Credit: Instagram
Jim Edmonds was met with backlash after sharing a photo of his three youngest kids on their last day at their school in Kirkwood, Missouri.
After being granted full custody of the children, including nine-year-old daughter Aspen and seven-year-old twin sons Hayes and Hart, Jim, 55, was accused of using his money to take custody from the kids’ mom, Real Housewives of Orange County alum Meghan King, 41.
“Today was the kids’ last day of school in Missouri. They’re all set for new adventures as we head to Tennessee for a brand-new chapter. So proud of them and excited for what’s next!” Jim wrote on Instagram on December 19.
As RHOC fans may have heard, Meghan lost custody of Aspen, Hayes, and Hart after an investigation by Child Protective Services (CPS) reportedly found that she had given Hayes unprescribed Ritalin and requested the nurse at his school do the same. A short time later, it was noted that the kids would be moving to Tennessee with Jim and his wife, Kortnie O’Connor, and seeing their mom for a “few weeks” each summer.
Following the sharing of Jim’s post, fans offered their thoughts on the children leaving their home state and their mom.
“This must be a difficult day for the kids Mom,” one person wrote.
Another suspected money was a factor, writing, “Two sides to every story! Never split kids from their moms. Something like $$ is fishy here!”
In response, Jim offered a sarcastic reply.
“Yes. I bought the state of Missouri out Wow,” he said.
Meanwhile, another commenter called out Jim for “bragging” about his custody win.
“Posting pictures of your kids right after getting full custody and announcing you’re starting a ‘new chapter’ in another state comes off less like an update and more like bragging,” they alleged. “To people watching from the outside, it makes it pretty clear there are two sides to the story, and maybe the parent being painted as terrible or irresponsible isn’t exactly that.”
Meghan and Jim got married in 2014 and split in 2019.