Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez Continue Custody Battle in Los Angeles Court
Actress Halle Berry, accompanied by fiancé Van Hunt, appeared in court as the second week of custody proceedings with ex-husband Olivier Martinez commenced.
Halle Berry appeared in a Los Angeles court on Monday, dressed in a stylish black coat, gray slacks, and black sandals, as her custody case with ex-husband Olivier Martinez entered its second week. She was accompanied by her fiancé, Van Hunt.
Earlier this month, Martinez obtained a temporary domestic violence restraining order against Berry, alleging she had "physically abused" their 13-year-old son, Maceo. Berry has denied these allegations.
During proceedings on Friday, Martinez faced questioning from attorneys. Hunt also testified under questioning from Berry's legal team. Court documents indicate that Martinez's legal team proposed recalling Maceo as a rebuttal witness, but withdrew the request when the court determined his testimony would need to be in person. Hunt was reportedly seen leaving court appearing "relieved" after his testimony.
In a legal filing reviewed by The Daily Mail, Berry claimed Martinez has interfered with Maceo's schooling and therapy, hindering progress. She stated that Martinez has involved Maceo in the custody battle and undermined her efforts with the teen. Berry has requested sole legal custody over matters concerning Maceo’s education, healthcare, and mental-health treatment, seeking tie-breaking authority to implement necessary interventions without further delay or conflict.
Berry's legal team asserted that Martinez's actions are part of a pattern of manipulation and litigation aimed at circumventing court orders. They noted that judicial findings and sanctions have confirmed his "custom and practice."
According to the filing, Maceo's behavioral issues at school have escalated since the restraining order was issued. School administrators have reported Maceo becoming increasingly oppositional, defiant, and disrespectful. The filing also stated that Maceo has been more disruptive at school, harassed a younger student, used inappropriate language, thrown objects, and announced he is switching schools, actions Berry attributes to Martinez's encouragement. Maceo has reportedly been reinforced to believe he has a say in decisions regarding his education, health, extracurricular activities, and general welfare.
Berry has requested that Maceo attend therapy sessions for a year, both individual and conjoint, with a therapist of her choosing. She also asked the court to order exclusive communication between the parties via the co-parenting app Our Family Wizard, with each party limited to one check-in and one non-emergency message per day.
Berry and Martinez were married from 2013 to 2015, with their divorce finalized in 2023. Berry's daughter Nahla Aubry, 18, was slated to testify via stream during Monday's hearing.