Tameka Raymond Surprised At Custody Battle, Dislikes Gossip Blogs, Doesn’t Consider Herself A Celebrity

Usher’s ex-wife, Tameka Raymond, rarely speaks to the media (outside of venting on twitter) about the current custody battle that she and Usher are undergoing. Recently, she broke her silence (the first time with Uptown) and chatted with Ebony. Peep a few excerpts.

On the custody battle:

I’m not at liberty to discuss it, as it deals with my young sons, but I was very surprised about the initiation of it. I’m actually not sure what inspired it but my only concern is my sons’ best interests and to ensure that great values are instilled in them as future men.

On how she’s been portrayed in the media:

I have oftentimes been positioned as the villain in many media stories, which tells me how oblivious they truly are to facts. Media can be very political — stories typically sway in the direction of the favored or popular. I am not defined by what others opinions are of me. I know the truth about myself; my children know me and what I stand for. I don’t shield my sons, that’s virtually impossible, they are clear about who their mother is and they laugh at how off base the stories usually are. I always say before you criticize a person, you should try walking a mile in their shoes.

On her feelings about bloggers:

Number one, I’m clear that oftentimes gossip blogs are started in someone’s kitchen while waiting on a Hot Pocket or pizza to bake, or after their boyfriend ran off with their BFF, or when their day jobs have cut their hours. For someone to bash another person, they are usually hurting; hurt people hurt people. Their negative words usually have no merit and there’s a real sickness in attempting to destroy others for hits or profit. It tells me that I’m doing something right to stay on their radars. It’s quite motivating and empowering. My neighbors are pretty oblivious to pop culture. My focuses are my family, my businesses, overall spiritual happiness. I am just focused on things that matter and the fray just simply doesn’t.

On being a celebrity:

There is no manual. I look at people who try to jump into the celebrity life, and I always give them a disclaimer: be careful what you ask for. I don’t consider myself a celebrity. I hate actually even using that word next to my name or anything. I’m not. I married one and it’s just been a whirlwind of good things and bad.

Read the full story here.

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