Italian actor Raoul Bova has formed an unprecedented alliance with his former mother-in-law, celebrity divorce lawyer Annamaria Bernardini De Pace, to confront a weeks-long private life scandal. Despite their acrimonious history—De Pace once labeled Bova a “degenerate ex-son-in-law” during his 2013 divorce from her daughter—the actor sought her legal counsel regarding custody arrangements for his children with ex-partner Rocio Munoz Morales.
The collaboration follows the leak of intimate audio recordings between Bova and 23-year-old influencer Martina Ceretti, disseminated by Fabrizio Corona. The files, allegedly forwarded to Corona by model Ceretti’s friend Federico Monzino, spread virally across Meta, Google, YouTube, TikTok, and X. Companies including Ryanair and football clubs Napoli and Torino reportedly used the content, prompting Bova and De Pace to file a formal complaint with Italy’s Privacy Guarantor.
Investigators are exploring potential criminal charges beyond attempted extortion, including handling stolen goods and drug-related offenses. “Leaking private chats constitutes additional crimes,” De Pace stated, praising Bova for “choosing to report blackmail rather than pay hush money like most celebrities.”
De Pace confirmed Bova and Morales, though never married, have been separated for two years. She dismissed past tensions as “normal during a specific period,” emphasizing her current focus on Bova’s role as father to her grandchildren: “I’ve never held anything against him. My grandchildren have a grandmother proud of their father’s actions.”
The lawyer clarified her professional stance: “I’m a divorce attorney, not a… [expletive implied],” underscoring her commitment to resolving the scandal despite their complex personal history.