Why one Instagram Story suddenly became the newest flashpoint in Halle Berry’s court fight
A post on Halle Berry’s Instagram Story triggered a courtroom clash with Olivier Martinez, but a judge refused to reopen evidence.
An Instagram Story that appeared on Halle Berry’s account has spilled into her ongoing court battle with ex Olivier Martinez. The post prompted a fresh fight in court, with Martinez’s side trying to reopen evidence over what it said and whether it crossed a legal line.
Martinez’s lawyer, Patrick Baghdaserians, asked to reopen evidence after the Story was posted Monday. The message said that when children disrespect their mother, the cause often goes back to their relationship with their father.
Baghdaserians argued the post appeared to target Martinez and said it violated a temporary restraining order. He also wanted the court to question Berry about it, saying the post was disturbing his client’s peace and calm.
Berry’s lawyer, Marina Beck, pushed back hard. She described the request as a last-minute attempt to salvage Martinez’s case and called it a witch hunt. Beck also said she believed the move was deliberately made in open court, in front of the press, and accused the other side of trying to keep a false narrative going.
Judge Shelley Kaufman denied the request, so the evidence in the case will not be reopened on the basis of the Instagram post.
People close to Berry said she did not make the post and that they are investigating how it ended up on her account.
The dispute is playing out during a bitter custody fight over the former couple’s 13-year-old son, Maceo. Martinez has accused Berry of choking their son during an argument while he was playing a VR game. Maceo also testified at a hearing tied to Martinez’s restraining order request, though that testimony happened behind closed doors and both parents were ordered out of the courtroom.
