Marlon Wayans Says Every Child Deserves to 'Grow Up In Peace' amid Custody Dispute Over 18-Month-Old (Exclusive)

The actor and ex Brittany Moreland are involved in an ongoing custody dispute over their daughter Axl, 18 months

Marlon Wayans wants his daughter to have a peaceful upbringing.

The comedian, 51, filed for joint custody of his 18-month-old daughter Axl, whom he shares with ex Brittany Moreland, 34, according to legal documents obtained by PEOPLE on Monday, July 8. The file came just three months after Moreland filed a petition to obtain full legal and physical custody of Axl, asking that Wayans receive visitation rights.

When speaking with PEOPLE for a May issue ahead of his new standup special Good Grief, the actor shared that one thing he would never joke about is his custody dispute over Axl or his relationship with Moreland.

“I don’t do public battles,” he told PEOPLE. “You don’t have to be together to let your child grow up in peace. Every child deserves that.”

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In the legal documents obtained by PEOPLE from July 8, the actor filed his response to Moreland's petition to establish a parental relationship, saying that he is Axl's parent and asking the court to grant joint legal and physical custody as well as joint payment of legal fees.

The actor is also dad to Kai and Shawn with ex Angela Zackery, with whom he was in a relationship from 1992 to 2013. He welcomed daughter Axl and signed a voluntary declaration of parentage on Dec. 13, 2022, just one day after the baby girl's birth.

In March, Wayans spoke with The Shade Room, responding to Moreland's legal filings. "All love, all God. The baby isn't a secret. The mama has been posted. But I chose to keep the baby's private life private," he said. "Ain't nobody's business. Social media is toxic and dangerous, and I'd like to keep her peace."

However, the actor said that he didn't like being named as a "visitor" to his daughter.

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"Do you pay all that money per month and be called a 'visitor?' Do the math. This is delusional. I will let the lawyers and God do what they do," Wayans told the outlet. "I'll be creating art from a broken heart. I got nothing but love. Even when it's bad, it's good...it's GOD."

According to documentation filed by Moreland, Axl spends “95 percent of their time with me and 5 percent of their time with the other parent.” Moreland requested $2,000 per month from Wayans for child care at the time so that she could continue working.

Wayans also addressed Moreland's child support requests in the paternity suit in conversation with The Shade Room.

"It's the classic case of a good, loving, responsible father shelling out over $18k per month for a one-year-old, and an entitled woman decides she wants more," Wayans said. "My mama and dem would've lost their minds for $2k."

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Read the original article on People.