Halle Berry refutes ex-husband Olivier Martinez’s claims of child abuse against their 13-year-old son, Maceo, as they approach a court hearing on October 16 regarding custody and a restraining order. Martinez is seeking sole legal and physical custody of Maceo and a restraining order against Berry, alleging violent behavior towards their son on September 26 and citing a history of abuse. A temporary restraining order was granted by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge on October 1, limiting Berry’s parenting rights and mandating a distance of 100 yards from Martinez until the hearing. Berry has denied the accusations, labeling them as baseless and asserting that she has never mistreated Maceo in any way. She characterized the September 26 incident as playful roughhousing that escalated into an argument and is requesting a restoration of their previous 50-50 custody agreement.
Berry and Martinez, who married in 2013 and had Maceo in the same year, finalized their divorce in 2023 with a joint custody arrangement. Martinez filed for a restraining order and sole custody on October 1, alleging that Berry physically assaulted Maceo by jumping on him and choking him. He also requested a modification of their custody arrangement and mandatory sobriety monitoring for Berry. Nahla, Berry’s 18-year-old daughter with Gabriel Aubry, defended her mother in a declaration, stating she has never witnessed any abuse towards Maceo.
Berry’s legal team has disputed Martinez’s claims, citing past violations of court orders and legal sanctions related to Maceo’s welfare. Video evidence is said to contradict Martinez’s version of events. Berry directly denied the allegations in a declaration filed on October 5, emphasizing that she is a victim of domestic violence and advocating for victims of abuse. She detailed the events of September 26, refuting any physical harm towards Maceo and describing the incident as playful roughhousing that turned sour. Berry is seeking to reinstate the 50-50 custody arrangement and the next court hearing is scheduled for October 16 to review the temporary restrictions.