Heidi Klum Claims Ex Seal Is Preventing Her from Taking Kids to Germany in Emergency Legal Filing

Supermodel and America’s Got Talent judge Heidi Klum has requested an emergency hearing to get permission to bring her kids to Germany. Where she’s filming the newest season of “Germany’s Next Top Model.” As soon as her stint as a judge on the current season of “America’s Got Talent” ends, Heidi will be heading to Europe to film a new season of the reality TV show for three and a half months. And the model plans to take her children along with her as usual.

However, it has been claimed the 47-year-old is battling with her former spouse, Seal, on whether she can take their four kids with her. In her filing asking for the hearing, Klum claims ex-husband the singer does not want the children to travel to Europe because he is concerned about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The former couple, who married in 2005 and finalized their divorce in 2014, share joint legal and physical custody of daughters Leni, 16, and Lou, 10, and sons Henry, 14, and Johan, 13.

“Henry’s time with our children is sporadic at best”

In the declaration obtained on Thursday, the model said that while she and Seal share custody of their kids, they spend the majority of their time living with her. “Henry’s (seal) time with our children is sporadic at best,” Klum wrote in her declaration. “In 2020 so far, he has spent about six weeks total with Leni, six weeks total with Henry, ten days total with Johan, and ten days total with Lou,” she states in the documents.

Klum is contractually obligated to film season 16 of Germany’s Next Top Model in October. And she said that while she usually brings the kids with her when she has to travel for work, Seal “has not yet approved of this trip.” He prefers that the children remain in Los Angeles, where he also resides, and are cared for by Klum’s ‘staff.’

“I have taken all the precautions for Germany the same way I do in the United States”

“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, adding that she is “grateful” to have the ability to work given the current state of the economy.

Klum also explained that usually Next Top Model is filmed in Los Angeles to accommodate her family. But the German cast and crew members are unable to enter the U.S. because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am willing to agree that Henry spend the Christmas break with them again this year”

The supermodel even said that she was willing to alter their previously planned custody schedule if Seal would allow the children to travel to Germany with her.

“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 spend 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.

Klum added that Seal had agreed to let the children travel with her back in April, but that he has now changed his mind. “I tried to work this out with Henry directly to no avail,” Klum wrote, adding that she is “desperate.” And that the children have said they do not want to stay in Los Angeles with their dad. “It could not possibly be in their best interests,” she wrote.

“This is hard because I love both of my parents, but I feel like I need to speak up”

Their eldest child and 16 year old daughter Helene, often called Leni, also submitted 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 that traveling to Germany would be an “amazing opportunity” for all four of them, and they would be able to see their grandparents. Leni added that her younger siblings are “really upset” about the thought of being away from Klum and that they are “frightened” of being away from her for so long.

“I just want to figure out something and come up with a plan and agreement as a family”

Leni also wrote a handwritten letter to her dad, which was obtained by The Blast. She pleaded with her father to let her and her siblings go with Klum. In the letter, Leni told her dad that she understands the situation “is not ideal at all.” And that she hopes they can “come up with a plan” to still see him.

Leni also pointed out that there are fewer cases of COVID-19 in Berlin, where they would be staying, than there are in Los Angeles. “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.”

“We have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship”

Klum and Seal’s divorce was finalized in October 2014 after nine years of marriage. She married Tom Kaulitz last year after the guitarist’s Christmas Eve proposal that included her kids.

When the couple made the decision to divorce in 2012, they released a statement which read. “While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate. We have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship and continue to love each other very much, but we have grown apart.”