, the ex-couple long battled over custody of their Usher, whose legal name is Usher Raymond IV, was granted full custody of the children, young Usher, 5, and his younger brother Naviyd Ely Raymond, 4. The boys mother was given limited custodial and visitation rights.

“Now with that near-death accident involving little Usher,” Tameka is pouncing on it. She thinks she can use this to illustrate some issues about how [her ex-husband] has not been so good at parenting,” said a longtime friend of the former couple and music industry pro.

“Tameka is legitimately concerned about the family members and other people who Usher has been using to look after his kids during the many times he’s traveling. … He has a huge music career and Tameka thinks that always takes precedence over his kids,” said a source who also has remained friends with both Usher and Raymond.

That allegation is something the singer’s team has long vehemently denied.