Halle Berry refutes ex-husband Olivier Martinez’s claims of physical abuse against their 13-year-old son, Maceo, as the former couple gears up for an upcoming court hearing on Oct. 16 regarding custody and a restraining order.
Martinez is seeking sole legal and physical custody of Maceo, along with a restraining order against Berry, alleging that she was violent towards their son during an incident on Sept. 26 and citing a history of abuse, according to court documents obtained by CBC News.
A temporary restraining order was granted by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Oct. 1, limiting Berry’s parenting time and mandating that she stay 100 yards away from Martinez until the hearing. However, the judge denied Martinez’s request for monitoring Berry’s sobriety due to insufficient evidence.
Berry has vehemently denied the accusations, labeling them as “completely untrue” and asserting that she has never harmed Maceo physically, emotionally, or in any other way. She characterized the Sept. 26 incident as playful roughhousing that escalated into a dispute and is seeking the court’s intervention to reinstate their prior 50-50 custody agreement.
The couple, who married in 2013 and had Maceo in the same year, finalized their divorce in 2023 with a mutual custody arrangement.
In the unfolding legal battle, Martinez filed for a restraining order and sole custody on Oct. 1, alleging that Berry physically abused Maceo by jumping on him and choking him. He also requested a modification of their custody arrangement and for Berry to undergo sobriety monitoring.
Nahla, Berry’s 18-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, came to her mother’s defense on Oct. 3, stating that she has never witnessed any abusive behavior towards Maceo.
Berry countered Martinez’s allegations on Oct. 4 through her legal representative, highlighting past breaches of court orders and legal sanctions related to their son’s welfare. Her legal team also pointed out discrepancies in Martinez’s version of events.
On Oct. 5, Berry submitted a declaration refuting Martinez’s claims and recounting her version of the events on Sept. 26. She denied any physical abuse towards Maceo and explained the playful nature of their interaction, emphasizing her commitment to non-violence.
Berry is advocating for the restoration of the previous 50-50 custody arrangement and the case is set for a hearing on Oct. 16 to review the temporary restrictions in place.