Country singer Mindy McCready has filed suit against her mother, Gayle Inge, and the company that publishes the National Enquirer after a story they published earlier this month entitled "Shameful Mindy McCready Doesn't Deserve To Have Child Back."
"What is shameful and heartbreaking is the unhealthy relationship I have endured with my mom over my lifetime. With the help of friends and therapy, I have realized how detrimental the relationship has been for me, and I've worked hard to detach," stated McCready. "But every time I take a positive step forward, make healthy, personal decisions and move forward in my career, it seems my mother uses it as an opportunity to step into the picture to deflate me."
McCready's mother is the only known source for the National Enquirer article. Inge alludes that Mindy did not show up to the last court hearing for the custody of her son in order to avoid taking a drug test. Inge also suggests that McCready has not seen her son more than once in the last year. In short, Inge describes McCready as an unfit mother.
"The statements contained in the National Enquirer article are personal attacks intended to inflict hurt and pain on Ms. McCready at the expense of the truth," said McCready's legal counsel, Andrew Douglas. "It is also unfortunate that the National Enquirer published this story without first corroborating Mrs. Inge's statements."
The battle over custody of McCready's son, Zander, 5, has been going on for four years. Currently, Zander is living with Inge, but custody could be given to his father, Billy McKnight. In 2005, McKnight was charged with attempted murder after almost killing McCready. For now, McKnight is only allowed some overnight visits with Zander.
"What I want people to know is how unfairly I've been treated - because of my past mistakes and, quite frankly, because of my celebrity history," explains McCready. "My custody battle has been deplorable and fraudulent. My mother's agenda, I believe, is to continue to keep my character and lifestyle 'questionable.' The focus needs to be about the safety and well-being of my son and not about untruthful statements that have lent to unjust results. Zander and I need to be together."
