Tristan Thompson Posts Cryptic Message About ‘Facing Demons’ Following Paternity Drama

Tristan Thompson shares a cryptic message following his recent paternity situation.

“Sometimes you don’t realize your own strength until you face your greatest weakness,” he wrote on his Instagram Story Friday. “Hide from your demons and they’ll slowly destroy your potential. Face them and they can potentially become your greatest asset.”

In December, Maralee Nichols came forward saying the NBA player was the father of her child and sued Thompson, 30, for child support and other pregnancy-related fees. 

However, the Sacramento Kings player at first denied the paternity of the baby, who was born on Dec. 1. But a DNA test confirmed this month, that he was indeed the baby’s father.

“Today, paternity test results reveal that I fathered a child with Maralee Nichols,” he wrote on Instagram on Jan. 3. “I take full responsibility for my actions. Now that paternity has been established I look forward to amicably raising our son.”

“I sincerely apologize to everyone I’ve hurt or disappointed throughout this ordeal both publicly and privately,” he continued.

On a second Instagram Story slide, Thompson issued a public apology to ex Khloé Kardashian, because the two were publicly dating during the time he admitted to sleeping with Nichols.

“Khloé, you don’t deserve this. You don’t deserve the heartache and humiliation I have caused you,” Thompson wrote. “You don’t deserve the way I have treated you over the years. My actions certainly have not lined up with the way I view you. I have the utmost respect and love for you. Regardless of what you may think. Again, I am so incredibly sorry.”

Thompson shares 3½-year-old daughter True with Kardashian, 37, and 5-year-old son Prince with ex-girlfriend Jordan Craig. And now, his 1-year-old son with Nichols.

Earlier this week, a source told PEOPLE that the scandal has “been devastating” for the Keeping Up With The Kardashians alum. The pair already had a rocky relationship that was off-and-off for years.

“It took a lot for Khloé to get back with Tristan,” the source said. “They had such amazing family time during the lockdown. Khloé really believed that Tristan had changed.”  

Sources say Khloe is focused on moving forward with the help of her “great support system.”

“They are helping her to move on. This is it for her relationship with Tristan. She says she will never take him back again,” the source added.