Robin Thicke has been on the scene since the late '90s and is the brain behind hit tracks like "Lost Without U," "Sex Therapy," "Magic," and the ever-popular yet controversial "Blurred Lines." However, alongside his successes, the singer has experienced dark moments in his life, such as his public divorce from his ex-wife, Paula Patton. Their love was the stuff made of fairytales as they met as teenagers at a club and immediately fell in love with each other.
Unfortunately, their picture-perfect relationship came crashing down after rumors of cheating and abuse plagued their 9-year marriage. Soon, the former couple became embroiled in a nasty divorce battle as they fought for the custody of their only child. Keep reading to find out more about Robin and Paula's beloved son, Julian Fuego Thicke, who witnessed his parents' divorce unravel publicly.
10 The Meaning Behind His Name
Robin and Paula welcomed their son on April 7, 2010, five years after they tied the knot and named him Julian Fuego Thicke. According to reports, the celebrity parents chose the name Julian to symbolize youthfulness, following in the footsteps of stars like Robert DeNiro and Lisa Kudrow. His middle name Fuego translates to fire in Spanish and provides an energetic balance to the gentle nature of his first name.
9 A Nasty Custody Battle
After nine years of marriage and almost two decades of being together, Robin and Paula called it quits in February 2014, sharing that they mutually decided to separate. However, months down the line of their breakup, the duo began a nasty custody battle over Julian, with the actress even filing for a temporary restraining order against the singer.
Finally, in August 2017, they settled the custody battle with Robin getting Julian from Monday through Wednesday while Paula takes him from Wednesday through Friday. Julian would also alternate weekends between his parents, and they would equally share all the expenses and significant decisions.
8 Julian Went To Therapy At 6
Amid his parents' controversial custody battles, Julian reportedly suffered emotional trauma that caused him to attend therapy. The then-6-year-old was said to be hyperventilating, having panic attacks, and acting out, all of which was a huge concern to his mother. It was Paula's decision to put him in therapy to understand his erratic behaviors and seek help. Alongside individual therapy sessions, Julian attended family therapy with his estranged parents through the divorce saga.
7 His Father Spanked Him
Celebrity kids are often spoiled as they have everything they need at their disposal. Although Julian had luxuries at his beck and call, he was subjected to unconventional discipline methods at the hands of his dad. During the custody battle, Julian reported to his school authorities that Robin spanked him more than once, leading to an investigation by the Department of Child and Family Services. The singer who was interviewed for alleged abuse denied maltreating his son in court documents that read:
"On a very rare occasion and only as a last resort, I will use light spanking, but it is consistent with the law — open hand on the butt. This is the type of discipline to which Paula and I agreed during our marriage."
6 He Follows In His Father's Musical Steps
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree when it comes to Robin and Julian, as the young boy seems to have inherited his dad's impressive singing talents. At just three years, Robin and Paula revealed in several interviews that their young son kept them entertained at home with music performances and began even writing some songs. Then, during a first-grade talent show at school, Julian, who was six at the time, knocked the audience out of the park with a stellar piano recital.
5 He Is A Doting Older Brother
In February 2018, Julian became a big brother when Robin and his fiancee April Love Geary welcomed Mia Love Thicke. In a photo to celebrate the newest addition to the family, Robin shared a heartwarming photo of Julian doting on his baby sister in the hospital. Paula attested to the tight bond the siblings shared in an interview, saying:
"He loves being a brother. It's a great thing. I think that family, no matter what -- divided, [or if] it's in new places -- you have to find harmony and peace for your children. He is in that place right now, and it's a beautiful thing to see. He absolutely adores his little sister Mia."
4 He Has A Good Relationship With His Dad's Fiancee
It can be challenging to navigate the waters of a blended family and wholly accept your parent's new partner as a kid, but Julian has proven to be quite the exception. Even when Paula wasn't welcoming of April Love Geary, it was revealed that the young boy connected with his dad's now-fiancee. Julian was seen running errands with Robin and April in 2015, months after his parents split.
3 Daddy's Plus One
Celebrities enjoy attending award ceremonies with loved ones. While some take their spouses or love interests as their plus one, Robin prefers to have his mini-me by his side. Julian is his dad's favorite person to attend glamorous event shows, and the father-son duo never fails to turn heads on the red carpet. In 2019, the pair had a boys' night out at the 61st Grammy Awards. The singer uploaded a photo of him and Julian preparing for the event but has since deleted it from his Instagram.
2 He Is Fashion Savvy
With a father that looks as good as Robin, it only makes sense that Julian follows in his footsteps. At just 11, the young man has an impressive swag that can't be ignored. Julian and Robin made jaws drop at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards with their killer looks, and the pre-teen revealed on the red carpet that he gave his dad fashion tips for the night. It's not hard to believe as Julian stunned in a dashing red suit with a white shirt and black loafers.
1 He's A Fan Of Cardi B And Megan Thee Stallion
Julian already has a defined taste in music that isn't the same as his dad's pop genre. Instead, the pre-teen loves hip-hop/ rap and is a huge fan of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. At the 2019 Grammy Awards ceremony, Julian revealed that he would love to meet Cardi B during a red carpet interview. Also, at the 2021iHeartRadio Music Awards, he managed to convince his dad to get him a photo with Megan Thee Stallion.