Joshua Jackson in custody battle with his ex-wife over daughter's schooling

News24

2 days ago

The ink has barely dried on Joshua Jackson and Jodie Turner-Smith's divorce papers, and already the exes are locked in a bitter legal dispute over their shared parenting arrangement.
The Doctor Odyssey star has filed an emergency custody review, claiming his ex-wife enrolled their five-year-old daughter, Juno, in a new school without his consent.
In the documents, obtained by People magazine, Joshua (46) alleges that Jodie (38) believes, 'it's no big deal to force Juno to start over with a new school'.
He also complains that the new school is 45 minutes away from his home, making regular drop-offs and pick-ups nearly impossible for him.
However, Joshua's concern goes beyond the school change itself.
'Jodie is attempting to create a scenario where Juno travels with her rather than attending a traditional school,' he claims.
The Dawson's Creek star wants the court to order that their daughter remains in her current school in Calabasas, in Los Angeles, for the upcoming academic year.
He also wants it stipulated that both parents must agree before any future school changes can be made.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by THE AGENCY: CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (@theagency_sho)
Joshua and Jodie met at a 2018 party hosted by R&B singer Usher. They married in secret a year later before welcoming Juno in April 2020.
In October 2023, the British model and actress filed for divorce on the grounds of 'irreconcilable differences'.
Joshua recently told USA Today that he believes Jodie is attempting to change their daughter's schooling so there is more flexibility for Juno to accompany her when she needs to travel for work.
READ MORE| 'I don't think of it as a failure' – Jodie Turner-Smith on divorcing Joshua Jackson
He says he thinks maintaining educational stability is important for their daughter's well-being during her formative years – something he didn't experience as a child actor.
'I started acting at a young age. I have spent a lot of time with on-set or on-location tutors,' he said. 'Even in the best case, it cannot begin to provide a child with the same nurturing and enrichment, peer relationships and social skills that a classroom and school community environment provides.'
He added that Juno has already endured a lot of changes, from their divorce to her home burning down during the LA wildfires in January, so she doesn't need any more turmoil.
'Unnecessary school change cannot be in her interests.'
Jodie is yet to speak publicly on the matter.
Despite their legal woes, it seems they're both moving on with their lives.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Joshua Jackson (@vancityjax)
Jodie currently stars in The Agency as Dr Sami Zahir, an academic who becomes romantically involved with an undercover CIA agent.
Describing her role she says, 'I love playing a dark-skinned Sudanese woman speaking Arabic on this show. I believe it's one of the most beautiful languages on this planet and I hope that Arabic-speaking people feel represented.'
She is also set to be filming in London throughout next year.
Meanwhile, Joshua is gearing up to return to his home in LA, which had to be rebuilt after being destroyed in the wildfires.