Halle Berry refutes claims made by her former spouse Olivier Martinez that she physically harmed their 13-year-old son, Maceo, as the ex-couple nears a court date on Oct. 16 regarding custody and a restraining order.
Martinez is seeking full legal and physical custody of Maceo and a restraining order against Berry, alleging that she was aggressive towards their son during an incident on Sept. 26 and citing a history of abuse, as per court records obtained by CBC News.
On Oct. 1, a judge at the Los Angeles Superior Court granted a temporary restraining order, limiting Berry’s parenting time and mandating her to stay 100 yards away from Martinez until the hearing. The judge dismissed Martinez’s plea for monitoring Berry’s sobriety due to insufficient details.
Berry has denied the accusations, labeling them as “completely untrue” and affirming that she has “never physically, emotionally, or in any other way mistreated Maceo.” She characterized the Sept. 26 occurrence as playful roughhousing that escalated into a disagreement, requesting the court to reinstate their 50-50 custody agreement.
Berry and Martinez tied the knot in 2013, welcomed Maceo later that year, and finalized their divorce in 2023 with a shared custody plan.
Martinez initiated legal action on Oct. 1, seeking a restraining order and sole custody. He alleged that Berry physically attacked Maceo by jumping on and choking him on Sept. 26. Martinez also requested a modification of their custody arrangement and insisted on Berry undergoing sobriety monitoring.
In a declaration seen by CBC News, Martinez mentioned receiving a distressed call from Maceo asking for help and hearing Berry shouting in the background. He claimed that the altercation began while Maceo was playing in his room and that Berry pushed and choked him. Martinez also alleged previous instances of abuse.
Berry’s daughter, Nahla, from her previous relationship with Gabriel Aubry, defended her mother in a declaration on Oct. 3, stating that she has never witnessed any physical harm towards Maceo.
In response, Berry’s legal team contested Martinez’s claims on Oct. 4, pointing out prior violations of court orders and legal measures concerning Maceo. They also highlighted video evidence contradicting Martinez’s narrative.
Berry submitted a declaration on Oct. 5 refuting Martinez’s allegations and recounting her version of the events on Sept. 26. She denied any mistreatment towards Maceo and explained the playful roughhousing that occurred, stating that she never restricted his breathing or choked him.
Berry is advocating for the restoration of the 50-50 custody arrangement, emphasizing the importance of structure and regular contact with Maceo. The next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 16 to review the temporary restrictions.
