Halle Berry Says She Has ‘Never’ Abused Son Maceo, 13, Cites Her History as a Domestic Violence Victim

Halle Berry has found herself embroiled in a custody dispute with her ex-husband Olivier Martinez, as allegations of domestic violence and child abuse surface in court filings. Last week, Martinez sought sole custody of their 13-year-old son, Maceo, claiming that Berry had physically assaulted the boy during an incident reported to have occurred on 26 September.

In response to these serious allegations, Berry firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating in court documents that she has never abused Maceo. Instead, she portrayed herself as a victim of domestic violence, claiming her past experiences led her to advocate for others facing similar situations. The actress’s assertion aims to counteract the claims made by Martinez, who has suggested that Berry is a danger to their son.

Following Martinez’s request for sole custody, the court temporarily modified the existing custody arrangement by granting him a restraining order against Berry. This move prompted Berry to solicit the court to reinstate their previous 50/50 custody arrangement, a setup that had been established following their divorce in August 2023.

Berry provided a declaration to the court on 5 October, in which she described her history as a victim of domestic violence but asserted categorically, “I would never hurt our child.” She has previously shared that she has faced domestic violence both in her childhood and during a past relationship, although she has chosen not to identify specific individuals involved.

The former couple’s dispute intensified with the specifics of the purported incident on 26 September, which Martinez described as Berry losing her temper and putting Maceo in a headlock. Berry’s rebuttal included video evidence and messages exchanged between her and Martinez, which she claimed contradicted his version of events. She stated that the situation escalated when Maceo became upset during a virtual reality gaming session, with Berry attempting to set boundaries around his gaming time.

According to her account, she entered Maceo’s room to suggest he stop gaming and began recording him as he carried on playing. When Maceo noticed the camera, he attempted to take her phone, leading to what she described as playful roughhousing between the two. Berry refuted Martinez’s allegations, stating she never placed her hands around Maceo’s neck or restricted his breathing in any manner.

The incident reportedly took a turn when Maceo became upset again and physically pushed Berry. At that point, Berry’s fiancé, Van Hunt, intervened. She described how Maceo threatened to contact his father, hinting at a level of manipulation in the situation. Following the incident, Berry texted Martinez, expressing concern about their son’s behaviour and pleading for him to enforce boundaries for Maceo.

Berry depicted her distress regarding the altercation, stating that Maceo left her home unharmed and that there were no signs of physical injury. She clarified that her comments to Martinez about feeling “terrible” were an expression of concern over the conflict rather than an admission of guilt or responsibility for any harm inflicted on their son.

In her petition against Martinez’s attempt for sole custody, Berry raised concerns about his parenting capabilities, citing issues that Maceo’s school has reportedly flagged regarding his behaviour. She highlighted that Maceo is neurodivergent, requiring specific care and attention, which she believes Matinez has not adequately provided.

Berry’s filings indicated a long-standing disagreement between the two regarding the best interventions for Maceo, as she advocated for a week-on, week-off custody schedule to ease transitions for their son. Last year, she requested the court compel Martinez to engage in co-parenting therapy after alleging that he frequently breached court orders regarding their custody arrangement.

Additionally, Berry pointed to a previous court order granting her the authority to make significant decisions concerning Maceo’s mental health and education, which she has now requested to be reinstated. Alongside Maceo, Berry has an 18-year-old daughter, Nahla Ariela, from her previous relationship with Gabriel Aubry.

As developments unfold in this highly publicised custody battle, attorneys representing both Berry and Martinez have not yet commented on the matter. The case has already attracted significant media attention, bringing issues of domestic violence and child welfare to the forefront.

For individuals grappling with domestic violence, resources such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline are available for support, providing confidential assistance and guidance 24/7.