Halle Berry's Deleted Instagram Post Just Blew Up Her Custody Hearing

Halle Berry’s custody hearing with ex Olivier Martinez took a sharp turn Tuesday, and the reason was a single Instagram post that had already been deleted. Martinez’s attorney told a Los Angeles judge that the message, which said kids who disrespect their moms often trace that back to the relationship with the father, violated a temporary restraining order and asked to reopen evidence. He argued,“This sort of conduct is the reason we are here today.”

Berry’s attorney, Marina Beck, pushed back hard, calling the request a“last-minute grasp at straws”and“nothing more than a witch hunt.”Judge Shelley Kaufman denied the motion to reopen evidence and then cleared the courtroom for closing arguments. The hearing, which has run nearly two weeks, centers on the exes’13-year-old son, Maceo. Martinez is seeking sole custody and a domestic violence restraining order tied to an alleged September 26 incident that Berry has vehemently denied. Berry is asking the court to dismiss the restraining order, restore 50-50 custody, and give her sole legal authority over education and medical decisions. A decision is expected Thursday.

This case is a very public reminder that a social media post can become courtroom evidence in the time it takes to screenshot it. For anyone in a custody dispute, the takeaway is simple: think twice before you hit post, because deleting it later doesn’t delete the receipts. Do you think a deleted post should ever count against someone in a custody fight? Sound off in the comments.