Halle Berry refutes claims made by her former spouse, Olivier Martinez, alleging that she physically harmed their 13-year-old son, Maceo, as the ex-couple approaches a court date on Oct. 16 regarding custody and a protective order.
Martinez has requested full legal and physical custody of Maceo along with a restraining order against Berry, citing a violent incident involving their son on Sept. 26 and a pattern 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 visitation rights and mandating that she stay away from Martinez until the hearing. However, the judge dismissed Martinez’s plea for monitoring Berry’s sobriety due to insufficient evidence.
Berry has refuted the accusations, asserting they are “completely untrue” and maintaining that she has never mistreated Maceo in any way. She characterized the Sept. 26 event as playful roughhousing that escalated into a disagreement and is seeking a return to their previous equal custody arrangement.
The couple, who tied the knot in 2013, welcomed Maceo that same year, and finalized their divorce in 2023 with a shared custody agreement.
Martinez filed for a restraining order and sole custody on Oct. 1, alleging that Berry had physically assaulted Maceo by jumping on him and choking him. He also requested a modification to their custody split and demanded Berry undergo sobriety testing.
In a written statement, Martinez described receiving a distressed call from Maceo asking to be picked up while hearing Berry yelling in the background. He claimed the altercation began with Berry pushing Maceo during a game in his room, leading to her grabbing him around the neck. Martinez also cited other instances of alleged abuse over the years.
Nahla, Berry’s 18-year-old daughter with ex-partner Gabriel Aubry, defended her mother in a declaration on Oct. 3, stating she had never witnessed any physical harm toward Maceo.
Berry’s legal team countered Martinez’s claims on Oct. 4, citing prior breaches of court orders and legal sanctions concerning Maceo’s welfare. They also pointed to video evidence contradicting Martinez’s version of events.
Berry submitted a declaration on Oct. 5 denying Martinez’s allegations and recounting her perspective of the Sept. 26 incident. She clarified that the interaction with Maceo involved playful roughhousing, denying any choking or physical harm.
Berry is advocating for the reinstatement of their previous 50-50 custody agreement, emphasizing Maceo’s need for structure and consistent contact with his mother. The upcoming court session on Oct. 16 will reevaluate the temporary restrictions in place.
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