Rumer Willis’ ex-boyfriend accuses her of ‘exploiting’ daughter

Rumer Willis’ ex-boyfriend, Derek Richard Thomas, has accused her of exploiting their three-year-old daughter.

Rumer Willis’ ex-boyfriend has accused her of exploiting their daughter.

The House Bunny actress submitted a court declaration last week opposing a request from Derek Richard Thomas – who she split from in August 2024 after two years of dating – for a child custody order in relation to their three-year-old daughter Louetta, and in the documents she detailed his alleged abusive behaviour.

And in a response, documents obtained by People magazine saw the 30-year-old musician deny the abuse allegations and make his own claims against Rumer, 37.

Derek alleged the Now and Then actress had exploited Louetta by having her appear in a paid commercial that featured “adult sexual humour.”

His declaration read: “Respondent’s coordinated media strategy and its harm to Louetta are a serious concern.

“On February 22, 2026, I sent Respondent a written objection to Louetta’s appearance in paid commercial advertising, noting a specific ad which contained adult sexual humour that was not appropriate context for a two year old.”

In her own declaration, Rumer claimed Derek had shown a “persistent pattern” of “insane emotional abuse” since they separated, which she alleged was “often in front of the minor child or while they were trapped in the car with him.”

She alleged her former partner has engaged in “ongoing coercive control through prolonged circular verbal attacks that he is unable or unwilling to stop”, and claimed his “erratic and bizarre” conduct “escalated” after Louetta was born.

In her filing, in which she is seeking primary custody of the youngster, she wrote: “I was constantly trying to keep the peace and walk on eggshells.

“He wanted to isolate me from my friends and family.

“He constantly called me a liar with no reason behind it. He told me I was a bad girlfriend all the time.”

Rumer told how Derek allegedly showed “paranoid behaviour” and was convinced she and her mom Demi Moore were “plotting” to take Louetta away from him.

She wrote: “For a long time, it was difficult for me to stand up to [Thomas] as I tried to avoid his emotional tirades and abuse even for a long time after he moved out.”

She explained she doesn’t want her former partner to have “overnights or time with Louetta” without an Evidence Code Section 730 child custody evaluation because the tot has been left “traumatised” and “crying a lot” as a result of his alleged behaviour.

In addition, Rumer raised an objection to Derek’s current fiancee, Lizzie Loch, being present during his custodial time because of his alleged “history of fighting in relationships, and in front of the child.”

But Derek hit back and insisted Rumer has only made the request because she is “enraged” by Louetta’s “clear affection” for his new partner.

While he denied the abuse claims, he admitted his relationship with Rumer was “unhealthy”.

He wrote: “I have committed no acts of domestic violence in any form, including any active coercive control. [Our] relationship was unhealthy and appropriately came to an end, but it was not all characterised by any violence, physical or emotional attacks or intimidation on my part.

“The decision to end the relationship between myself and [Rumer] was a mutual decision made in our mutual best interests.”

Derek also pushed back on a request from his ex-girlfriend that he submit to court-ordered drug testing because of his alleged “chronic daily marijuana use and evidence of behaviour indicative of someone under the influence of drugs for extended periods of time.”

He insisted he is not a “current user of marijuana”, though he used to “as legally allowed”, but never to the extent that he was “unable to fully and properly fulfill my duties and obligations as Louetta’s father.”

Rumer accused her former partner of causing “high stress and chaos” when she visited her “extremely ill” dad Bruce Willis, who has frontotemporal dementia, and alleged he hasn’t paid her “any support” because he expects her “wealthy family to take care of everything.”

But Rumer warned she is “going to be in severe debt with attorney fees” because she doesn’t rely on her parents for money.