As the New York Post reported, a judge abruptly recused herself from a child custody case after the mother involved publicly accused her of accessing her via an app used by swingers.
Judge Cynthia Lopez, 47, announced her recusal Monday during a brief virtual conference call with the parents' attorney, Sidney Southerland.
The shocking turn of events came last week, Southerland claims, when a woman named “Cynthia” contacted her on 3Fun, “the leading app for sexually free singles.”
“GM,” the woman wrote in a message just before 8 a.m. on Jan. 24, using slang to indicate good morning. “I'm Cynthia. How are you?”
A screenshot of the alleged message from Southerland, whose real name is Chyna on the app, along with the sender's alleged profile, which shows Lopez sitting on a couch with black heels and a black negligee, were provided to The Post.
Her public profile clearly stated that she was bisexual and what she was looking for, so the judge didn't shy away from that.
“We are a complete swap [couple] in [ethical non-monogamy] Dynamic looking for some exciting fun with another complete swap [couples] “And single ladies,” she wrote. “We like thick girls as much as we like petite girls! Ultimately, it's all about personality. Men should be plump at most, and I, the female, prefer males to be somewhat endowed.”
Southerland's response was direct and frank:
“Bitch, you know who I am,” Southerland remembers saying.
The sender immediately blocked her, but not before Southerland said she was able to take photos of the initial exchange and profile.
“I plan to file a complaint,” Sutherland added, speculating that Judge Lopez was slowing down her custody case because she was trying to accommodate her.
Two days after receiving the initial invitation, Southerland posted her complaint Tik Tok and X.
The bronx family court judge currently supervising is sending me an email from swingers app who has a verified account judge cynthia lopez, right? @TheShadeRoom @cnnbrk @NYGovCuomo @DLCC @RepPressley @RepRashida @RepDonaldsPress @nettimes @Fox News
#scandal #tea #unfairness #New York pic.twitter.com/feseOqG8Y1-Sydney Southerland (@TheSidneyEffect) January 26, 2024
As a result of ACS's removal of Southerland's children, Sanya, now 9, and Saint, 4, in February 2022, Southerland found herself before Judge Lopez.
Southerland's first legal troubles began when police “raided” her mother's Bronx apartment in July 2021 and arrested her, according to the lawsuit she filed in September 2022.