Halle Berry refutes ex-husband Olivier Martinez’s allegations of physical abuse towards their 13-year-old son, Maceo, as they approach a court hearing on Oct. 16 regarding custody and a restraining order.
Martinez seeks sole legal and physical custody of Maceo and a restraining order against Berry, citing a violent incident on Sept. 26 and a history of abuse in 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 a 100-yard distance from Martinez until the hearing. The judge dismissed the request to monitor Berry’s sobriety due to insufficient evidence.
Berry has vehemently denied the accusations, labeling them as “completely untrue” and asserting that she has never abused Maceo physically, emotionally, or otherwise. She characterizes the Sept. 26 incident as playful roughhousing that escalated into a disagreement, seeking a return to their previous 50-50 custody agreement.
The couple, who married in 2013 and share Maceo, finalized their divorce in 2023 with joint custody arrangements.
Martinez filed for a temporary restraining order and sole custody on Oct. 1, alleging that Berry physically assaulted Maceo on Sept. 26, prompting the need for protection. He also requested modifications to the custody arrangement and sobriety monitoring for Berry.
Nahla, Berry’s 18-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, came to her mother’s defense, affirming in a declaration that she has never witnessed any physical abuse towards Maceo.
In response, Berry’s legal team disputed Martinez’s claims, citing previous violations of court orders and legal actions concerning Maceo’s well-being. They also pointed to video evidence contradicting Martinez’s version of events.
Berry directly refuted Martinez’s allegations in a declaration filed on Oct. 5, detailing her account of the Sept. 26 incident. She emphasized her stance against domestic violence and denied any wrongdoing, stating that the interaction with Maceo was playful and denied any choking or physical harm.
Berry emphasized the importance of maintaining contact and structure for Maceo, seeking to reinstate the 50-50 custody arrangement in court.
The upcoming hearing on Oct. 16 will address the continuation or alteration of the temporary restrictions.