Tristan Thompson is coming clean about the paternity test against him, and he finds himself apologizing yet again.
In two Instagram stories, the 30-year-old NBA player confirmed that he did father a child with Maralee Nichols. The two now share a son, who is Tristan's third child. He is also father to 5-year-old Prince with ex Jordan Craig and 3-year-old True with Khloé Kardashian.
Though they rarely discuss their relationship status publicly, Tristan was believed to still be in a relationship with Khloé, who has since split with him, at the time he fathered his latest child. He addressed this by apologizing to the 37-year-old Good American cofounder in part of the post.
After months of speculation, Tristan Thompson is confirming he fathered his third child. Tristan was the subject of a paternity suit filed by Maralee Nichols, who says she gave birth to a son following a strictly sexual relationship with the NBA player around the time of his 30th birthday in March 2021.
Tristan reportedly denied the possibility at first but has since come around. He first admitted he had a relationship with Maralee but that it was just physical. Now he's admitting to being the father of her child.
"Today, paternity test results reveal that I fathered a child with Maralee Nichols," Tristan shared on his Instagram story.
"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 continued.
Then he began to address Khloé in particular.
"Khloé, 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," Tristan wrote.
"My actions certainly have 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."
Though Khloé and Tristan have been vague about their relationship status in recent years, it's believed they were together and working on their relationship throughout 2020's quarantine and into 2021. She posed with Tristan at celebrations for his 30th birthday, likely unaware he fathered Maralee's child around the same time.
This is now the third cheating scandal between the two. Tristan was seen out and about with women days before Khloé gave birth to their daughter, True. In 2019, Tristan stepped out on Khloé again, this time with little sister Kylie Jenner's best friend, Jordyn Woods.
While some people feel sorry for Khloé, who had already experienced public heartache and humiliation in her marriage to Lamar Odom from 2009 to 2013, many can't understand how she continues to find herself in these situations. Fans of the youngest Kardashian sister are hopeful she will move on from Tristan after the most recent betrayal.
Lamar Odom, who has publicly expressed regret for how he treated Khloé during their marriage, also commented on news of Tristan's third child.
"I truly wish nothing but the best for her and I'm hoping we can reconnect and talk one day as friends. She is a good person and deserves the world," he commented on an article about the latest development.
Interestingly enough, Lamar and Tristan had a tense exchange over Khloé in July 2021. Khloé posted a sexy photo, prompting both men to comment.
"Hottie ❤️ ," Lamar wrote.
"❤️❤️ ," Tristan commented, before addressing and threatening Lamar.
"God brought you back the first time. Play if you want, different results ♂️ ♂️," Tristan wrote, referring to Lamar's brush with death in 2015.
