Mediation Looms for RHOBH's Annemarie and Marcellus Wiley in Custody Battle

When a marriage dissolves this publicly and this painfully, the kids become the center of a courtroom chess match. That’s exactly where Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Annemarie Wiley and estranged husband Marcellus Wiley find themselves right now, with a court order mandating mediation to sort out custody of their three children.

The Los Angeles court didn’t leave room for negotiation on this one. Both Annemarie, 42, and Marcellus, 51, are required to participate in a video conference mediation scheduled for July 22, with their next court hearing set for July 24. The goal is straightforward but complex: develop a parenting plan that works for Marcellus Jr., 10, Ariya, 7, and Alivia, 6. There’s also an alternative path — they can try to hash things out online without a mediator first, though if that fails, they’re back to the video call anyway.

What led to this point is the uglier part of the story. Annemarie filed for divorce on July 6, just days after Marcellus, a former NFL pro, was arrested following a reported altercation at a Marriott hotel in Florida. According to her account to police, Marcellus threatened to kill her after putting his hands on her. She also alleged he poked her in the cheek in front of one of their daughters the morning before the threat. In her divorce filing, Annemarie requested full legal and physical custody without visitation, accusing Marcellus of a continuing pattern of physical violence, sexual abuse, verbal and emotional abuse, financial control, and intimidation — much of which the children allegedly witnessed.

A judge also granted Annemarie a temporary restraining order, keeping Marcellus away from her and the kids until the July 24 hearing on whether to make it permanent. The former NFL player is also required to surrender his gun amid the domestic violence allegations.

Marcellus has denied the claims, taking to social media to push back. On July 7, he posted a lengthy statement on X saying he’s compiled videos, photographs, text messages, emails, and other evidence that contradicts Annemarie’s allegations. He accused her of repeated infidelity and even claimed she cursed a voodoo spell over his family — a defense strategy that suggests this fight is far from over, and nowhere near what the courts would call amicable.

The reality is that mediation often becomes the realistic middle ground when both parties can’t agree. Whether Annemarie and Marcellus can reach a parenting plan that actually prioritizes their kids, or whether this heads straight back to court on July 24, remains to be seen. Either way, three young children are caught in the middle of very public accusations and courtroom battles — the kind of divorce that plays out in headlines rather than private conversations between lawyers.