Tyrese Receives Honorary Doctorate Degree From Leaders Esteem Christian Bible University

Tyrese now goes by Dr. Gibson.

On Sunday, the actor and singer received his honorary doctorate from Leaders Esteem Christian Bible University, which is located in the Woodlands, Texas.

“Hey guys, I know there’s a lot of sad stuff going on in the world but this is not a funeral,” Tyrese said in a clip. “This is a graduation,” he explained, grinning. “My office hours are now from nine to three. Dr. Gibson.”

“Me and my lady be arguing about stuff, but you can’t argue with a doctor, baby,” he added. His girlfriend, Zelie Timothy stood to the side as a woman put a black, red, and gold graduation gown on Tyrese.

A second clip showed the 45-year-old receiving his degree. “We’re all being honored as being a doctor today,” he continued. “I want y’all to make some noise for yourselves,” which prompted the audience to applaud. “I think one of the things I have to say is I’m so grateful to the lord Jesus Christ,” he said.

This moment seemed to bring some light to Tyrese’s life, as he continues to be embroiled in a messy legal situation with his ex-wife, Samantha Lee. He revealed earlier this month that Lee is trying to increase his monthly child support payments to $40,000.

"I just got another letter from her lawyers, requesting that I send over all of my tax returns and all of my bank statements because she's trying to get $20,000," he said during a recent Instagram livestream.

"I think they're trying to take it up to, like, $40,000. They've been looking at all of my movies and all of the concerts I've been doing, and they're over there like blood-sucking lawyers rubbing their hands. And Samantha's doing the same thing, rubbing her hands. They going, 'For the last year and a half, he looks like he's been doing really well.'"

The former couple share a 5-year-old daughter named Soraya. Tyrese also shares his 16-year-old daughter, Shayla with his ex-wife, Norma Mitchell.