In a recent candid sit-down on the ‘All The Smoke’ podcast, former MLB star David Justice opened up about his marriage to Halle Berry, shedding light on why their marriage ended. Justice, married to Berry from 1993 to 1997, cited her lack of motherly qualities as a key reason for their split. He also disclosed that Berry proposed to him just five months into their relationship, catching him off guard when he wasn’t even ready for marriage. Here’s what he said…
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A Proposal That Took Him By Surprise
Justice recounted the whirlwind romance that led to their engagement, admitting Berry popped the question after only five months. “She asked me to marry her, and I said ‘Okay,’ because I couldn’t say no,” he shared in the episode, which premiered on Thursday, August 7. Host Matt Barnes jokingly asked who could turn down Halle Berry at the time, to which Justice laughed but admitted his heart wasn’t fully in it. “It caught me off guard,” he said, noting the pressure of not wanting to hurt her feelings. According to Justice, their relationship strained under Berry’s demanding acting career, which often separated them while she was filming movies. “We were having a good time, but we weren’t together all the time,” David Justice explained. The physical distance, combined with his uncertainty about marriage, set the stage for the challenges ahead.
Justice Speak On Berry’s Alleged Lack Of Motherly Qualities
Justice, who had limited relationship experience before Berry, compared her to his mother, who embodied traditional domestic roles. “My knowledge around relationships just wasn’t vast,” he admitted. “I’m looking at my mom—a wife at that time should cook, clean.” He questioned whether Berry, who didn’t cook, clean, or exhibit motherly traits, was suited for a long-term partnership or motherhood. “I’m thinking, ‘If we have kids, is this the woman I want to have kids with?’” he said. David Justice reflected that therapy might have saved their marriage, as they didn’t face major issues like infidelity but struggled with compatibility. “We probably could’ve made it if I knew about therapy,” he noted.
Their differences became more apparent as the marriage progressed. The former athlete’s traditional views clashed with Berry’s lifestyle as a leading Hollywood star, sparking growing tensions. While he acknowledged no single catastrophic event ended their relationship, the absence of shared values and his doubts about her nurturing side contributed to their 1997 divorce.
Halle Berry’s ex-husband David Justice says her lack of maternal traits contributed to their divorce.
“She don’t cook, clean.” pic.twitter.com/K0Tc5xr0P1
— FAVULATE (@favulate) August 9, 2025
Halle Berry’s Response To Critics And Moving Forward
Meanwhile, Halle has since addressed critics who label her as someone who “can’t keep a man.” In a February 2024 appearance on ‘The Drew Barrymore Show,’ the 58-year-old, now dating musician Van Hunt, pushed back against the narrative surrounding her three divorces from Justice, Eric Benét, and Olivier Martinez.
“It’s hard in these streets. I’ve heard people say, ‘Something must be wrong with Halle Berry. She can’t keep a man.’ Who’s to say I wanna keep a man? I don’t wanna keep the wrong man. Like, I’m not crazy, right?” she asked.
Furthermore, Berry emphasized her choice to prioritize healthy relationships. The mom of two shared that she manifested her current relationship by focusing on her desires rather than past mistakes. Her confidence and clarity reflect a woman unbothered by external judgments, focused on her personal growth and happiness.
Berry isn’t letting the criticism about her love life get to her, though. She’s embracing her independence and current relationship with optimism rather than focusing on the past.
