Actress Christina Ricci publicly celebrated her husband Mark Hampton on Father's Day, sharing an affectionate family portrait on social media mere days before legal proceedings with her former spouse became public knowledge. The timing of the tribute underscores the complex family dynamics at play as the actress navigates co-parenting arrangements following her divorce.
On Sunday, June 21, Ricci posted a photograph to Instagram depicting Hampton embracing both her 11-year-old son Freddie and the couple's 4-year-old daughter Cleo. The 46-year-old actress accompanied the image with an effusive message praising her 41-year-old husband's parenting abilities.
"Happy Father's Day!!!!!! The best dad we could have ever hoped for," Ricci wrote via Instagram. "I honestly didn't know they made them like you, babe. I am so grateful for you. We LOVE you so much @markhamptonhair."
The celebratory post preceded the revelation of a custody dispute involving Ricci's former husband James Heerdegen, with whom she shares son Freddie. Court documents obtained by Us Weekly confirmed that Heerdegen filed an ex parte request seeking emergency custody of the child following an alleged incident earlier in June.
According to the legal filing, Heerdegen received text messages from Freddie indicating that Ricci had consumed alcohol during a flight to Canada. The messages allegedly included specific descriptions of the actress's behavior following the consumption. Ricci has previously acknowledged using alcohol as a coping mechanism during her early career years.
The situation evolved rapidly when Freddie reportedly told his father's legal representatives one day after the initial messages that he had overreacted to the incident. The child stated he harbored no fear regarding his primary custody arrangement with his mother. Ricci subsequently requested that the court seal the original text messages, citing concerns about her son's upcoming enrollment at a new school and his history of experiencing bullying.
On Tuesday, June 23, the presiding judge granted Ricci's motion to seal the text messages and denied Heerdegen's petition for emergency custody of Freddie. The ruling maintains the existing custody arrangement between the former spouses.
The legal dispute represents the latest chapter in a contentious separation that began in July 2020, when Ricci filed for divorce after obtaining a protective order against Heerdegen. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a domestic battery call at the couple's residence in June 2020, though Heerdegen denied any wrongdoing and was not arrested in connection with the incident.
Ricci and Heerdegen married in October 2013 at the Harold Pratt House and Peterson Hall in New York City. Their son Freddie was born in 2014. The divorce settlement established shared legal custody of the child, with Heerdegen receiving a one-time payment of $189,687 from the actress.
Following her divorce, Ricci married Hampton in an intimate Los Angeles ceremony in October 2021. The couple welcomed daughter Cleo two months later in December 2021. The blended family has maintained a relatively private existence, with Ricci occasionally sharing glimpses of their life together on social media.
Both children accompanied Ricci when she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in March 2025. During her acceptance speech, the Yellowjackets actress acknowledged her family's support and influence on her career.
"I want to thank my family," she said during the ceremony. "Mark, you're the most supportive and loving husband. Freddie, you made me feel so much love the day you were born and reconnected me to art, passion and ambition. And Cleo, my gorgeous little baby girl, I love you so much. I'm inspired by all your strength, courage and spirit. She's really spirited!"
Representatives for Ricci have not issued a public statement regarding the recent custody proceedings. The actress continues her work on the critically acclaimed series Yellowjackets while managing her family responsibilities.
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Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
