Kelly Rutherford was photographed in New York City on Wednesday alongside her 18-year-old son, Hermes Gustaf Daniel Giersch, at Biosil's 30th Anniversary Celebration at Fouquet's New York. Hermes, now an adult by age, is described as towering over his mother, who stands about 5'8". Hermes wore a dark suit with a black shirt, his blonde hair slicked back, and a long printed scarf completed the look. Rutherford chose a long off-white sleeveless dress with a mock neck and carried an ivory Hermes Birkin bag for the occasion.
Rutherford was accompanied by her 18-year-old son Hermes Gustaf Daniel Giersch and was joined at the event by her former Gossip Girl costar Ed Westwick, who looked sharp in a dark suit. The actress also has a 16-year-old daughter, Helena, and the children’s father is German businessman Daniel Giersch. The article notes that Rutherford and Giersch endured a highly public custody battle that stretched for years and drew substantial media attention.
The couple married in 2006 and separated in 2009. Monaco courts eventually granted Rutherford joint custody of their two children, but the case grew contentious after a series of visa-related complications and court directives. Officials ruled that the children would live full-time with Giersch in Monaco because his work visa was revoked, a development that effectively limited Rutherford’s ability to return to the United States with them. She reportedly spent nearly $2 million on legal fees to pursue full custody and, at one point, filed for bankruptcy to continue financing the dispute.
The custody saga extended over six years, a period during which Rutherford largely raised her family in Monaco. She has not attended a red carpet with her kids since 2015, a fact reflected in interviews and public appearances over the years. In a Travel + Leisure interview published in October, Rutherford described Monaco as “peaceful,” noting that it is “the opposite of what everyone thinks it is, for me at least.” She added that the principality can be quiet in winter, a pace she valued for family life: “It’s a place you can come and really just be quiet.” She also praised the historic atmosphere of Monaco, citing Grace Kelly as part of its glamorous, traditional charm, and said the city-state has continued to evolve into a cultural center while remaining private.
While the public memory of the high-profile custody battle lingers in entertainment headlines, Rutherford has continued to navigate life in Monaco with her family. The intersection of celebrity, international custody disputes and cross-border legal processes remains a notable chapter in her career and personal life, underscoring how early fame can intersect with complex family legal struggles that persist long after a tabloid spotlight fades.