Maryland Divorce Lawyer Blog
Today, Millenials, members of “Gen Z,” and many others live much of their lives online. For some influencers and celebrities, it seems that if it did not happen on Instagram (or another social media platform,) it did not happen at all. However, the ever-presence of social media can be a problem when you are going through a divorce. The potential pitfalls are numerous and varied, but by finding and retaining a skilled Maryland divorce lawyer, you can sidestep these possible hazards that otherwise could harm your divorce case.
A recent celebrity divorce case provides a practical example. Teyana Taylor is a singer-songwriter who married Iman Shumpert, a professional basketball player, in 2016. The couple divorced in 2024. After the divorce was finalized, though, the ex-husband allegedly posted a series of documents and reports to Instagram. The Instagram information appeared to show the ex-wife getting a substantial amount in the divorce, including four pieces of real estate worth more than $10 million, a seven-figure cash sum, a $300,000 Maybach vehicle, a $70,000 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and a tour bus.
The “leaked” documents created a stir on social media, with many users calling the ex-wife a “gold digger.” The ex-wife fought back this month, filing a request with the court to hold the ex-husband in contempt of court. According to Taylor, Shumpert’s social media disclosure included false reports and court documents that were sealed by the judge. The ex-wife’s legal team asked the judge to impose maximum fines and a 20-day jail stint as punishment for leaking the sealed information.
‘Sealed’ Information and Social Media Posts
The contempt matter against Shumpert remains pending, but the dispute raises a common problem that can arise in a divorce. Judges may place certain information divulged during divorce litigation “under seal.” That means the parties, their attorneys, and the court may view the documents/evidence, but no one else may.
Additionally, a judge may hand down an order forbidding the parties from publicly discussing aspects of their divorce case, including publicly criticizing the other spouse or the court. Getting on X to post that your ex-spouse is a gold digger and your judge biased and corrupt, then, could place you at risk of incurring contempt penalties because you did something the court specifically ordered you not to do.
Placing information under court seal in the public sphere (such as posting on social media) may also qualify as a violation of the court’s orders and subject you to contempt penalties, including monetary fines and/or jail time.
How Social Media Posts May Harm Your Divorce Strategy
Not only should you never post information under a court’s protective order on social media, but taking a “break” from social media might be a good idea while your divorce runs its course. Divorces are often settings where emotions run high, and those intense feelings lead to unhealthy choices. Even when these choices do not constitute violations of court orders, they still can be problematic in other ways, such as harming your position in an ongoing divorce.
Here’s an example: Wife files for divorce. Husband, eager to show that he too has moved from the marriage, floods social media with posts prominently featuring Husband and a new lady in his life that Wife did not know about. The pair appear hand-in-hand at fine dinners, attending shows, and on vacation. Husband perhaps feels some emotional gratification from the posts. Wife’s attorneys, however, now have new discovery angles to pursue. How long has Husband’s friend been a part of his life? Exactly when did the pair of lovebirds go on vacation and their other pricey events… and who paid? Did Husband pay, and did he use a marital account or a marital credit card to cover the costs? In other words, Wife’s attorneys now have a viable opportunity to pursue discovery and argue that Husband dissipated marital assets and Wife should receive a larger portion of the marital assets when the court crafts the equitable distribution portion of its judgment of divorce.
All because of an impulsive social media post…
Whether or not your case involves improper use of social media platforms, your case deserves a skilled legal advocate. The Maryland absolute divorce attorneys at Anthony A. Fatemi, LLC can help, both in terms of advocating for you in court and guiding you through the process… including counseling you against doing things that might harm your position with the court. Contact us today at 301-519-2801 or via our online form to schedule your consultation.