Halle Berry refutes accusations made by her former spouse Olivier Martinez regarding the alleged physical abuse of their 13-year-old son, Maceo. The ex-couple is heading towards a court hearing scheduled for Oct. 16 concerning custody and a restraining order.
Martinez has requested exclusive legal and physical custody of Maceo, along with a restraining order against Berry, citing a violent incident towards their son on Sept. 26 and a claimed history of abuse. Court documents obtained by CBC News detail Martinez’s allegations.
A temporary restraining order was granted by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Oct. 1, 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 evidence.
Berry has vehemently denied the accusations, labeling them as “completely untrue” and asserting that she has never mistreated Maceo physically, emotionally, or otherwise. She explained the Sept. 26 incident as playful roughhousing that escalated into an argument, seeking a restoration of their 50-50 custody arrangement.
The couple, who tied the knot in 2013 and had Maceo later that year, finalized their divorce in 2023 with a shared custody agreement.
Martinez initiated legal actions by filing for a temporary restraining order and sole custody on Oct. 1, claiming that Berry physically assaulted Maceo by jumping on him and choking him during the September incident. He also sought alterations to their custody arrangement and requested sobriety monitoring for Berry.
Nahla, Berry’s 18-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, submitted a declaration defending her mother on Oct. 3, stating she had never witnessed any physical abuse towards Maceo.
Berry’s legal team challenged Martinez’s allegations on Oct. 4, citing past violations of court orders and legal sanctions related to their son. They also indicated conflicting video evidence to counter Martinez’s claims.
Berry directly addressed Martinez’s accusations in a declaration filed on Oct. 5, denying any abuse towards Maceo and providing her account of the Sept. 26 events. She emphasized her stance against domestic violence, refuting the claims of being a perpetrator of violence.
The upcoming court hearing on Oct. 16 will determine the fate of the temporary restrictions and potential changes to the custody arrangement.