Djimon Hounsou’s ex-girlfriend Riza Marie Simpson was arrested for allegedly assaulting the actor following a dispute over her living arrangement.
Simpson was booked on Friday, January 16, into the Atlanta City Detention Center, according to documents obtained by Us Weekly. The charge is listed as “battery — family violence,” the first offense for Simpson, per the filing.
The misdemeanor charge stems from an alleged incident that transpired in December 2025.
Hounsou, 61, claimed in December 2025 that Simpson hit him in the face “with a closed fist” after he attempted to kick her out of a home he owns, according to the incident report obtained by Us on Tuesday, January 20. (TMZ was first to report the news.)
Hounsou, who shares two children with Simpson, told the Atlanta Police Department officers at the time that kids were upstairs during the incident but didn’t witness the alleged assault. He noted that they might have heard the altercation, per the police report.
In the wake of Hounsou’s allegations, an arrest warrant was issued for Simpson by the Atlanta Police Department.
She was taken into custody on Friday for charges of disorderly conduct and obstruction after Simpson allegedly provided false information when confronted by officers, according to TMZ. Police reportedly noted that Simpson’s children were with her when she was arrested, claiming they could hear crying in the background when they knocked on the door.
Us can confirm that Simpson was released from the Atlanta City Detention Center on Tuesday after posting a $500 bond. She was then moved to Fulton County Jail due to the arrest warrant. A court date is scheduled for Wednesday, January 21, at 9 a.m. local time, a rep for the facility confirmed to Us.
Riza Marie Simpson and Djimon Hounsou with sons Fela and Kenzo. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
Us Weekly has reached out to Hounsou’s rep and the Atlanta Police Department for comment.
Hounsou became a father for the first time in May 2009 when he and Kimora Lee Simmons welcomed their son, Kenzo, now 16. Us confirmed in November 2012 that Hounsou and Simmons, 50, split after more than five years together.
The Oscar nominee eventually moved on with Simpson, but they kept most of their relationship out of the spotlight.
Hounsou gave fans a rare glimpse at his life as a father and partner in March 2023 when Simpson and their son Fela accompanied him to the world premiere of Shazam! Fury of the Gods in Los Angeles. (Hounsou and Simpson share one son and one daughter.)
Hounsou’s eldest child, Kenzo, was also at the event where the family of four posed for pictures.
Prior to Simpson’s arrest, Hounsou shed light on his own ups and downs in Hollywood.
“I’m still struggling trying to make a living,” Hounsou told CNN in an interview published on January 10. “I’ve been in this business making films now for over two decades with two Oscar nominations, been in many blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially. I’m definitely underpaid.”
The actor went on to discuss racism in Hollywood, detailing the slow change he’s seen at awards shows and in the types of roles that are available to people of color.
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“I was nominated for the Golden Globe [for Amistad], but they ignored me for the Oscars, talking about the fact that they thought that I had just came off the boat and off the streets,” Hounsou told the outlet. “Even though I successfully did that [film], they just didn’t feel like I was an actor for whom they should pay any respect. This conceptual idea of diversity still has a long way to go. Systemic racism don’t change like that anytime soon.”
Despite being a two-time Oscar nominee and being part of massive hits like 2000’s Gladiator, 2006’s Blood Diamond and The Quiet Place franchise, Hounsou claimed he is “still struggling to make a dollar.”
“I’ve come up in the business with some people who are absolutely well off and have very little of my accolades,” he concluded. “So I feel cheated, tremendously cheated, in terms of finances and in terms of the workload as well.”
