BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — South Florida rapper Kodak Black, born Bill Kapri, is embroiled in a heated custody battle in Broward County court amid allegations of domestic violence from Maranda Johnson, the mother of two of his children.
Johnson, 23, has accused Kodak Black of abusing her, though he has not been charged with any related criminal offenses, according to police reports and court documents reviewed by CBS12’s News Partner, the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
The dispute intensified when Johnson was arrested on August 7 at the courthouse for allegedly vandalizing Black’s luxury vehicles and engaging in a physical altercation during their daughter’s birthday party earlier this year. Johnson’s attorney, Jodie Bassichis, called the arrest an intimidation tactic linked to her client’s ongoing custody and child support efforts.
“All I wanted was to get away from a toxic relationship and have Dad do his part as a father,” Johnson told the Sun Sentinel.
Black’s lawyer, Bradford Cohen, insists that the rapper has consistently supported their two young children—a 1-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter—and emphasized that no domestic violence charges are pending against his client. Cohen also noted that Johnson’s prior burglary with assault charge was dismissed.
The custody case took a critical turn in February when Johnson secured an emergency pick-up order for their son after alleging Black had taken him in January and refused to return him. The child was later returned to Johnson.
The battle has escalated with Black’s legal team seeking full custody, citing the incident at the birthday party where Johnson allegedly became aggressive. Johnson denies these claims and maintains that she is a victim of domestic violence, providing evidence of injuries allegedly inflicted by Black, with abuse purportedly starting in June 2023 and worsening until their breakup in March 2024.
Recently, on July 8, Kodak Black was honored in his hometown of Pompano Beach with the key to the city. Mayor Rex Hardin praised the rapper’s philanthropic efforts, including donations of air conditioning units to families in public housing, holiday giveaways of turkeys and gifts, and rent assistance for hundreds of families.
Kodak Black’s Zachariah McQueen Foundation has partnered with local groups like A Different Shade of Love to support the Riviera Beach community, distributing AC units and other aid.
