Jack White has filed a countermotion in a Nashville court in response to the restraining order taken out by his former wife, Karen Elson, last week. Elson's order alleged harassment via text messages and emails, stating she feared for her and their children's safety as the couple continue to battle over parenting rights.
According to court documents, White's lawyer argued that the singer does not want to be portrayed as violent towards his family. The filing included emails from Elson praising White's parenting, including one from May 2013 in which she reportedly wrote: 'You're an amazing father, I'm so glad we had these kids together.'
The rift appears to stem partly from a European trip Elson took with their children two months ago, during which she kept them overseas for ten days longer than White had allegedly given written consent for. The countermotion also notes that Elson left their two children in White's care the day after signing her restraining order affidavit, while she took a ten-day 'work/pleasure trip' to New York.
White's attorney, Cathy Speers Johnson, called Elson's previous motion for a psychiatric exam 'inflammatory … disingenuous, fraudulent and retaliatory', designed to malign White. White further claims that last month Elson declared her love for him to mutual friend Dean Fertita, stating she would 'move back in tomorrow' if asked, contradicting her claims of fear.
The row also involves a dispute over schooling. Elson's order cited White's wish to remove their children from a class to avoid contact with a child of another musician, Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, whom White accused of copying him. An email allegedly sent by White on 16 July reportedly expressed concern about being 'lumped in' with Auerbach over the next 12 years.
A hearing to discuss the care of their children is scheduled for 29 August.
