Usher's ex-wife loses custody battle but receives hug from singer

Usher and his ex-wife appeared make peace in court on Friday after a bitter custody war over their two sons.
The singer gave tearful Tameka Foster Raymond a consoling hug moments after she lost her bid to get temporary primary custody of Usher V, five, and Naviyd, four, in a hearing in Atlanta.
She sought legal action after the pair's older child got caught in a pool drain while in the care of the Grammy winner's aunt on Monday. She alleged the children were in a 'dangerous environment'.

In tears: Usher's ex wife Tameka Foster Raymond broke down during an emergency hearing in Atlanta on Friday. A judge later dismissed her request for temporary custody of the pair's sons

Extending the olive branch: Usher approached his ex-wife after the ruling to give her a hug

But the judge described the incident as an 'awful accident' and dismissed the case.
The courtroom showdown between the former couple took a surprising turn, with Usher extending the proverbial olive branch to a distraught Raymond by embracing her.
The 34-year-old RnB star tentatively approached, before placing his hand on her shoulder.

Hey, are you okay? Usher was seen holding his ex-wife by the arms, no doubt wanting to show some sign of solidarity following the highly emotional week and hearing

Come here: Usher then pulled her to him, although she didn't appear too eager to reciprocate

Best it's going to get: Raymond acquiesced somewhat as she leaned her head on his shoulder

Raymond - whose 11-year-old son Kile, from a previous relationship, tragically died in a jetski accident last year - turned to him as he pulled her in for an embrace of apparent sympathy after what has been a very stressful week for the two parents.

Usher's aunt, Rena Oden, was looking after the children on the day of the pool accident.
Before dismissing the case, Fulton County Superior Court Judge John Goger said he wasn't certain anyone really could have done anything to prevent the accident. But he also advised Usher to keep his ex-wife well advised of his whereabouts and who's taking care of the children.

Usher's ex-wife loses custody battle but receives hug from singer

 

Tough time: Raymond grew emotional through much of her testimony, especially after listening to the 911 call made by Rena after the pool accident

'Awful accident': The judge said he didn't believe another caregiver could have done a better job under the circumstances.

The pair's boy fell to the bottom of the pool and became stuck in the drain on Monday, according to an Atlanta police report. A housekeeper tried unsuccessfully to free him. A contractor doing work at the home pulled the boy from the pool and performed CPR.
The boy was 'conscious, alert and breathing' when emergency medical workers arrived, police said. He was still in the hospital Friday.
'They're just assessing him,' Raymond told reporters outside the courthouse after the hearing. 'There is a lot we don't know. I mean you can't - it's only been a few days so we're very thankful that he's obviously alive but we still have to observe him and make sure that everything is OK.'

Taking to the stand: Raymond requested the hearing earlier this week after the former couple's five-year-old got caught in a pool drain while in the care of the Grammy winner's aunt

Visibly emotional: Raymond said her ex-husband doesn't respond to her calls or emails asking after their children 

Shut out: The caregivers he introduced to me, I didn't know they had quit,' she said, referring to her children's previous caretakers. '[Usher] doesn't answer the phone, he doesn't answer emails'

Usher left the courthouse in downtown Atlanta without speaking to reporters.
The filing had said the boy 'suffered a near-death accident' while left unsupervised at Usher's home when the singer was out of town.
Contrary to what Raymond claimed, Usher's aunt was poolside watching the children when the older child became stuck in the drain, and Usher was at a music studio one highway exit away, said the singer's lawyer John Mayoue.

Breaking down: Raymond started sobbing while listening to the 911 call made by Rena after the pool accident

Overcome with emotion: Raymond wailed 'it's chaos, it's chaos' after hearing the 911 call

Rather than being grateful that her child had survived, Raymond used the episode to revisit the custody battle and gain publicity, Mayoue said.
Raymond, who is a hair and wardrobe stylist, was emotional during her testimony, at one point sobbing so hard that she had to step down from the witness stand to regain her composure.
'He doesn't confer with me regarding anything,' Raymond said, explaining that she never knows where Usher is, where the children are and who's taking care of them.

Refutes claims: Usher claimed he sends her a weekly email detailing the children's plans for the upcoming week

Not impressed: Usher looked exasperated prior to the start of the hearing

Usher travels frequently and uses caregivers, including his aunt, who aren't trained and qualified to care for young children, Raymond said.
'I don't know where my children are, and I don't know who they are with,' said Raymond as she took the stand.
'The caregivers he introduced to me, I didn't know they had quit,' she said. '[Usher] doesn't answer the phone, he doesn't answer emails.'