“CUSTODY WAR ERUPTS…” INSIDE HEARTBREAKING LEGAL BATTLE — Model mum faces multi-millionaire designer in bitter fight
CUSTODY BATTLE
Inside Brit model mum’s heartbreaking fight for custody of kids against multi-millionaire King of Bling fashion designer
MOST influencers dream of going viral – and for one British model, the cause of her new online fame is for a heartbreaking reason.
Lucia Bartoli loved to show off her glamorous life with her boyfriend Philipp Plein, a multi-millionaire fashion designer.
Mum Lucia Bartoli is set to face her ex in courtCredit: Supplied
Lucia Bartoli and Philipp Plein with their two sons in happier timesCredit: instagram/xluciabartoli
But since they split in 2023, Lucia has documented the destruction of her family after she lost custody of her two kids to the German businessman, who is worth £700million.
Now thousands of British mums are calling for Lucia to be reunited with her children and for shops to boycott her mega-rich ex’s clothing line over the bitter custody battle.
The Luton mum has watched her Instagram following grow to more than 350,000, with celebrity supporters including footballer Cristiano Ronaldo’s fiancée Georgina Rodriguez.
Now, ahead of a court hearing today, which is believed to be about whether Plein can permanently relocate to the US with their young sons, Lucia says: “I just want my children back.”
The Luton mum has watched her Instagram following grow to more than 350,000, with celebrity supporters including footballer Cristiano Ronaldo’s fiancée Georgina Rodriguez.
Now, ahead of a court hearing today, which is believed to be about whether Plein can permanently relocate to the US with their young sons, Lucia says: “I just want my children back.”
X
Facebook
MOST influencers dream of going viral – and for one British model, the cause of her new online fame is for a heartbreaking reason.
Lucia Bartoli loved to show off her glamorous life with her boyfriend Philipp Plein, a multi-millionaire fashion designer.
Mum Lucia Bartoli is set to face her ex in courtCredit: Supplied
Lucia Bartoli and Philipp Plein with their two sons in happier timesCredit: instagram/xluciabartoli
But since they split in 2023, Lucia has documented the destruction of her family after she lost custody of her two kids to the German businessman, who is worth £700million.
Now thousands of British mums are calling for Lucia to be reunited with her children and for shops to boycott her mega-rich ex’s clothing line over the bitter custody battle.
Sign up for newsletter
The Luton mum has watched her Instagram following grow to more than 350,000, with celebrity supporters including footballer Cristiano Ronaldo’s fiancée Georgina Rodriguez.
Now, ahead of a court hearing today, which is believed to be about whether Plein can permanently relocate to the US with their young sons, Lucia says: “I just want my children back.”
Read more on Philipp Plein
All-white
Kylie Jenner towers in thigh-high boots as she joins boyfriend Tyga and Madonna at Philipp Plein fashion show
SMOOTH CRIMINAL
‘Hot felon’ Jeremy Meeks makes New York Fashion Week debut with Madonna and Kylie Jenner in the audience
The pair met in 2019 when she was 25 and the fashion designer was 41.
Dubbed the “King of Bling” for his jewel- encrusted designs, Plein wooed her on posh dates in London and flew her to his holiday home in the South of France.
Lucia, a young girl from a humble background, was wowed by Plein’s attention and his lavish lifestyle.
Pals told how she felt very lucky to be with him and they got “very close, very quickly”.
Most read in The Sun
POLL OF THE DAY
IT BEGINS
CRASH TRAGEDY
MONKEY BUSINESS
Lucia and Plein showing off her baby bump and their Rolls-Royces on InstagramCredit: instagram/xluciabartoli
Plein posing with gong next to catwalk legend Naomi Campbell at GQ magazine’s 2016 awards show in BerlinCredit: Getty
He soon asked her to be his girlfriend and move in with him, splitting their time between mansions in France, Switzerland and Los Angeles.
‘Never met a person like her before’
In 2021 Lucia got pregnant, and their first son was born in May 2022.
Plein was overjoyed. Paying tribute to the mother of his child on social media, he wrote: “Lucia is the most amazing person I ever met in my life!
“Her character and her personality made me fall in love with her immediately. Never met a person like her before.”
