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Laura Prepon’s estranged husband, Ben Foster, slammed the actress as he fought back against her accusations that he has a history of alcohol abuse and brought up her previously admitting to a past eating disorder in court, In Touch can exclusively report.
Ben, 44, filed a response to Laura’s recent claims, which she made after he pleaded with the court to set a temporary custody schedule. Ben was adamant he has never had issues with alcohol and suggested that Laura, 44, has her own issues that concern him.
As In Touch previously reported, Ben filed for divorce from Laura on September 9 after six years of marriage. The exes share two children, a daughter named Ella and a second child whose name they have not revealed.
In her recent motion, Laura claimed she had concerns about Ben’s drinking. She listed one incident where claimed to have found him asleep on the doorstep in his underwear. She said she believed he liked to day drink and alleged that he had been observed with shaky hands at times.
Ben’s attorney, Rose Palermo, told In Touch, “Laura Prepon’s filing is the definition of falsehood and a disturbing fiction.”
In his recent filing, Ben used confessions that Laura made in her 2020 memoir, You & I, as Mothers, against her.
His lawyer wrote, “Of great concern to [Ben] is how much damage has already been done, and will continue to be done, to the parties’ young, impressionable children by and including Wife’s drinking (which she conveniently omitted from her response, among other truths), mental thought processes and her generational eating disorder, which she openly discusses in her autobiographical book.”
Ben submitted excerpts of You & I as Mothers into evidence. In his motion, Ben also addressed returning home on September 9 after being gone for months shooting a film. He asked that Laura not be present.
His lawyer revealed, “At that time, [Ben] and [Laura] were teetering on separation and potentially divorce. [Laura] honored the request as stated, but, as a result of her inherent obsession with control as she openly discusses in her book … prescribed a hard time limit on [Ben] with his children after having to be away from them due to his job.”
Ben objected to Laura claiming he was not seeing the kids for months at a time. He claimed he was working to support his family.
The actor’s lawyer added, “[Ben] is regretful that this process has deteriorated to such an extreme extent. Above all, [Laura’s] questionable tactics and parenting regime, personal and unwarranted attack on [Ben] and asinine request of the court do not serve the best interests of the children.”
“[Ben] understands that [Laura] is angry at him for choosing to file, and that she is acting out of a place of hurt and rage. He is also aware that [Laura] has a history of self-admitted struggles that she eloquently and bravely touches on in her book,” Ben’s lawyer added.
“[Ben] acknowledges that these disorders are addressable by long-term therapy, but in the meantime, he continues to be concerned for the children’s welfare and safety.”
In regard to Laura’s request Ben not drink 12 hours before or during custody time, Ben’s lawyer scoffed at the suggestion. Ben denied he had a history of alcohol abuse.
His lawyer wrote, “Is [Laura] also to be restrained for a self-described ‘wine mommy’ who, on page 51 of her book, literally admits to saying words of gratitude for her wine.”
Laura’s lawyer fired back at Ben’s denial. The actress submitted witness affidavits from two people who have been around the couple. One of Laura’s employees named Laura Vogel, who has worked for the actress for seven years, filed an affidavit.
She said, “When I have been around Laura handling parenting responsibilities, sometimes Ben would ‘pop in’ but rarely, if ever actually assisted with the children’s care. When Ben did ‘pop in’ he would often be drinking alcohol.”
She added that she saw Ben having shaky hands and adding alcohol into his coffee during a trip to Palm Springs in 2022.
“I recall on multiple occasions, Ben being so inebriated that he could barely stand or walk. There were multiple nights wherein Ben would consume half a bottle of whiskey in one sitting or ten or twelve drinks. While we often hung out and socially drank, Ben would quickly outpace me and everyone around him at an alarming rate,” she added.
“On more than one occasion over the past several years, I have noticed Ben’s trembling or shaking hands. It is evident to me that Ben is not taking care of himself.”
Another affidavit was filed by the exes’ nanny Emily Neikam. She has worked for the parties since February.
She told the court, “A more serious concern that I have about Ben’s ability to care for these children relates to his consumption of alcohol around the children.”
The judge has yet to rule on a temporary custody schedule in the divorce.
English (US) ·