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Heidi Klum takes ex-husband Seal to court claiming he’s not letting children accompany her to Germany to film

The supermodel claimed in a filing for an emergency hearing that Seal is not letting their four children -- Leni, 16, Henry, 14, Johan, 13, and Lou, 10 -- accompany her over concerns about them getting exposed to Covid-19
PUBLISHED AUG 21, 2020
Seal and Heidi Klum (Getty Images)
Seal and Heidi Klum (Getty Images)

Heidi Klum is going to court so she can take her children to Germany with her while filming 'Next Top Model' later this year. The American-German supermodel has claimed in a filing for an emergency hearing that her ex-husband Seal is not letting their four children -- Leni, 16, Henry, 14, Johan, 13, and Lou, 10 -- accompany her to Europe due to concerns about them getting exposed to the novel coronavirus.

The 'America's Got Talent' judge argued in the declaration -- obtained by People on Thursday -- that although she and Seal share custody of the kids, they are with her most of the time. "Henry's [Seal] time with our children is sporadic at best," Klum wrote in her declaration.

Singer Seal and Heidi Klum tend to Heidi's daughter, Leni, while watching Amelie Mauresmo of France play Maria Sharapova of Russia in the women's semi-final at the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park on September 8, 2006, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images)

Klum, who is contractually obligated to film season 16 of Germany's 'Next Top Model', said Seal "has not yet approved" the October trip. "I am well aware of all of the necessary precautions associated with the COVID-19 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," Klum wrote in her declaration.

'Next Top Model' is usually filmed in Los Angeles to accommodate her family, but German cast and crew members are unable to travel to the U.S. owing to the pandemic. In exchange for allowing the children to travel with her to Germany, Klum said she was willing to alter their original custody schedule.

"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 spent Christmas 2019 with them), I am willing to agree that Henry spends 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," wrote Klum. "Also, as Henry has a British passport, he would be able to visit the children while they are in Germany if he wishes to do so," she added.

According to her, Seal had agreed to let the children travel with her back in April but changed his mind later. She added that the children also said they did not want to stay back with their father in Los Angeles. "I tried to work this out with Henry directly to no avail," Klum wrote. "It could not possibly be in their best interests," she said of the kids.

Singer Seal (L) and Heidi Klum attend the EMMY nominees celebration with FOX Broadcasting Company, Twentieth Century FOX Television, and FX at Fig & Olive Melrose Place on September 18, 2011, in West Hollywood, California. (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, their daughter Leni also filed a declaration to the court. "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," she wrote. "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 said, adding they would be able to see their grandparents. She wrote that her younger siblings were "frightened" of being away from Klum for so long.

In another handwritten letter to her father, obtained by The Blast, she pleaded with her father to let them go despite the COVID-19 pandemic. "I just want to figure out something and come up with a plan and agreement as a family," Leni wrote. "I love you so so much."

Klum and Seal were married for nine years before divorcing in October 2014. Last year, Klum tied the knot with guitarist Tom Kaulitz after he proposed to her on Christmas Eve.

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