Actress Christina Ricci is embroiled in a renewed custody battle with her ex-husband, James Heerdegen, who recently filed for an emergency custody hearing for their son, Freddie. The dispute centers on Heerdegen's allegations that Ricci was drinking during a recent flight to Canada with their child, a claim Ricci's representatives describe as a "calculated move" to exploit her past struggles with substance abuse.
Heerdegen, a producer and camera operator, has alleged that Freddie informed him of Ricci consuming alcohol during the June 16 flight. He petitioned the court claiming Freddie texted him descriptions of his mother's alcohol consumption and subsequent behavior. The request for an emergency hearing and a demand for Ricci to undergo alcohol testing were ultimately denied by a judge.
Ricci, who has been open about her history as a "party girl" who struggled with drugs and alcohol as a teen before achieving sobriety at 21, believes her ex-husband is using her past to gain leverage. "Christina believes the claims being made by her ex are not only unfair but deeply offensive," a source told the Daily Mail. "In her view, he's attempting to use her past struggles with substance abuse – issues she has openly acknowledged and spoken about publicly – as a way to gain leverage with custody."
Insiders state Ricci views Heerdegen's actions as a "calculated move" and is frustrated that personal challenges she has overcome are being brought back into the spotlight. She desires minimal interaction with Heerdegen and is tired of disputes and accusations regarding her parenting.
The couple met in 2011 on the set of the television series "Pan Am," where Ricci was a star and Heerdegen worked as a camera operator. They married in 2013 and welcomed their son the following year. In June 2020, Ricci obtained a domestic violence restraining order against Heerdegen after a domestic battery incident at their home. Ricci filed for divorce shortly thereafter, leading to mutual allegations of domestic violence. Heerdegen's request for a restraining order against Ricci was denied, as he had accused her of drunken behavior in front of him and Freddie.
During the divorce proceedings, Ricci was granted full custody of Freddie, with Heerdegen retaining visitation rights. They eventually settled on a split custody arrangement where Ricci maintains primary physical custody and decision-making authority for medical and educational matters. Ricci also retained ownership of their Los Angeles home and all residuals from her acting career, while Heerdegen received a car, a financial settlement, and a share from the sale of a property.
Ricci has since married hairstylist Mark Hampton, with whom she shares a daughter, Cleopatra. According to insiders, Ricci is focused on her current family and future and has no intention of backing down from the current allegations. She plans to vigorously challenge any claims made by Heerdegen, viewing them as an effort to create doubt.
In a development related to the custody case, Freddie's counsel filed court documents indicating the child claimed he "overreacted" in his texts to his father. The child's counsel also stated that Freddie's description of Ricci's alcohol consumption to his counsel differed from what he told his father, and that the child expressed no fear of remaining in his mother's primary physical custody. The judge granted Ricci's request to seal Freddie's text messages to his father, citing potential harm to the child's mental health and risk of bullying at school.
Ricci, who achieved child stardom with roles in films like "Mermaids," "Casper," and "The Addams Family," has spoken candidly about the pressures of fame and her past substance abuse. She has described her younger self as a "feral creature" and a "party animal" between the ages of 16 and 21.
Another insider praised Ricci's character, stating, "What she's being accused of is seriously hard to believe. She's so nice, always friendly to everyone on set and great with kids. She makes them all feel so special when she's around. She's a great mom."