There’s a time and place for passionate speeches. A courtroom? Yes. A heartfelt letter to your child? Sure. But a livestreamed rant on the internet? Not so much, especially if you're trying to win custody of your kids.
Just ask Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. According to Page Six, Ye went off during an emotional and expletive-laden livestream just this April, venting about his lack of access to his four kids, accusing his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, of gatekeeping them, and also criticizing her parenting. The livestream, which was anything but calm, quickly went viral, but not in a way that wins points in family court.
If you're a parent in the middle of a custody dispute, here’s one takeaway you need to internalize: what you say and do publicly can — and often will — be used against you in court.
What happens online doesn’t stay online
In family court, emotional outbursts, especially public ones, can severely impact how a judge views your parenting capacity. Judges are looking for stability, emotional control, and a clear ability to put your child’s needs before your ego. Screaming into your phone camera might feel cathartic in the moment, but it can raise serious red flags about your emotional state and overall capability as a parent.
We get that custody battles can be tough. Emotions are high and communication between co-parents breaks down. But family court isn’t there to judge your ability to “go viral.” It’s assessing your ability to co-parent constructively.
Courts care about the child’s best interests, not your followers
In custody cases, the court has to weigh a long list of factors to determine what’s in “the best interest of the child.” These include the mental and physical health of the parents, each parent’s history of caregiving, the emotional ties between parent and child, and each parent’s willingness to foster a relationship with the other. Unfortunately for Ye, the list also includes each parent’s behavior in and out of court.
When you take personal disputes to the internet, you’re not just airing dirty laundry. You’re handing the court potential evidence that may portray you as erratic, hostile, or manipulative. And that’s definitely not going to win you any favors in court. It may even cost you visitation rights.
Hear Ye, hear Ye: Being loud isn’t the same as being a good parent
Public meltdowns, no matter how justified they may feel, don’t prove that you’re the better parent. They prove that you might lack the self-control required to navigate co-parenting and shared custody arrangements. That’s a big problem in the eyes of a judge who’s deciding where your child should spend most of their time.
Instead of venting online, talk to your attorney. Instead of accusing your ex publicly, gather the facts privately. And instead of livestreaming your frustration, document your efforts to be a consistent, supportive, and stable parent. That’s the kind of behavior that speaks volumes in court, and you don’t even have to raise your voice to get that message across.
We’ll help you keep your cool and your case on track
At LaGrandeur & Williams, we understand that custody disputes can bring out your rawest emotions. We also know what courts need to see and hear to support your case. If you’re dealing with a high-conflict co-parenting situation, or just want to make sure your custody case stays on the rails, we’re here to help you sort it out with strategy, not spectacle.
Because in family court, being the louder parent doesn’t make you the better one; it just makes you the one the judge is more likely to side-eye.
Need help handling your custody case the right way? Contact us for experienced family law support in Western Washington.