Share and Follow
The 90 Day Fiancé franchise has brought fame to a variety of controversial couples, but perhaps none are as complicated as Paul and Karine’s relationship. The pair were notoriously on-and-off, but they did get married, and Karine left her native Brazil to come live with Paul in the U.S.
However, despite welcoming two sons during their marriage, Pierre and Ethan, the couple’s troubles only escalated following their move to America. The pair have faced various allegations and been involved in multiple domestic disputes, including an altercation in December 2021, where video footage showed Karine getting physical with Paul while their sons were in the same room.
Paul and Karine subsequently broke up and were each granted restraining orders against each other. But in the aftermath, they also lost custody of their sons. Now, many 90 Day Fiancé fans are wondering what’s the status of Paul and Karine’s custody battle, and who’s looking after their two boys. Here’s everything that we know.
Paul Tried Kidnapping His Son To Avoid CPS
Paul and Karine originally lost custody in the summer of 2022, but Child Protective Services (CPS) had difficulty locating their children. In June 2022, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reported that the couple’s older child, Pierre, had been missing since earlier in the month. The report added that he may be “in the company” of his father.
Paul was quick to respond to the allegations to deny his son was kidnapped. Rather, he said he took the toddler on an extended trip while he tried to look for work. However, the so-called trip came only days after CPS had been granted custody of Pierre, which made it seem like Paul was trying to evade the court’s decision and flee with the boy.
It’s unclear why Paul didn’t also take their younger son, Ethan. The 1-year-old was reportedly in the care of CPS when his older brother was reported missing.
Once the news went viral, Paul returned Pierre to state authorities, claiming it was all a misunderstanding. Paul and Karine have been trying to regain custody ever since.
Paul & Karine’s Sons Were Put Into Foster Care
In July 2022, Paul gave an update about the custody situation during an appearance on the Domenick Nati Show. The reality star made a series of startling revelations, including that his and Karine’s parental rights were terminated, and their sons were currently in foster care.
Paul alleged that his estranged wife had initially been accepted into a government program offering financial assistance and housing after claiming she was a victim of human trafficking, which Paul has denied.
Read Related Also: Juanita Vanoy’s Net Worth Skyrocketed Following Her Divorce Settlement From Michael Jordan
However, Paul implied that Karine has since lost the government benefits. “Karine works hard at any job she can to earn money,” he explained. “She has lost any government help from food stamps to medical. Lost her housing assistance.”
In the same social media post, Paul said that their sons had been taken by Child Protective Services and were currently with a foster family. Paul said that even though Karine has been doing “everything CPS and the ‘harsh’ judge has asked her since December,” she was only allowed to visit their boys once a week for an hour at the time.
Paul added that the court hasn’t given their family a “fair opportunity at reunification.”
“I have seen other judges allow a mothers opportunity to get their children’s custody back,” he added. “Our children miss their parents. The termination of our parental and custodial rights without a fair opportunity at reunification shows how corrupt the system is.”
Paul noted that there was a chance the boys could be placed in the care of one of his family members, but so far it hasn’t happened.
Paul & Karine Are Trying To Raise Funds To Fight For Custody
For now, it appears that Pierre and Ethan remain in the custody of CPS. Speaking to In Touch, a source said that while the situation is sad, the boys are doing very well. “I am sure Pierre is very confused about why this is,” the insider explained. “Just sad for sure, but the boys are very loved and cared for.”
They added that the contact between Paul, Karine, and their boys is limited, but Karine is able to visit her sons once a week at a “special place” with supervision.
Paul and Karine have made it clear they plan to fight to regain custody of their kids. In September 2022, Karine turned to social media to ask her followers to donate to a GoFundMe page so she could hire a lawyer. She’s promoted the GoFundMe page several times in the months since.
Paul has also given sporadic updates online about the custody situation. In February 2023, he wrote on his Instagram Story, “Myself and Karine were both ordered to complete this course by CPS along with other programs and requirements.”
While Paul and Karine may be working towards regaining custody, for now, it appears their sons are thriving in foster care.
