Halle Berry Attends Court Hearing Amid Custody Battle With Ex Olivier Martinez
The actress appeared in good spirits during the ongoing legal proceedings regarding their son Maceo.
Halle Berry was seen attending a court hearing in Los Angeles on Thursday, participating in the ongoing custody case with her ex-husband Olivier Martinez. The 60-year-old actress appeared composed, wearing a dark gray plaid pantsuit.
Thursday marked the fourth consecutive day Berry had been present at the court amid the legal dispute. 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 accusations.
According to TMZ, Berry's daughter, Nahla Aubry, was slated to testify in the case via an online stream. Nahla, who is attending college in Massachusetts, had previously submitted a declaration defending her mother. In the filing reviewed by The Daily Mail, Nahla stated she had never witnessed her mother physically abuse Maceo, describing their interactions as playful wrestling or tickling. Nahla also expressed her feelings of heartbreak for Maceo being part of a public dispute and anger towards Martinez for what she perceived as a lack of respect for her privacy.
Berry's legal team has asserted that Martinez has repeatedly interfered with Maceo's schooling and therapy, hindering progress. In a court filing, Berry claimed that Martinez has inappropriately involved Maceo in the custody battle, undermining her efforts. She requested sole legal custody for decisions concerning Maceo's education, healthcare, and mental health treatment, seeking to extend her tie-breaking authority indefinitely.
Attorneys for Berry argued in the filing that Martinez's actions were a pattern of manipulation and obstruction. The filing indicated that Maceo's behavioral issues at school have escalated since the temporary restraining order was issued. School administrators noted that Maceo had become more oppositional and disruptive, leading to disciplinary actions and discussions of him switching schools. Berry's legal team suggested that Martinez's encouragement has led Maceo to believe he has a say in major life decisions.
In addition to requesting sole custody, Berry sought court authorization for a year of individual and conjoint therapy sessions for Maceo with a therapist of her choosing. She also requested that communication between her and Martinez be exclusively through the Our Family Wizard co-parenting app, limiting communication 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.