Faizon Love, the actor many fans remember from Elf, is out of jail after a shocking court battle over roughly $250,000 in unpaid child support — and his lawyer painted a stunning picture of a Hollywood star who has allegedly fallen on very hard times.
Love, 58, was released from a Florida jail on Friday, June 19, three days after he was booked in Hillsborough County on two counts of contempt of court, according to jail records and a statement from his attorney, Glen Lansky.
The actor had originally been arrested in California, where he served a 16-day jail sentence before being transported to Florida.
The legal drama stems from a declaration-of-paternity case involving Tiffany Lee, identified by multiple outlets as Love’s ex. Court records show Lee reopened the case on June 11. She claims Love owes her around $250,000 in unpaid child support, according to Complex and TMZ.
During a Friday court hearing, Lee and her attorney claimed Love had not paid the court-ordered support in years. They also alleged he once told her she “wasn’t going to get a dime” and said he planned to stop working to avoid the payments, Complex reported.
Love’s side pushed back hard.
His attorney argued that Lee and her lawyer were “painting him as a complete villain,” according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay. Lansky said the actor has been dealing with severe financial struggles, including a past period of homelessness.
Love told the court that he could not afford the $2,500-a-month child support payments because his income was too low, FOX 13 reported.
The actor, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, reportedly said he has faced poverty and homelessness and now relies on annual royalty checks from Elf — worth around $10,000 a year — to survive.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Love also claimed his highest annual income over the past five years was $13,000. He listed his 2025 income as $0.
In court, Lansky said Love had previously lived in his car.
“He was homeless. He lived in his car,” the attorney said during the hearing, according to FOX 13. “That’s how the mighty have fallen.”
Lansky also said Love missed a scheduled movie role while he was jailed on the contempt charges.
“I think he wants to act,” Lansky said, according to FOX 13. “He wants to write. He has contacts in the business, and hopefully he’s able to get more gigs.”
After the hearing, Lansky clarified to PEOPLE that Love is not currently homeless.
“He was only homeless for a very brief period of time and currently lives with a friend in California,” the attorney said.
Love is best known for his role as Gimbel’s manager Wanda in the 2003 Christmas comedy Elf. He has also appeared in Couples Retreat, The Replacements, Just My Luck, and several other film and TV projects.
A judge has given Love until July 1 to submit a financial statement confirming that he is unable to meet the child support payments, according to Complex and WTSP.
Lansky later told the New York Post he was “very pleased” with the court outcome.
“We are very pleased with the result and I have taken over representation on all outstanding matters related to his case and will be filing a supplemental petition to modify child support,” the attorney said.
For now, Love is out of jail — but the fight over the massive unpaid child support bill is far from over.
Ya can’t pay what ya don’t have!