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Jack White Countersues Ex-Wife Karen Elson, Disputes ‘Violent’ Behavior

Jack White Karen Elson countersues psychiatric

Jack White and Karen Elson’s divorce proceedings just keep getting uglier. After news broke that Elson filed a restraining order and TMZ obtained emails that paint White as a bitter, Dan Auerbach-hating man, White is fighting back, countersuing with a plethora of allegations that Elson is still in love with him and that she lied about his violent nature.

In court documents obtained by Rolling Stone, White’s attorney states that “Mr. White does not want to be portrayed as something he is not, violent toward his wife and children.” And while the aforementioned emails only show White’s bitter responses, Elson allegedly sent a message to him in May that said, “You’re an amazing father, I’m so glad we had these kids together.”

To make things messier, Elson reportedly asked that White undergo psychiatric evaluation when filing her restraining order, then took a 10-day “work/pleasure” trip to New York while leaving their young children in his care. “One who was truly fearful of another would not leave their children alone with that person for 10 days,” the countermotion says. “The truth of the matter is that Ms. Elson is not fearful for herself or the parties’ minor children.”

And to put a cherry on top of this horrible situation, White alleges that Elson recently told his Dead Weather bandmate Dean Fertita that she wants to get back together with her estranged husband. “I’m completely in love with Jack and I’d move back in tomorrow if he asked me,” she reportedly told Fertita, who also plays in Queens of the Stone Age. As the lawsuit says, “This is not the statement of a woman who is concerned about the emotional stability of the father of their children or their safety when they are with him.”

Neither White nor Elson have yet to comment publicly on the unfolding situation. The pair originally broke up in 2011, throwing a divorce party for their friends and family. Things seemed amicable enough, with Elson performing at White’s SXSW showcase in 2012 and performing at his Third Man Records headquarters on Record Store Day last April. White does have one violent incident on record: He assaulted Von Bondies singer Jason Stollsteimer in 2003, and had to undergo anger management training as part of his plea deal.