Faizon Love<\/a> is one of those actors everyone recognizes instantly, even if they don’t always know his name.<\/p>\nTo some fans, he’s Big Worm from “Friday.” To others, he’s Wanda, the Gimbels manager from “Elf.” He has also appeared in “The Replacements,” “Blue Crush,” “Just My Luck,” “Couples Retreat,” “The Parent ‘Hood,” “Black-ish,” and dozens of other movies and television shows. He also voiced Sean “Sweet” Johnson in “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,” one of the most successful video games of all time.<\/p>\n
So it was jarring this week to see Love’s mugshot released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office after the actor was booked into a Tampa jail on contempt-of-court charges tied to a long-running child-support case.<\/p>\n
It was even more jarring to learn what he claimed in court about his finances.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Child Support Case<\/h2>\n
Love was booked into jail in Hillsborough County, Florida, on June 16, 2026, on two contempt-of-court charges connected to a Florida paternity and child-support case involving Tiffany Lee, identified by multiple outlets as his ex. The case had been reopened a few days earlier, on June 11.<\/p>\n
According to reports, Love was originally arrested in California, served a 16-day jail sentence there, and was then transported to Florida on the outstanding Hillsborough County matter. He was released from the Tampa jail on June 19.<\/p>\n
Lee claims Love owes roughly $250,000 in unpaid child support. The court-ordered payment is reportedly $2,500 per month. According to Lee and her attorney, Love has not made those payments in years. She also alleged that Love once told her she “wasn’t going to get a dime” and claimed he intended to stop working to avoid the obligation.<\/p>\n
Love’s side described a very different reality.<\/p>\n
At his first Florida court appearance, Love and his attorney argued that the actor simply cannot afford the payments. Love reportedly appeared in court in a wheelchair. His lawyer said Love has experienced homelessness, lived in his car, and faced severe financial hardship.<\/p>\n
The Financial Admissions<\/h2>\n
According to court filings and testimony, Love earned $0 in 2025<\/strong>. Documents reportedly stated that his highest gross annual income in the previous five years was just $13,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\nThe most surprising detail involves his “Elf” royalties.<\/p>\n
According to court filings, Faizon’s primary source of income is his ongoing royalties from “Elf.” He apparently makes around $10,000 per year from the movie<\/strong>. It’s not clear from the public reporting how the claimed $0 in 2025 income reconciles with the reported annual “Elf” royalty checks. That may be one of the details Love will need to clarify when he files his full financial statement.<\/p>\nA judge gave Love until July 1, 2026, to file documentation supporting his claim that he cannot afford the child-support payments. His attorney also said he plans to seek a modification of the support order.<\/p>\n
Not His Only Legal Problem<\/h2>\n
The child-support case is not Faizon’s only legal issue at the moment.<\/p>\n
In recent years, Love has faced several legal and financial problems, including a civil sexual-harassment judgment, a residual-garnishment dispute involving NBCUniversal, and a pending felony assault case in San Diego County, California.<\/p>\n
The NBCUniversal dispute is especially relevant to his current financial situation. It stems from an effort by a former personal assistant to collect on a civil judgment by garnishing residual payments allegedly owed to Love. NBCUniversal argued that it held only $652 in residual payments potentially subject to garnishment, despite a much larger default judgment being entered against the company after it missed response deadlines.<\/p>\n
Love has also pleaded not guilty in the San Diego assault case.<\/p>\n
What Happens Next<\/h2>\n
The key issue now is whether Love can convince the court that his financial situation has changed enough to justify lowering the monthly support order going forward.<\/p>\n
His attorney has said he plans to file a petition to modify the payments, and the judge gave Love until July 1 to submit a financial statement backing up his claim that he cannot afford the current obligation.<\/p>\n
That filing could become the most revealing document in the case. If Love truly had no income in 2025, and if his only meaningful recurring money is roughly $10,000 a year from “Elf,” it would offer a rare public look at how financially precarious life can become for a recognizable working actor long after his most famous roles.<\/p>\n
But the alleged back support remains a separate problem. Tiffany Lee claims Love owes around $250,000 in unpaid child support. A successful modification request could reduce future payments, but it would not necessarily wipe away years of alleged arrears.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n