Halle Berry refutes ex-husband Olivier Martinez’s claims of physical abuse against their 13-year-old son, Maceo, as the former partners approach an upcoming court date on Oct. 16 regarding custody and a restraining order.
Martinez is seeking exclusive legal and physical custody of Maceo and a restraining order against Berry, alleging she was physically aggressive towards their son during an incident on Sept. 26 and citing a pattern 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 instructing her to stay 100 yards away from Martinez until the hearing. The request for monitoring Berry’s sobriety was denied due to insufficient evidence.
Berry has denied the accusations, labeling them as “completely untrue” and asserting that she has never mistreated Maceo in any way. She characterized the Sept. 26 episode as playful roughhousing that turned into a disagreement and is requesting the court to reinstate their previous 50-50 custody agreement.
Berry and Martinez tied the knot in 2013, welcomed Maceo later that year, and finalized their divorce in 2023 with a shared custody arrangement.
In a separate development, Berry’s legal team has contested Martinez’s claims, highlighting past breaches of court orders and legal sanctions related to their son’s welfare. Video evidence, according to Berry’s attorneys, contradicts Martinez’s version of events.
Additionally, Berry submitted a declaration on Oct. 5 countering Martinez’s allegations and recounting her perspective of the events on Sept. 26. She emphasized that she has never engaged in any form of abuse towards Maceo and disclosed her history as a domestic violence survivor and advocate.
Berry clarified that the incident on Sept. 26 involved playful roughhousing with Maceo, denying any choking or physical harm. She described the situation where Maceo became upset after the playfulness ended, leading to a minor altercation before he threatened to contact his father to leave. Berry stressed the importance of structure and ongoing contact with her son, advocating for the reinstatement of the previous custody arrangement.
The next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 16 to review the temporary restrictions and potential modifications.