Dancing With the Stars pro Gleb Savchenko is in the middle of a high-stakes custody battle with his ex-wife, Elena Samodanova, and the drama just reached a new level. Samodanova filed a Hague Convention application claiming wrongful retention after learning their 15-year-old daughter Olivia is living at a home owned by Savchenko’s girlfriend, OnlyFans creator Kaitlin Trujillo. She says she only discovered the address after a court order, and she’s publicly questioning the stability of Olivia’s living environment.
Savchenko’s team is pushing back, pointing out that he filed for sole custody in July so Olivia could enroll in an LA high school, and that Olivia, who turns 16 in November, has expressed her own wishes about where she wants to live. A judge recently stayed the LA custody case, meaning Olivia won’t be sent back to Hong Kong for the time being. Both parents have released statements to the press, with Samodanova saying her“greatest concern remains Olivia’s safety”and Savchenko calling the move to bring third parties into the situation disappointing.
This case highlights the tricky intersection of celebrity life, blended families, and the real legal weight of a teenager’s voice in custody proceedings. Olivia’s own preferences are now a central part of the conversation, and while both parents claim to have her best interests at heart, the courts will ultimately have the final say. Do you think a 15-year-old should have the final say in where they live?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.