After completing a paternity test, Tristan Thompson revealed that he fathered a kid with personal trainer Maralee Nichols while dating Khloe Kardashian.
After Nichols launched a lawsuit against the NBA star, DailyMail.com obtained exclusive details of the paternity struggle.
On Monday, the serial cheater, 30, was seen leaving the dance class of his three-year-old daughter True, whom he shares with Khloe, in Los Angeles, just hours before confirming the news on his Instagram Story.
‘Today paternity test results reveal that I fathered a child with Maralee Nichols,’ he admitted in excerpt, and added a groveling apology to the 37-year-old reality star, writing: ‘You don’t deserve this.’
The first time the Sacramento Kings star officially acknowledged he’s now a father of three was in an Instagram post.
He has a five-year-old son Prince with ex Jordan Craig, in addition to his newborn boy and three-year-old daughter True with Khloe.
Tristan shared with his fans on Monday: ‘Today paternity test results reveal that I fathered a child with Maralee Nichols. I take full responsibility for my actions.
‘Now that paternity has been established, I look forward to amicably raising our son. I sincerely apologize to everyone I’ve hurt or disappointed throughout this ordeal both publicly and privately.’
Tristan then addressed the Keeping Up with The Kardashians star, whom he began dating in 2016, personally.
He wrote: ‘Khloe, you don’t deserve this. You don’t deserve the heartache and humiliation I have caused you. You don’t deserve the way I have treated you over the years. My actions have certainly not lined up with the way I view you. I have the utmost respect and love for you. Regardless of what you may think. Again, I am so incredibly sorry,’ his statement read.
Maralee, a fitness model, gave birth to a baby on December 1 and claimed the child was conceived in Houston in March 2021 while celebrating the NBA pro’s birthday.
However, she subsequently told E! News: ‘I did not file any request for child support before our child was born.’
Nichols also asked to have text messages exchanged between herself and Thompson submitted as evidence in her paternity case.
The texts are said to demonstrate that the pro athlete wanted her to terminate the pregnancy, that he had no plans to be engaged in the child’s life, and that he attempted to pay her hush money.
‘You know how I feel. My feelings haven’t changed at all. Won’t be involved at all. Btw if you think having this baby is going to make you some money. It’s completely wrong,’ a text message allegedly sent by Tristan read.
‘You are aware that I’m retiring after this season. So, in terms of the support, it will be whatever is required monthly or someone who’s unemployed. It’s Texas (sic) so it will be only a couple hundred dollars. So, you better off taking this 75k I’m offering because you won’t get nothing near that with having a kid with a father who’s unemployed.’
