Rapper Kodak Black accused of domestic violence amid custody battle
BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — South Florida rapper Kodak Black is facing serious allegations involving domestic violence against the mother of two of his children as a contentious custody dispute unfolds in Broward County court, per CBS12's News Partner, the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
According to police reports and court documents, Maranda Johnson has accused her ex, Kodak Black, whose real name is Bill Kapri, of violently abusing her, although he has not been charged with any criminal offenses related to these allegations.
The Sentinel reported that Johnson, 23, was recently arrested at the courthouse on August 7, charged with vandalizing Black’s luxury cars and getting into a fight during their daughter’s birthday party earlier this year.
Johnson’s attorney, Jodie Bassichis, described her client’s arrest as an intimidation tactic in response to her efforts for custody and child support. Since initiating her legal battle, Johnson has faced multiple lawsuits and two separate criminal charges this month alone, per the report.
“All I wanted was to get away from a toxic relationship and have Dad do his part as a father,” Johnson shared with the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Meanwhile, the Sun Sentinel said that Black's attorney, Bradford Cohen, contends that his client has always financially supported their two children—a 1-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter.
The Sun Sentinel said that he emphasized that there are no pending domestic violence charges against Black, while also mentioning Johnson's previous charge of burglary with assault, which was dismissed.
See also: Rapper Kodak Black receives key to Florida City, celebrated for community contributions
According to reports, the custody case took a turn in February when Johnson sought an emergency pick-up order for their son. She claimed Black had taken their child in January, stating he would never see him again. The order was granted, and the son has since returned to Johnson.
The Sun Sentinel said that the custody dispute has intensified, with Black’s legal team filing for full custody, highlighting an incident during their daughter’s birthday party where Johnson allegedly became aggressive.
In court filings, Johnson has denied these accusations and asserted that she is a victim of domestic violence.
Johnson has provided evidence of injuries she claims were inflicted by Black, detailing that the abuse began in June 2023 and escalated until their breakup in March 2024.
Black received the key to the city in his hometown of Pompano Beach recently, on July 8.
Pompano Beach Mayor Rex Hardin described Kodak as “an individual whose journey from these very streets to international acclaim has been remarkable, but whose heart has never left this community.”
At the ceremony, a burst of applause could be heard as Hardin acknowledged the good deeds that led to the famous rapper receiving the key. Some of those deeds include donating air conditioning units to families in public housing, giving away turkeys during the holiday seasons, giving Christmas gifts and bicycles to children, and helping 200 Pompano families pay their rent, not once but twice.
In Palm Beach County, in 2021, Kodak's charity foundation, the Zachariah McQueen Foundation, partnered with the Palm Beach County outreach group, A Different Shade of Love, to hand out AC units in the city of Riviera Beach.
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