Halle Berry's Attorney Accuses Ex Olivier Martinez of 'Witch Hunt' Over Instagram Post

Attorneys for Halle Berry and her ex-husband Olivier Martinez reportedly clashed in court Tuesday over an Instagram post Berry shared, which Martinez's legal team argued violated a temporary domestic violence restraining order.

During a hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court, Martinez's attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, asked Judge Shelley Kaufman to reopen evidence to question Berry about a quote she reposted to her Instagram Stories. The quote, attributed to relationship coach Kai Vinci, stated: "If kids disrespect their mom, the root cause often traces back to their relationship with the father."

Berry's attorney, Marina Beck, characterized Baghdaserians's request as a "last-minute grasp at straws" and a "witch hunt," asserting that Martinez's team intended to "re-open evidence and continue their false narrative." Beck also suggested Baghdaserians intentionally made the request in open court to attract media attention, a claim Baghdaserians denied, stating the post disturbed his client's "peace" and "calm."

Judge Kaufman ultimately denied the request to reopen evidence. The courtroom was subsequently cleared for closing arguments, with a ruling on Martinez's request for a domestic violence restraining order and sole custody of their son Maceo expected Thursday.

Earlier this month, Martinez obtained a temporary restraining order against Berry, accusing her in a court filing of physically abusing their 13-year-old son, Maceo, by "jumping on him and choking him." Berry has denied these allegations.

In a separate legal filing, Berry claimed Martinez has repeatedly interfered with Maceo's schooling and therapy, hindering progress and undermining her efforts. She requested sole legal custody for educational, healthcare, and mental-health matters, and for tie-breaking authority to implement interventions without "continued delay, conflict, and harm to the child." Berry's legal team stated that Martinez's actions are part of a pattern of "manipulation, alienation, and litigation" confirmed by "numerous judicial findings, court orders, and sanctions."

Berry's filing also detailed escalating behavioral issues at school, with administrators reporting Maceo has become "increasingly oppositional, defiant, and disrespectful," leading to disciplinary actions. She argued that Martinez's encouragement has reinforced Maceo's belief that he has a say in decisions regarding his education, health, and welfare.

Berry has also requested a year of individual and conjoint therapy for Maceo with a therapist of her choice, and that communication between the parents be exclusively via the co-parenting app Our Family Wizard, limited to one non-emergency message per day per party. Berry and Martinez were married from 2013 to 2015, finalizing their divorce in 2023.