At 36, reality TV star Erica Mena has opened up about the painful challenges she’s faced as a mother in the wake of her divorce from Safaree Samuels.

The former couple, known for their appearances on “Love & Hip Hop,” share two young children: daughter Safire and son Legend. Their split has been highly publicized, with both parties airing grievances on social media and in court.

Recently, Safaree filed to have his child support payments reduced, citing a significant change in his financial situation and custody arrangements. According to court documents, the original child support amount—$4,305 per month—was based on Safaree’s reported income of $61,500 per month versus Erica’s $1,289.

However, Safaree claims his earnings have dropped since leaving his full-time role on “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta,” and he says he can no longer secure the same level of paid appearances. He also alleges that Erica’s public criticism of his parenting has damaged his reputation and income.

Safaree further claims that he now spends more time with their children, averaging three to four weeks of physical custody each month. In response, Erica posted (and later deleted) a calendar on Instagram, color-coding the days she and Safaree spent with their kids to highlight his alleged absences, including missed birthdays and holidays.

Erica has accused Safaree of leaking court documents to the media for attention, especially after he was seen enjoying himself at his ex-girlfriend Nicki Minaj’s concert. Their public exchanges have been tense, with Erica openly criticizing Safaree’s parenting and accusing him of failing to be present for their children.

The couple’s divorce was finalized on September 12, with joint custody of their children agreed upon. Erica has previously accused Safaree of infidelity, which led to the end of their marriage. Their relationship, once celebrated on reality TV, deteriorated into a series of public disputes and deleted tweets.

Despite the legal and emotional turmoil, Erica has spoken candidly about the toll the breakup has taken on her. In a reunion show clip, she described how the end of her marriage left her feeling broken, especially after the birth of their second child.

She revealed that she sought therapy to cope with her lowest moments, learning important lessons about herself and her boundaries.

While Safaree’s social media presence suggests he’s moved on, he has admitted privately that the situation is painful and not what he imagined for his family. He expressed hope that he and Erica could eventually find a better path as co-parents, even if their relationship is beyond repair.

Erica, meanwhile, insists her only concern now is the well-being of their children. She no longer expects anything from Safaree but wants him to step up for their kids. Their journey, filled with heartbreak and public drama, highlights the real-life struggles many face when navigating co-parenting and moving on from a broken marriage.