Halle Berry's Ex Olivier Martinez Seeks Sole Custody, Cites Choking Allegations

Olivier Martinez, ex-husband of actress Halle Berry, has filed for a restraining order against her, seeking sole custody of their 12-year-old son, Maceo. In court documents obtained by the Daily Mail, Martinez alleges that Berry physically abused their son on multiple occasions, including an incident on September 26, 2026, where he claims she "physically abused our son by jumping on him and choking him."

Martinez's filings detail a history of alleged disputes, stating that Berry has "has wrestled Maceo to the ground and forced him to 'tap out'" over the past year and a half. He further alleges that Berry has "grabbed our son's neck from the back when he is not looking and forced him to tap out" multiple times, actions she allegedly downplayed as joking or playing, though the son reportedly disliked them.

Beyond physical altercations, Martinez also claims Berry has caused their son emotional and mental distress through "racially charged statements." According to the documents, in 2023, Berry allegedly told Maceo that his father was "a white b**ch trying to rob a black woman" due to child support issues and asked their son, "How do you feel about that as a black man?"

Martinez also alleges that Berry threatened to have him deported to France, causing their son further distress. He is seeking an order that would require Berry to remain 100 yards away from him and their son, attend a 52-week batterer intervention program, and abstain from alcohol or other substances while with Maceo. The filing requests that Berry undergo Sober Link testing before, during, and after visitation.

Martinez claims that Maceo no longer wishes to spend time at Berry's home and may be traumatized by the alleged incidents. He states his "peace was disturbed by the fact that Petitioner physically abused our son."

The court documents suggest the September 2026 incident is not isolated. Martinez alleges that both their son and Berry have spoken to him about past attacks, including instances where Berry, who trained in mixed martial arts, allegedly put their son in chokeholds. He claims Maceo has repeatedly expressed his hatred for these actions.

Martinez and Berry, who were married for three years and share Maceo, currently have 50-50 custody. Their divorce was finalized in 2023, with joint custody and child support arrangements.

This legal action follows previous disputes over co-parenting. In 2024, Berry initiated legal proceedings, requesting Martinez be compelled to participate in co-parenting therapy. A judge sided with Berry at the time, noting Martinez had already complied.

In earlier filings, Berry claimed she had incurred over $200,000 in legal fees, including contributing $80,000 to Martinez's legal expenses. She also alleged that Martinez was using her child support payments to support himself financially. Berry had previously sought sole custody, citing Maceo's struggles in school, including being diagnosed with ADHD and mild dyslexia, and claiming Martinez was either unaware of or disregarded these difficulties.

Maceo was born in 2013, the same year Berry and Martinez wed after meeting on the set of "Dark Tide" in 2010. They separated in 2016. Martinez also has a history of public altercations, including a physical fight with Berry's ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry in 2012 over their daughter Nahla, which resulted in Aubry's arrest and a restraining order.