The Psycho Ex-Wife: Free Speech Fight Over Divorce Blog (VIDEO)

On Tuesday, the "Today Show" took a look at "The Pyscho Ex-Wife," a website launched by divorcee Anthony Morelli in 2007 as a forum to air his frustrations about his divorce and contentious child custody dispute.

Morelli's foray into the blogosphere triggered a free-speech debate after Judge Diane Gibbons ordered him to take down the site in June 2011, citing the emotional damage it could cause Morelli's two minor children, whom he and his ex-wife share custody of.

Morelli insists that his blog serves as therapeutic catharsis rather than vindictive crusade.

"I tried to provide a forum, where, through [the] collective experiences [of my readers], we could help minimize the conflict in our lives, and choose better ways to deal with our high-conflict ex-spouses--be they men or women," he said.

But his ex-wife, Allison Morelli, told the "Today Show" that the emotional hurt caused by the site is so great that even their two children have asked their father to take it down.

"[The kids] have asked their father to stop and I know that they've told him that it has a negative effect on me," she said.

Though he removed his blog at the order of Judge Gibbons, Morelli is appealing the ruling on grounds that it violates his First Amendment rights.

Check out a clip from the "Today Show" segment and weigh in: Does Morelli's right to free speech outweigh the purported harmful effect of the blog on his children?

WATCH:

Comments

[Mr Board]

11:54 AM on 08/17/2011

Free Speech is Free Speech but there are complexities when it comes to defamation cases and divorce situations.
I see the real issue as being the lack of accomplishment in the blog. He didn't really do anything other than satisfy his own need to spew out his disdain, that would be the therapeutic claim. Basically venting one's frustration can and has been shown to be a stress reliever - so is Primal Screaming - but we don't all go around screaming at each other.
The problem here is that the Internet has yet to establish legal parameters. Sure there is a suggested and understood decorum but these are not necessarily adhered to nor represent a across the board requirement for all those using the Internet.
So therefore the blog albeit vehement really should be left alone until such time it is deemed against the law. No one say's that the children need to read or interact with the blog forum. I guess it's not going to help to bring up the point that the judge who ordered the take down is a woman an possibly biased.

[cribbisque]

12:52 PM on 08/17/2011

What if the judge had been a man? Why is her gender important or a basis for bias? You had a good response going until that line. Judges in custody cases see good and bad in both genders. I am interested in following along because there is such little caselaw with regard to the internet. Having said that, I've seen numerous sites shut down for the same reason the judge finds fault with this one.

[Mr Board]

01:50 PM on 08/17/2011

I clearly stated "possibly biased" and you would have to be naive or out of touch - which I know you aren't - not to recognized that Judicial Bias does exist.
The issue still remains a free speech issue and the blog does not break any law. The only platform on which the Judge has to stand on is the Best Interest of the Children which technically isn't corollary to the blog. There are no Bill Boards, Television ads or Radio bulletins informing the public of this blog. Even if he cleaned up the blog the children could still be upset that he has a blog about the divorce. How far does the children's emotional state go?
Where will we be if expression of anger or frustration is quashed? We will be back in the dark ages. Many sites are rife with supremacist hatred, anti-government sentiment, racial prejudice and gender bashing so what is wrong with marital bashing? Again there is no law against the blog, they are trying to put this off as Harming the Children. If there was a law and he was breaking it he would have been arrested already.

[Annie OToole]

01:06 PM on 08/20/2011

This is formal notice to you, cribbisque, and any or all parties using this username and password for this account, to cease and desist any and all activities, including posting real names, locations, places of business or other personal information on the internet via public forums or comments in an attempt to harass or intimidate myself or other parties who may or may not be enjoined in a discussion regarding Anthony or Allison Morelli.

[Showhunter]

11:57 PM on 08/16/2011

I am tired of hearing about "parental alienation" - it is merely a malicious vehical a bad parent uses to attack the custodial parent. if you are a good parent & a respectiful ex then alienation isn't a problem.

Usually anyone claiming "parental alienation" needs to take a good look at themselves. Kids don't want to be around someone with a chip on their shoulder - they are a great mirror in how the world sees the adult.