He described her as “somebody truly genuine and honest”, adding: “She don’t care about material things at all and is the most natural character I have ever met.”
But they split before their second son was born 17 months later.
A month after the birth, Plein started a new relationship with model Andreea Sasu, and they had a son together in July 2024.
Lucia told a friend: “I believed we could co-parent with decency and mutual respect. I was wrong.”
During that year, she was still living in Switzerland and applied to the Swiss courts to move back to London with the two children so she could be closer to her family.
But her pals claim she was willing to return regularly to Switzerland so that the children could spend time with their father.
In posts on her social media accounts, Lucia accused Plein of trying to take the boys away from her — and last August, he was temporarily granted full-time custody.
Lucia and Philipp stepping off a private plane as they enjoyed a lavish lifestyleCredit: instagram/xluciabartoli
Models Adriana Lima, left, and Irina Shayk with Plein at his New York Fashion week show in 2009Credit: Getty
The ruling left Lucia “devastated and angry”, her friends said, as it badly misrepresented her relationship with her kids.
The Sun understands she has had no contact with the elder child for seven months and is restricted to two hours a week under supervision with her youngest.
An associate of Plein said that he never wanted to go to court and claimed he “did everything he could to stop the legal case”.
They said the ruling came as a “surprise” to the designer as it was highly unusual for a father to get full custody of his children and that it “speaks volumes” about the facts of the case, which cannot be reported for legal reasons.
Lucia was this week evicted from an apartment owned by her ex and is distraught that she is watching her children grow up by glimpsing photos on social media.
Matters have been made worse after Plein applied to the Swiss courts this year to relocate the boys to the US, according to a source who is familiar to the case.
In a statement to The Sun, Lucia said last night: “Every day I feel as though half of me is missing. It’s a pain I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I’m just having to live through it and stay strong.
“I refuse to let this situation break me, because then I definitely won’t get my children back.”
‘It feels like all the odds are against me’
Lucia has documented her ordeal online and raised more than £50,000 from fans to fund her legal case, arguing any relocation would make it very difficult for her to see her children given her limited resources.
She added: “I just want to say to those who have helped me thank you so much.
“It feels like all the odds are against me. It’s not a fight between a man and a woman — there’s a whole system crashing down on me. So to have the support of other people means just everything.”
Plein at Cannes film festival alongside rapper Nicki Minaj and model Jeremy Meeks in 2017Credit: Getty
Philipp with actress Lindsay Lohan, who was unveiled as the face of his brand in 2012Credit: Getty
Asked about her celebrity supporters, including Georgina Rodriguez: “She’s very, very kind. She has a really big platform and a big voice, so I’m extremely grateful for that.
“There’s a legal system which I’m relying on to protect myself and my children, and so far it’s not been doing that.”
“I’m praying for the best outcome, but prepared for the worst at the same time.”
The estranged couple will face each other in court in Lugano, Switzerland, today for a new hearing on issues of custody and residency.
A pal of Plein said: “Philipp never asked for any of this. He has only ever wanted to be a good father.
“Instead, because of a decision taken by a free and fair court, he has been subject to the most horrendous trolling campaign online including death threats directed at him and his family.”
Lucia’s parents are distraught but have been supporting her throughout her separation.
She said: “They feel like they’ve lost their grandchildren. It’s not a situation you want to put your parents in, and they are just trying to support me as best they can.”
‘I miss my children and I just want them back’
Fans incensed by what has happened to Lucia have called on stores to boycott stocking Plein’s luxury clothes.
Some have even called on singer Rita Ora, model Naomi Campbell and actress Lindsay Lohan, who have all appeared at his fashion shows, to cut their ties with the brand.
But Lucia remains remarkably merciful. She says: “I’m grateful for all the people that want to support me. But I don’t wish anything bad on him or his business.”
“I miss my children and I just want them back.”
A spokesman for Plein told The Sun: “Mr Plein always believed, with pure heart and total integrity, in the Swiss judicial system and defended his rights and those of his children in procedures that were not started by him, that he did not want and that he tried everything he could to avoid and prevent.
“He is now facing the big challenge of protecting his children, himself, his family and his business.
“He will continue this fight to achieve respect and protection for his children.”
CRE: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/39464729/model-lucia-bartoli-philipp-plein-custody-kids/
