2020-03-30_People

(Nandana) #1
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Michael

Strahan’s

Bitter

Custody

Battle

Michael Strahan is locked in a
contentious custody battle with
his ex-wife Jean Muggli Stra-
han after accusing her of abus-
ing their 15-year-old twin
daughters, Sophia and Isabella.
In documents filed Feb. 27 the
Good Morning America host,
48, alleges that Jean, 54, to
whom he was married from
1999 to 2006, has been engag-
ing in a “pattern of abusive con-
duct towards the children for
years.” Jean, who lives in North
Carolina, has primary custody
of the girls, while Michael has

visitation rights. Strahan, who’s
requesting primary custody,
claims Jean hasn’t taken their
daughters to court-ordered
therapy sessions and says he
will provide more detail confi-
dentially once the court papers
are sealed. Lawyers for both
sides declined to comment.
The couple have faced off in
court before: During their acri-
monious divorce, Jean alleged
Michael had abused her,
which he vehemently denied.
Her complaint was dismissed
by a judge. “My kids give me

Jenna Dewan and fiancé Steve
Kazee have reason to celebrate: On
March 6 they welcomed their first
child together, son Callum Michael
Rebel. “Our hearts exploded into
all of eternity and beyond,” the
actress and dancer, 39, wrote on
Instagram March 10. Despite fears
surrounding the coronavirus,
Dewan is focused on her family.
“Jenna is resting at home and over-

joyed about her baby boy,” a source
says of Dewan, who is already mom
to daughter Everly, 6, with her
ex-husband Channing Tatum. “She
is trying to focus on her happiness
and stay calm so she can be the
best mom to her baby and Everly.”
Kazee, 44, is enjoying his new role
as dad: “He is changing diapers and
carrying the baby around,” says the
source of the Tony-winning Broad-
way star, who began dating Dewan
in 2018 before popping the ques-
tion in February. While the pan-
demic is “worrisome,” the source
adds, “They are limiting visitors to
try and keep everyone healthy”—
and Dewan couldn’t be happier.
“I always said that I would love to
expand my family,” she told People
last year.
—DANA ROSE FALONE

Baby Joy for Jenna Dewan

strength,” Michael, who is also
father to adult children Tanita
and Michael Jr. with ex-wife
Wanda Hutchins, told People
in 2016. “I love being with the
kids. To me it’s all about family,
now more than anything.”
While the exes’ legal teams
appeared in court on March 13
for a separate child support
hearing (Jean asked last year
to have Michael’s payments
increased), their next custody
mediation has been postponed
because of the coronavirus.
—EMILY STROHM

Fractured
Family
Michael Strahan
brought Isabella
(far right) and
Sophia to the
Nickelodeon Kids’
Choice Sports
Awards in 2019.
Left: Jean Muggli
Strahan in 2006.

Doting New
Parents
“Welcome to
the world you
little angel!”
Dewan (with
Kazee ) wrote on
Instagram of son
Callum (inset).

(STRAHAN) FROM TOP: XAVIER COLLIN/IMAGE PRESS AGENCY/SIPA USA; MICHAEL ALBANS/NY DAILY NEWS ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES

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