Perhaps instead of whining about his ex in a blog, he ought to work on being a better person.

[Mousie2]

07:21 AM on 08/17/2011

Wow...holding much anger? Your comment appears to be made in haste and ignorance. Let's change your statement around a bit.

Instead of saying "perhaps instead of whining about his ex in a blog, he ought to work on being a better person",

let's change it to this,

"perhaps instead of whining about his blog, the ex ought to work on being a better person"

[cribbisque]

07:52 AM on 08/17/2011

Or you could say... "no matter what the other person does [be it Allison or the Judge or anyone opposing us], we are going to do what we want because we are so enmeshed with hate that we cannot help ourselves.

[cribbisque]

03:51 PM on 08/18/2011

Again, no dice. We are not talking about an employment agreement or anything other than your reponse to another in a divorce/custody matter that, frankly, has nothing to do with you, Misty. It is your choice to take the path you are on. Instead of looking at my examples, you chose to interpret them as to how Allison would mess it up instead of imroving her life and becoming a better person... you'd still be finding some reason to be blogging about her. And to your example of blogging about employment, please don't tell me that as a woman who has been blogging since your affair before you met Anth that you don't know that people HAVE been fired for disparaging their employers online. How could you use such a ridiculous example as support for your cause, examples that, btw, have been upheld NOT as wrongful firing...

[Rockmedia]

08:49 PM on 08/16/2011

Seems like Loss of Control is also a common component of murder.
http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-san-diego/the-murder-of-madeline-samaan-fay-by-her-father

[cribbisque]

07:57 AM on 08/17/2011

Goes without saying... Just look at the Broderick case in San Diego where a lawyer and his mistress harrassed his ex-wife into killing them. I wonder what they would have done if the internet would have been available then as they used anything available to then, including people they could buy. Plenty of high drama, high conflict, refusal to take the advice from anyone from both sides, plenty of WRONG behavior all around, yet they said the same thing - its' because of the children. Lots of parallels here.

[EvieEve]

01:08 AM on 08/15/2011

At this point its not about freedom of speech. Its about being a decent guy and not putting his kids through the drama he and his ex created.

[Robear C]

09:50 AM on 08/16/2011

And your missing the point. The point is, it's about freedom of speech. Read the article again and read the 1st amendment. (You fail Eve, try again.) You'd do the same thing if you were told that you could air dirty laundry by some feminist judge. But she's on your side to now huh? Thats ok. It will all come out of the wash.

[laaambchop]

01:31 PM on 08/14/2011

Why are they asking for donations to help with their legal costs when they apparently own a lucrative coaching business?

http://www.familylawcourts.com/news.html

"...Morelli recently testified Misty Weaver Ostinato owns "mrcustodycoach.com."

"...Is it free speech when Tony Morelli is charging people [at least] $29.00 a month..."

Also, I wish all of the socks a good day!

[cribbisque]

06:03 PM on 08/14/2011

This guy is saying that because he is considered unemployed, according to Phillyburg. Ihope they pursue him for dodging because I would imagine that he isn't claiming any income from it for obvious reasons. Of course he would claim someone else owns it. He also claims to be "advising" cients. On what basis, I wonder? He isn't an attorney or any kind of licensed therapists. He's a sleaze, IMO,

[Audryna]

10:09 PM on 08/14/2011

About Bonnie Russell:" Mention of Russell's name provokes groans from family court practitioners who know her. No wonder. Russell has been fighting for twelve years for custody of her daughter and against the perceived injustices of the court. In the process, she has made herself into one of the state's most high-profile family court litigants. Since her custody case began in 1990, Russell has filed more than 45 motions with family courts in Marin and San Diego Counties. She has been arrested twice for violating a restraining order and interfering with court business and has served a total of eight days in jail. Nearly all of her motions were filed pro per, and only five have been granted. Opposed by some of the state's top divorce attorneys, Russell has been frustrated at every turn. She has also been haunted by a negative psychological evaluation that diagnosed her as suffering from borderline personality disorder, susceptible to "impulsivity" and "lack of control." Russell claims the Marin psychiatrist who wrote the evaluation is biased."

