Ioan Gruffudd Sought Therapeutic Boarding School Placement for Teenage Daughter
Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd, known for his role in Fantastic Four, attempted to have his teenage daughter Ella enrolled in a therapeutic boarding school following a distressing domestic altercation involving his girlfriend Bianca Wallace. This revelation emerges from legal documents filed ahead of a nine-day trial scheduled to commence on February 23rd.
Custody Dispute and Alleged Incident
Gruffudd had initially pursued equal physical custody of both his daughters, Ella and Elsie. However, after a confrontation in 2023, he amended his request. The incident reportedly involved Ella, then aged 13, who allegedly directed offensive language at Wallace, wrote expletives in mustard on kitchen countertops, and poured milk on a bed.
Following this episode, Gruffudd stated he only sought custody of his younger daughter, Elsie, who was nine years old at the time. He expressed concerns about Ella's mental health, describing her as in need of urgent care, though he denied calling her narcissistic, abusive, or manipulative as she claimed in court.
Restraining Order and Legal Filings
Ella subsequently applied for a restraining order against her father and Wallace after her arm was caught in a slamming door, an application that was ultimately not granted by the court. The details regarding the therapeutic boarding school are contained within a trial brief prepared by lawyers representing Alice Evans, Gruffudd's ex-wife.
The legal filing states, "Although Petitioner initially requested 50/50 physical custody of the children, after a domestic violence incident between Ella and Petitioner's new partner, Bianca Wallace, Petitioner amended his request to seek that Ella be sent to a therapeutic boarding school and requested sole physical custody of Elsie."
Current Custody Arrangements and Allegations
Evans currently retains full custody of both children following a subsequent custody evaluation, with Gruffudd having no visitation rights. His legal team attributes this breakdown to what they describe as Evans' intentional social media campaign, alleging it has poisoned the daughters' relationship with their father and damaged his earning capacity as an actor.
Gruffudd is seeking to renew a domestic violence restraining order originally instituted in 2022 after Evans sent hundreds of abusive messages. He claims persistent domestic abuse, while Evans denies these allegations, asserting the renewal request is a tactic to avoid spousal support payments.
Financial Disputes and Support Claims
The financial aspect of their separation reveals significant contention. Evans requests $4,652 monthly in child support, an increase from her current $3,000, and seeks $1,853 in spousal support. Gruffudd opposes spousal support, citing alleged domestic violence, and claims to earn $375,000 annually, though Evans' lawyers contend his pre-split earnings were $588,000.
Gruffudd asserts he overpaid spousal support by approximately $400,000 between 2021 and 2023 and seeks reimbursement of legal fees totaling $619,000, with an additional $109,000 owed. Evans notes her own legal debt of $64,000. The former marital home was sold in 2023, with proceeds distributed to cover attorney fees accumulated over five years of litigation.
Expert Testimony and Emotional Context
Evans plans to call Dr. Suzanne Dupee, who conducted the custody evaluation, as a witness. Dr. Dupee is expected to testify about Evans' emotional state during the period she sent the messages, describing her as being in a fight or flight mode while mourning the sudden end of her marriage and coping with a highly public divorce.
Evans' legal team argues she has taken responsibility for her actions, improved her emotional well-being, and had no direct contact with Gruffudd or Wallace for years. They characterize the pursuit of the restraining order renewal as "chasing the nuisance" and advocate for both parties to move forward.
The bitter dispute, which includes elements of custody, restraining orders, and financial support, underscores the complex and acrimonious nature of their separation, with both sides presenting contrasting narratives ahead of the forthcoming trial.
