Jack White isn't happy with how ex-wife Karen Elson is portraying him in her application for a restraining order and now the White Stripes guitarist is countersuing in an attempt to clear his name.
The first order of business is to clear up that he's not as frightening a guy as Elson suggests. His ex, who he divorced in 2011, said in her application that White had a "violent temper" and she was frightened for her and the couple's children's safety. She also requested White undergo a psychiatric evaluation. White brought up some factual information that suggests Elson's fears aren't as dramatic and she makes it seem. Turns out that right after the application for a restraining order, the mother went on a 10-day trip to New York City, and left the children in the care of the apparently violent White.
"Mr. White does not want to be portrayed as something he is not, violent toward his wife and children," his lawyer said. "One who was truly fearful of another would not leave their children alone with that person for 10 days. The truth of the matter is that Ms. Elson is not fearful for herself or the parties' minor children."
White's side also included information that suggested that Elson actually wanted to get back together with the guitarist. White claims she recently told his Dead Weather bandmate that she was "completely in love with Jack and I'd move in tomorrow if he asked me." That's hearsay at the moment, but could turn into something. White did provide an e-mail from May when Elson described him as a "great father."
White's still going to come out of this with a black eye, regardless of how the current proceedings turn out. Some evidence released Friday included quotes in which White described Black Keys guitarist Dan Auerbach as "an a--hole" who "ripped him off."
