If you’ve spent any time on the messy side of the internet, you know the name Brittany Renner. She’s the woman who basically broke the sports world’s collective brain for a few months back in 2021. The central figure in all that chaos? The man often referred to as the brittany renner baby daddy, Dallas Mavericks star PJ Washington.
People love a good villain arc. For a while, the internet decided Renner was the ultimate "finesser," a woman who supposedly scouted a young athlete, secured a bag, and dipped. But like most things that trend on X (formerly Twitter) or TikTok, the reality is a whole lot more complicated than a few viral memes. It’s a story of a whirlwind romance, a massive age gap, and a co-parenting relationship that has remained remarkably explosive even years later.
The Meeting and the "Grooming" Allegations
Let’s go back to 2019. PJ Washington was a standout player at the University of Kentucky. Brittany Renner, already a famous fitness influencer and author of the tell-all book Judge This Cover, was spotted at his games. She was 26. He was 20.
To some, this was just a hot couple. To others, especially in hindsight, it looked like a calculated move. Renner has faced intense criticism for "grooming" Washington because she was significantly more experienced and older. Honestly, she hasn't done much to quiet those critics. She once joked about "stepping into her power" and has been open about the fact that she knew exactly what she was doing in the sports world.
They went public in 2020. By May 2021, they welcomed their son, Paul Jermaine Washington III.
Then, the wheels fell off.
Two months. That’s how long they lasted after the baby arrived. When they split in July 2021, Washington posted a series of cryptic, frustrated tweets. One specifically stood out: "You was faking it all along." He eventually deleted it, but the damage was done. The "trap" narrative was born, and the internet ran with it.
The $200,000 Monthly Myth
You probably heard the rumor that PJ was paying $200k a month in child support.
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It was everywhere. It became the "go-to" example for why young athletes should be careful. Except, it was a total lie.
Renner eventually sat down for interviews to clear her name, looking genuinely exhausted by the narrative. She revealed she was actually getting $2,500 a month. Not exactly the "generational wealth" the trolls claimed she had secured.
The 2025/2026 Reality Check
Fast forward to late 2025. The financial situation shifted legally. Court documents filed in North Carolina and later moved to California revealed that the support amount was officially set at $5,500 per month.
Along with that monthly check, Washington was ordered to pay a lump sum of $130,000 to cover back-pay and legal fees. For an NBA player who recently signed a $90 million extension with the Mavericks, $5,500 is essentially pocket change.
Renner hasn't taken this lying down. In late 2025, she headed back to court. Her argument? She wants $35,000 a month. She claims that since she moved to Los Angeles, her cost of living has skyrocketed and she can't provide her son with a life that matches the luxury he experiences with his father. She’s reportedly living in an Airbnb in West Hills while PJ lives in a 7,000-square-foot mansion.
It’s a classic legal battle over "lifestyle maintenance."
When Co-Parenting Goes Nuclear
If you think the money talk is bad, the actual interactions are worse.
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In September 2025, a video went viral that felt like a scene from a reality show gone wrong. Washington arrived at Renner’s mother’s house to pick up his son. The kid started crying. Renner started filming.
"This is the third time he’s done it," she told the camera, accusing PJ of not being present enough for their son to feel comfortable.
Things got nasty. Fast.
Washington told Renner’s mother to perform a sexual act on him (to put it politely). Renner’s mother shot back, "You gave $170k to your ho, but only $11k for your son." This was a reference to PJ’s wife, Alisah Chanel, who was sitting right there in the car. It was a mess. Pure, unadulterated mess.
The New Family Dynamic
PJ Washington has moved on. He married Alisah Chanel in 2023, and they’ve since had their own child. This adds a layer of "blended family" tension that usually doesn't blend well when the exes are still fighting in the driveway.
Renner, on the other hand, had a wild 2025. She briefly married rapper Kevin Gates—a marriage that lasted exactly 52 days before they split. She also spent time exploring Islam and wearing a hijab before deciding it wasn't for her, stating she didn't want to "shrink" herself.
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The Bottom Line on the Brittany Renner Baby Daddy Drama
What most people get wrong about this situation is thinking it’s just about a "gold digger" and a "victim."
It’s really about two people who were at completely different stages of life. Washington was a kid in college; Renner was a woman who had already seen it all. Now, a four-year-old boy is caught in the middle of a high-stakes legal and social media war.
If you are following this for the legal updates, here is what is actually happening right now in early 2026:
- Legal Servicing: PJ recently accused Renner of trying to have him served with court papers during an NBA game.
- The Support Increase: The battle for that $35,000 monthly payment is still grinding through the California court system.
- Custody: They currently have a schedule, but it's clearly high-conflict.
Actionable Insight for the Future:
If you find yourself in a high-conflict co-parenting situation like this, the best move is to use a third-party communication app like OurFamilyWizard. These apps keep a log of all interactions that can be used in court, which usually forces both parties to act like adults because they know a judge will eventually read the transcripts. Avoiding "driveway confrontations" and sticking to neutral drop-off zones (like a police station or a busy mall) can also prevent the kind of viral Blowups that have characterized the Renner-Washington saga.