A judge has refused Olivier Martinez's attempt to reopen evidence in his custody battle with Halle Berry, after a post on the actress's Instagram account led to a tense exchange in court on Monday, October 27. The post, a story on Berry's account, read: "If kids disrespect their mom, the root cause often traces back to their relationship with the father." It appeared to be aimed at Martinez.
Martinez's attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, asked the court to reopen evidence. He argued that Berry had breached a temporary restraining order and said he wanted to question her about the post, which he said was "disturbing my client's peace, disturbing my client's calm." Berry's attorney, Marina Beck, hit back hard.
She described the request as a "last-minute grasp at straws, nothing more than a witch hunt," and said Baghdaserians wanted to reopen evidence in front of the press to continue what she called a "false narrative." Judge Shelley Kaufman denied the motion.
Berry and Martinez are in a contentious custody dispute over their 13-year-old son. The boy has already testified at a hearing on Martinez's request for a restraining order.
That testimony was held behind closed doors, and both parents were ordered out of the courtroom. Legal analysts following the case noted that social media activity often complicates high-profile celebrity divorces and custody battles.
Judges frequently warn parties against posting material that could influence ongoing legal proceedings or affect the psychological well-being of the children involved. The ongoing legal battle between Berry and Martinez has attracted significant media attention since it began, with both sides presenting competing arguments regarding the best interests of their child.
As the legal proceedings continue, representatives for both actors have declined to provide additional public comments outside of the courtroom hearings, keeping the focus strictly on the official judicial process. The court has scheduled further procedural reviews for the upcoming weeks to determine the next steps in resolving the complex custody arrangements.
Observers expect that both legal teams will maintain a close watch on all digital communications and public statements made by the parties involved as the dispute moves forward toward a final resolution.