Did she or didn't she?
On Wednesday, Heidi Klum finally broke her silence about her reported affair with bodyguard Martin Kristen, insisting she was faithful to Seal during their seven-year marriage and only started dating after she and Seal separated.
The Project Runway judge did admit, however, that she's now dating Martin. "I don't even know if I can call it [a relationship], you know?" she told Katie Couric on Katie. "It just started so I don't know. I don't know where it's gonna go."
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Now Hollywood and media pundits are left debating whether going big on the interview was a good idea. Mario Alex Joseph, a N.Y. divorce attorney who represents clients in the political, film and music industries, says Heidi should have remained mum.
"Heidi and Seal surely complain about the public focus on their divorce," Joseph told IFT. "So they would both benefit from remaining quiet outside of court and not doing anything to invite more reporting."
Well, that's exactly what happened yesterday when the video of the interview went viral. Endlessly posted on Facebook and Twitter, the video took on a life of its own.
Heidi tried to defend herself. "I've known him for four years," she explained. "He's cared for our entire family, mostly for our four children, helped us tremendously... I trust him with my children's life. He's a great man, you know, and we just got to know each other from a completely different side."
Joseph says this kind of explanation is of no help in the courts of law or public opinion. "I advise my clients to avoid vexatious behavior if they want to avoid costly and bitter litigation," he said. "Openly displaying or admitting to a relationship with a significant other is a poster illustration of vexatious behavior by nearly all accounts. I have to assume that Ms. Klum was similarly advised."
News of Heidi's relationship with Martin leaked on the Internet last month when she was photographed getting cozy with him on a vacation in Sardinia. Since then, Seal has spoken to the media whenever he gets the chance - and his words haven't been pretty.
"I certainly don't expect Heidi to all of a sudden become a nun," Seal told TMZ. "Whilst I didn't expect any better from [Martin], I would have thought Heidi would have shown a little bit more class ... before deciding to fornicate with the help."
Besides for possible financial ramifications the couple's four children should also be considered when speaking to the press, says Joseph. Leni, who was adopted by Seal in 2009, is already 8. And it's hard to keep an 8 year old away from the TV and Internet.
Whatever parents may think, Joseph says, "kids read the news, too."