Why should the world not be shocked that Allison has aligned herself with a diagnosed BPD who is a well-known family court terrorist. Game... set... match...

[Rockmedia]

01:13 AM on 08/15/2011

Any particular read you only quoted part of the article? Such as the part where the "Doctor" had been deemed "not credible?"

[cribbisque]

09:18 AM on 08/15/2011

See? You claim not to be anyone but just a follower of the blog, yet everything you post belies that. Why not just admit who you are? You never post on your own experience, just Anthony and, more important, hatefully toward his ex.

[StrawHat]

05:52 AM on 08/14/2011

I can't believe how many people are defending this man's right to libel his wife and humiliate his children. If the sexes were reversed, would you still feel the same way?

Or are you acting out your relationship rage by piling on?

Whatever happened to common decency, family privacy and being protective of our children?

[laaambchop]

01:14 PM on 08/14/2011

http://www.familylawcourts.com/news.html

Business is what happened. Someone sent me this link in response to my question about who owns PEW and MCC as well as who Lexi Ambrose is.

[Watching Allison]

09:15 PM on 08/14/2011

And I cannot believe how many people are defending Allison Morelli and her convoluted attempt at parenting. Relationship rage isn't really an issue when a mother, in this case Allison, is grossly negligent and her ability and willingness to throw her OWN children under the bus is sickening!

Perhaps the masses are blinded by the media's attempt to paint fathers all black and any mother, even the abusive ones, as all white.

Come on Allison - you love all the attention -- why not tell the general public and your media groupies exactly what YOU do with YOUR children on your parenting time?

There are people watching you - every stinking thing you do. Most people would at least fake it when they know they are living under a microscope. You? No, not you. How's this going to look on your next TV interview?

[cribbisque]

09:37 PM on 08/14/2011

Gee, Anth/Misty, it didn't take long for you to create a new persona and get back online. She isn't throwing her kids under the bus. It would appear to be Anthony, who is making this even bigger than his site did. Didn't work for Kathie Lee when she tried to sue, and I doubt it will work for you.

[cribbisque]

09:21 AM on 08/15/2011

You don't seem to realize that she has nothing to do with your choice of behavior. The support of taking down a blog that is simply a hate vehicle has nothing to do with her parenting. No one knows anything about it but what some deranged hateful man and, more weirdly, his girlfriend... choose to post about it. Now youleave a post where you literally threaten her with stalking. She isn't living under anyone's microscope but yours. Why can't you see that the high drama person is you?

[cribbisque]

10:49 PM on 08/13/2011

http://ahharsfnews.com/2011/08/10/bonnie-russellallison-morelli-the-follow-up-what-was-the-today-show-thinking

Seems there is a lot Anthony is leaving out....

[Audryna]

11:18 PM on 08/13/2011

http://www.shrink4men.com/2011/08/11/judge-diane-e-gibbons-orders-thepsychoexwife-com-shut-down-what-would-you-do/

[cribbisque]

06:34 PM on 08/14/2011

I love it. And Ihave been a victim of such a personality type. But nothing would cause me, Misty, to devote my life to the anger and frustration Anthony posts to regulary.

[laaambchop]

10:11 AM on 08/13/2011

Who owns mrcustodycoach? Who is Lexi Ambrose? Who is Michael Ambrose?

I ask because the business had a prominent ad on the PEW site. The two names are listed as the representatives. Well, who are these people? Do they also own the business (membership is $29-290/per month)?

[Lisa Shields]

09:38 AM on 08/13/2011

Instead of taking one side or the other, a simple proviso...nothing posted on the web will ever completely go away. Meaning in ten years, when his kids aren't as young, they can still be treated to the bitter details of their parents failed marriage. As a person who was constantly subject to post divorce bickering, slander and nonsense from both of my parents, I can say that it will not make them feel anything but awful.

Would the same man share every other personal detail of his life with his kids? Or just the ones that cast their mother in a bad light?

Parents...please...I know it can be tough...but the scars you leave on your kids NEVER go away when they take damage from your battles.

[craichead2011]

11:33 AM on 08/13/2011

He didn't share anything with his kids. It was all anonymous. His ex-wife shared it with the kids.

