Ciara has lost her bid to get sole custody of her one-year-old son Future Jr.

A California judge on Monday denied the pop star's request, awarding joint custody of the boy - full name Future Zahir Wilburn - to Ciara and her ex-fiance, rapper Future, reports TMZ.

The 30-year-old singer, who is now engaged to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, 27, has been caught up in a nasty custody fight with her ex and is also suing him for slander.

Custody battle: Singer Ciara has lost her bid to get sole custody of her son Future Jr, after a California judge awarded 50/50 custody to her ex-fiance, rapper Future. Above, Ciara and Future in 2013

Ciara and Future both appeared in court in Los Angeles on Monday, where she alleged Future was not part of their son's life and was not of good character.

However, the 32-year-old rapper argued for joint custody and the judge agreed, the gossip site reports. California law favors joint custody.

The musicians have been embroiled in a bitter legal row since splitting in 2014.

Ciara is currently suing her ex for $15 million in defamation and slander for comments he made about her in his music, interviews and on social media last year, including calling her a 'b****' on Twitter and saying she was keeping him from seeing Future Jr, who turns two this week.

Cutie: The 30-year-old brought son Future Jr to the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Awards in July

She alleges it was all a stunt to promote the I Won rapper's music career.



And Future also took a swipe at Ciara, calling her washed-up, as he responded to her lawsuit. The rapper says he could not have defamed the Body Party singer's reputation because it's already that of a has-been, and called her last album 'a flop.'

Ciara became engaged to NFL player Russell in March, after he proposed with a 16-carat ring during a romantic vacation in the Seychelles.

Moved on: Ciara is now engaged to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson

The couple famously chose to remain celibate while dating, saying it helped them focus on their emotional relationship and get to know each other better.

Meanwhile Russell called Ciara 'way out of his league' as he gave the commencement speech at his alma mater The University of Wisconsin on Saturday.

He told the graduates: 'If you're dating a woman that's way out of your league, ask her to marry you.'