Laurence Fox has launched a furious attack on his ex-wife Billie Piper, accusing her of “denying” him access to his son Winston on his 14th birthday.
The 44-year-old actor took to Twitter on Thursday night to share an angry post in which he claimed his ex-wife Billie, 40, used his two sons as “weapons” against him.
The former couple, who divorced in 2016 after nine years of marriage, have two sons together – Winston, 14, and Eugene, 10.
Family: Laurence Fox has launched a furious attack on his ex-wife Billie Piper, accusing her of ‘denying’ him access to his son Winston on his 14th birthday. Pictured: Billie and Laurence with children Winston and Eugene in 2013
Taking to Twitter, Laurence accused Billie of denying him access to their children and claimed he wasn’t able to see or speak to his eldest son, Winston, on his 14th birthday.
He penned: “It is [my son’s] Because his birthday is tomorrow and his mother has denied him any access to see or speak to me, I use my platform to highlight what child alienation does to families. Children need both parents.
“Don’t be the parent who refuses to let their sons talk to their father, especially on their birthday. Don’t be that parent. Put children first. Don’t use them as weapons.
“It’s so bad for kids. Child alienation needs to be spoken about openly, just like any other form of child abuse.”
Children: The 44-year-old actor took to Twitter on Thursday night to share an angry post in which he claimed his ex-wife Billie, 40, had used his two sons as ‘weapons’ against him
Billie’s reps declined to comment when contacted by Web.
Laurence and Billie divorced in 2016 after nine years of marriage due to Laurence’s “inappropriate behavior.”
At the time of their split, they stated their intention “to co-parent their children with the utmost mutual respect for one another.”
Laurence said they agreed to share custody and continued the arrangement with one working from home.
Custody: The former couple (pictured in November 2014), who divorced in 2016 after nine years of marriage, have two sons – Winston, 14, and Eugene, 10
Then, between 2016 and 2017, Laurence and Billie became embroiled in a protracted custody battle over who to keep their children.
The case was concluded before the High Court’s Family Division in December 2017 and Laurence previously claimed they had exhausted his finances.
Speaking in January 2018, he said: “I was certainly in a very dark place at one point – my deepest ebb. I almost felt like I couldn’t go on any longer. It all felt so hopeless.
“With a divorce, you immediately lose half the time you would spend with the kids. That in itself is a mental health crisis. But like everything, these feelings pass and you feel stronger with each passing day.
Allegations: Laurence took to Twitter to accuse Billie of denying him access to their children, claiming he wasn’t able to see or speak to his eldest son Winston on his 14th birthday
“Men aren’t comfortable talking about relationships anymore, and it can be disastrous for the men who bottle it — they end up throwing themselves off buildings.”
After his trial, Laurence began campaigning for the transformation of the family court system, which he described as “unnecessarily controversial.”
At the time, he said: “Actually, I’m really sad. The process didn’t have to be so long, drawn out, and controversial.
“And ours was fast because we have cash. I have the feeling that the children have been robbed of their young lives. It was half of Eugene’s life.’
In 2020, he also revealed that he was considering suicide following his and Billie split in 2016 after nine years of marriage.
Split: Laurence and Billie (pictured November 2013) divorced in 2016 after nine years of marriage due to Laurence’s “inappropriate behavior”.
Speaking to the Sunday Times Magazine, Laurence blamed the family court system for women assuming they were “better teachers” after a long custody battle with Billie over their two children.
He said: “Certain aspects of the family court system are difficult for a man. [It assumes women] are better nurturers and educators of children when all the facts are that children need both parents.
“It’s called ‘Woman’s Faith’. It’s like, “No! Don’t believe the woman. Provide the evidence. Provide that evidence. Try me as a fucking criminal, man, and see how far you get.” This is a poison in our culture and it is wrong.
“I imagine every single divorce is like that. There are a lot of guys who outdo each other over this stuff.”
And when asked if he was considering taking his own life, he added: “I did. Not within marriage. Thereafter.
“Not out of grief over the breakup of the marriage, although I’ve grieved the breakup of the marriage because you see it as a breakup.
“But suddenly not being a family with your kids every day was what got me over the edge and I certainly, definitely had thoughts about what it entails to be alive?”
Last year, Billie also opened up about the difficulties co-parenting her children with her ex Laurence Fox over the Christmas period in the early years of their split.
The I Hate Suzie star described the time as “tricky” and admitted she has a lot of sympathy for other couples who are in the same situation.
Speaking to Grazia, Billie discussed her plans for Christmas 2021 and admitted being a blended family over the holidays is “not easy”.
Hard times: Last year, Billie opened up about the difficulties co-parenting her children with her ex Laurence Fox over the Christmas period in the early years of their split
She said: “It’s an oddly emotional time of year anyway, so throw in logistics or difficulties and it’s just … the first few years are difficult and I have a lot of sympathy for people who are going through it.
“I’m pretty far into this arrangement now, and you’re getting used to it. The advantage for the children is that you celebrate with a lot more people.”
Billie and Laurence were married on New Year’s Eve 2007 in Eastbourne, West Sussex, after six months of dating, and Laurence has previously described their relationship as “hedonistic”.
Previously married to Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, Billie was in the process of finalizing her divorce when she met Laurence during rehearsals for the West End play Treats.
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Marriage: Billie was previously married to Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans (pictured in 2003) and ended their divorce when she met Laurence during rehearsals for the West End play Treats