Kinda like a parent making kids watch a violent movie and then complaining that Hollywood shouldn't make violent movies because kids might see them.

[Lisa Shields]

03:22 PM on 08/13/2011

Ok..so he did it anonymously.
How then did the psycho wife find out her was doing it?
Was he Married to Miss Cleo?
Just a couple of million blogs out there...she just got lucky?

[Audryna]

11:49 AM on 08/13/2011

The kids lived/live the bitter details. Why is it that people think children live in some kind of sanitized bubble where they don't know what is going on? If someone--some "expert" --would actually talk to the kids, they could act as advocate for the kids' needs.

The blog was NOT primarily focused on bitter details from the parents' failed marriage. The blog was not intended to carp, attack, air dirty laundry etc. The blog WAS intended--and it was successful--in helping a specific community, those people adversely affected by high-conflict ex's--to cope with the tremendously difficult fall-out-including helping children to deal with it.

[Lisa Shields]

08:24 PM on 08/13/2011

All relationships have two sides.
Some people maybe psycho...and others are made that way.
Your assumption of gospel purity on his part, and the passion in it.
So...are you the girlfriend the court papers mention?

[cribbisque]

06:35 PM on 08/14/2011

Why don't the kids have a guardian?

[StrawHat]

01:30 AM on 08/13/2011

I think it's pretty clear who is psycho in this scenario.

[craichead2011]

06:07 AM on 08/13/2011

Yes. The ex-wife.

[StrawHat]

06:20 AM on 08/13/2011

Based on...??? Oh, the words of a vindictive husband who doesn't care if he humiliates his own children? Charming.

If the genders were reversed, I'd still be appalled at the very idea of the website.

You?

[Divorced DudesClub]

10:27 PM on 08/12/2011

First, I must say, freedom of speech doesn't give you the right to be a jerk to your ex-wife or your children. And, speaking of the children, we all know in custody cases, the best interest of the children pretty much dictates the judge's decision. Having gone through a divorce myself, I was also inspired to start a blog about the challenges separated and divorced men face. Unlike Mr. Morelli, I chose to remain positive and inspirational to my readers. There is no place for negative comments about your ex-spouse when writing about divorce. The situation is already stressful enough for both parties involved, and it's even more stressful for children.

[Audryna]

12:14 AM on 08/13/2011

Good thing your ex allowed you to remain positive and inspirational! You have no idea what it is like to be in a relationship with a high-conflict ex-spouse. There are many different kinds of divorce. Mr Morelli was not gratuitously slinging mud at his ex: he was dealing with ongoing harassment. There are many of us, both men and women, who would give anything just to be allowed to live in peace. You can not imagine what it is like to be terrorized, in both obvious and very subtle ways, month after month. We are not talking about "normal" divorces--which are stressful and sad enough--we are talking about extreme, horrific examples of one person's mistreatment of another. Until you begin to read our stories, until you begin to get your head around the enormity of this dynamic--you should not comment. It is not straightforward, it is not "everyday" it is not solved by "communication," "mediation," or "taking the high road." These situations are extreme enough to make psychologists, lawyers, doctors etc give up. This website, however quirky, attempted to address this black hole in mental health and legal education.

And, yes, actually, although Mr. Morelli was not being a "jerk," freedom of speech does give you the right to do exactly that: speak freely. How many times do people have to be reminded of the maxim that you may not like what someone says, but you must defend their right to say it?

[cribbisque]

09:59 PM on 08/13/2011

Yes, I have been in that same situation, but I never felt the need to create a blog about it. After all, while I have the right to free speech, sometimes the better part of valor is to handle things differently.

[craichead2011]

06:08 AM on 08/13/2011

The blog was totally anonymous. The wife is the one who exposed the kids to it. Please read up a little before using someone else's problem to promote your website.

