Halle Berry Appears in Court Amid Custody Battle with Ex Olivier Martinez
The actress denied allegations of abuse made by Martinez against their 13-year-old son, Maceo.
Halle Berry was seen in court on Tuesday in Los Angeles, appearing in good spirits as her custody battle with ex-husband Olivier Martinez continues. Berry has vehemently denied allegations that she physically abused their 13-year-old son, Maceo.
Martinez is seeking sole custody of Maceo, claiming Berry has abused the boy. A temporary domestic violence restraining order was granted to Martinez, protecting both him and their son from Berry. The order mandates that Berry remain at least 100 yards away from Martinez.
Berry's attorney, Marina Beck, has called the filing "entirely meritless" and stated that Berry is accustomed to such "outrageous conduct" from Martinez.
Recent court documents obtained by the Daily Mail include testimony from Berry's fiancé, Van Hunt, who claims Maceo shoved Berry during a heated argument in September. According to Hunt, Berry had asked Maceo to remove his virtual reality headset, and the teenager allegedly resisted, threw the device, and pushed his mother. Hunt intervened, separating them. He described both mother and son as being close to tears during the altercation.
Hunt's declaration states that Maceo began threatening to call his father and packing his clothes. Hunt encouraged Berry to let Maceo leave to de-escalate the situation. Martinez arrived and took Maceo, who returned to his mother's house two days later.
Hunt has defended Berry, describing her as a "loving, attentive, highly engaged, forbearing mother" who has never been abusive. He stated he has never witnessed Berry choke Maceo, place him in a headlock, or restrict his breathing, contrary to Martinez's claims.
According to Hunt, arguments between Berry and Martinez have often centered on Maceo's "educational and mental health needs," including "behavioral challenges and impulse control issues." Hunt also claims Martinez has "emboldened" Maceo by giving him excessive control.
Maceo has been cleared by a judge to testify in the dispute later this month. Berry's daughter, Nahla Ariela, has also submitted a declaration stating she has never seen her mother act violently toward her brother.
Berry and Martinez finalized their divorce in 2023 after a lengthy legal battle. The pair were married in 2013 and separated in 2016.