Heidi Klum and her ex-husband, singer Seal, have been divorced for several years now. The former couple have four children: Leni, Henry, Johan, and Lou. While they share custody, Heidi has recently claimed that her children don't see their father that frequently and they spend most of their time with her … which is why she's hoping she can take all four to Germany with her while she films Germany's Next Topmodel later this year.
However, Seal isn't supportive of this plan because he is worried about the impact of the health crisis around the world and whether or not the children will be safe. Heidi's legal team recently filed an emergency request to ask a judge to allow Heidi to travel with the kids. She says that she typically brings all four children with her whenever she works and Seal usually doesn't mind, but he has yet to approve this specific trip.
In the documents, Heidi states, "I am well aware of all of the necessary precautions associated with the virus, and would never put our children at risk — I have taken all the precautions for Germany the same way I do in the United States."
She also notes that she is "grateful" to have the ability to work at all right now.
Typically, the show is filmed in Los Angeles, where Heidi lives, so that she and her children can be home. Right now, the German cast and crew members can't enter the US because of the health crisis. Since the situation is unusual and unexpected, Heidi has even offered to change the custody agreement she usually has with Seal.
"There will be a three-week break for the Christmas holidays … Though the children were originally slated to spend this Christmas break with me (as Henry [Seal] spent Christmas 2019 with them), I am willing to agree that Henry spend the Christmas break with them again this year so that the children can be with their father during this time, if Henry would like this."
She also points out that Seal is a dual citizen, so he would have no problem visiting the children because his British passport would allow him into Germany.
"Also, as Henry [Seal] has a British passport, he would be able to visit the children while they are in Germany if he wishes to do so."
She also adds that Seal initially agreed to the trip back in April but has since changed his mind. She claims that she's tried to work this out with him personally, but that he's not open to having a conversation. "I tried to work this out with Henry directly to no avail."
She adds that she's feeling "desperate" because all of the children have said they don't want to stay with their dad in Los Angeles. "It could not possibly be in their best interests."
Their daughter, Leni, is 15 and is therefore old enough to add her own statement to the filing. She chose to do so.
"This is hard because I love both of my parents, but I feel like I need to speak up. I understand that my siblings are too young to speak to the judge, so I am happy to speak for all of us."
Leni continues, "My mom needs to film in Germany for a few months and my siblings and I want to go with her. So far, my dad is not allowing us to go, though we have tried to tell him our reasons why we want to."
Leni also notes that the kids want to go to Germany with their mom so they can see their grandparents.
She even goes on to note that she and her younger siblings are "really upset" and "frightened" by the idea of being away from their mother for months.
Heidi's team also submitted a handwritten letter that Leni wrote to her father. In the letter, she says that she hopes he understands the current plan "is not ideal at all."
Heidi and Seal did not divorce on the best of terms, and the entire experience was definitely quite acrimonious. Seal laid claim to half of Heidi's estimated $70 million fortune, even though they both signed a postnuptial agreement following their wedding. Earlier this year, Heidi spoke about some of the challenges that have dogged the co-parents.
While speaking to Red magazine, she explained, "There's always a reason why you're not with someone any more, you know? It's not all rosy-rosy. It just isn't. So sometimes it's hard, but then you have to all come together as a family and sometimes everything is just like hopping on clouds. It's just the way it is."