[Chelsey L Williams]

08:20 PM on 08/12/2011

You say you aim to deal with conflict by creating more conflict? You sir, are not thinking clearly. This kind of thing is damaging to your children and you risk alienating them not only from yourself but from their own mother. There are very real consequences to keeping this kind of conflict going. visit us at www.padirectory.info

[Audryna]

08:40 PM on 08/12/2011

@Chelsey L Williams
It is totally commendable that you are fighting against Parental Alienation. If you had more information, and Mr. Morelli's civil rights had not been violated by Judge Gibbons, you would be able to read properly that he is the victim of severe Parental Alienation. It is a serious subject which the blog covered many times, along with other topics of concern to people suffering with high conflict spouses. Unfortunately, the Today Show, along with other tabloid type media, never bother to get the full story, but want for the fastest, cheapest way to boost audience ratings. If you are interested in the full story please go to http://www.savethepsychoexwife.com/ where you will get more information.

[cribbisque]

10:01 PM on 08/13/2011

But again, using that woman to get your blog going. When she isn't your scapegoat, who will be? This has taken on more of a life than just a guy that wanted to spout about a spouse. You seem very vested, Audryna. What is your dog in this fight?

[Erinaleks]

07:58 PM on 08/11/2011

The female bloggers rant about their ex all the time on HP.

[LemurTech]

07:32 PM on 08/11/2011

You can highlight the tragedy committed against "the children" by the man if you like, but if you had actually seen the website (as I did, some months ago), then you would without doubt conclude that the real crimes being committed were by this woman against her husband. She was indisputably abusive, and that abuse was witnessed repeatedly by her children and will certainly result in them facing difficulties in their own relationships as they mature into adulthood.

I propose it is actually an excellent thing that the man documented his wife's abuse. One day, if and when the children decide they want to better understand the legacy of their mother that seeks resolution in their own dysfunctional relationships, then those web materials will be of great help.

The general consensus among those in the know, is that the wife is a Borderline Personality or Narcissistic Personality Disordered person. What has happened as a result of the exposure is that other basically good men in similar situations, with emotionally/physically abusive spouses, have come forward to tell their stories. You are looking at this as a simple case of a relationship gone sour where both parties have equal responsibility in creating misery. I believe this is mistaken. A person with BPD/NPD is highly-capable of manipulating public sympathies.

*That* is what deserves mainstream media highlighting. You decry the website being published for the harm it will do to the children. Excuse me, but the harm has already been done.

[Robear C]

11:14 AM on 08/12/2011

Nice post. You nailed it man. Couldn't have said it better.

[StrawHat]

01:33 AM on 08/13/2011

Pouring gas on the fire may make him feel better in the short term, but it's not good for his children. Any sane parent can see that venting your spleen about your ex- in public is harmful to your children.

Your post seems to imply that the children can only be hurt once and then it's done. He's creating exponential harm by his public humiliations.

[FeralForever]

08:37 PM on 08/13/2011

Strawhat: It is impossible to make sense to a misogynist like him. I've had the displeasure of being the brunt of his mean-spirited posts. Now that he has a picture of himself on his av, I understand why. Methinks he may not have too much luck with the ladies. ;)

[LemurTech]

02:13 PM on 08/15/2011

"...venting your spleen about your ex in public is harmful to your children."

StrawHat, I agree in principle. If he was simply bad-mouthing his ex by name, then I would speak against it. However, precautions were taken to disguise the identities of the people involve. It's not like the young children (or their friends) were in any danger of doing a Google search and (1) coming upon this blog, and (2) recognizing the characters involved. The ex somehow found out about the blog, and then chose to use it as a wedge to alienate the father from his children. This is a common tactic in high-conflict divorces, and it's a form of child abuse.

Only a portion of this blog was given over to the circumstances of this man. This was not an out-and-out 'dissing'; it was educational for others involved in divorce proceedings with high-conflict spouses.

"Your post seems to imply that the children can only be hurt once..."

Apologies, I should not imply this. What I meant is that any wounds to the children's core identities have already occured by witnessing the very disturbing behavior of a BPD/NPD parent. Everything else is secondary to that. Yes I'm making some assumptions, but having had some experience and being fairly well-read in this area, I don't think it's unfair.

"exponential harm"

'Exponential'? Compared to what the kids have probably already seen? We'll just have to disagree on this.

[Robear C]

11:16 AM on 08/12/2011

I would keep in touch here and pass it on:
http://www.savethepsychoexwife.com/