Halle Berry, who has been in court against her ex-husband, Olivier Martinez, over custody of their 13-year-old son, Maceo, has received a verdict—but it’s a mixed bag for the actress.
According to @tmztv, Berry’s domestic violence restraining order has been dropped. But her request to return to 50/50 child custody with Martinez has been denied. In addition, the judge no longer allows her to have overnight visits with Maceo.
Martinez sought to limit Berry’s time with her son during the holiday season, but the judge denied the request. Martinez sought sole custody, while Berry wanted their previous shared-custody arrangement restored. Here is how the case played out over the past eight days.
Who Testified?
Testimony began on October 19, with Maceo speaking privately with the judge. According to reporting, his testimony lasted nearly four hours. The judge permitted him to testify specifically about the request for a restraining order.
Berry took the stand on October 20 and returned on October 21 to complete her testimony. She denied all allegations of abuse, maintaining that she was a victim of domestic violence in the past and would never harm her son.
Martinez began his testimony on October 22 and continued through Friday, October 23. He reiterated his claims against Berry regarding domestic abuse, though defense attorneys pressed him on a prior 2024 sworn declaration stating there was no history of abuse between them.
Van Hunt, Berry’s fiancé, testified on October 23 and was recalled to the stand on Monday, October 26, to provide further details regarding the home environment and family dynamic. Nahla Aubry, Berry’s 18-year-old daughter, also testified on Monday, October 26.
Aubry provided a sworn statement and testimony backing her mother, stating she was “shocked” by the allegations and had never seen Berry act aggressively toward Maceo. She described Berry as a devoted, affectionate parent who could be strict when necessary. Aubry also said that her mother had not spoken negatively about either child’s father to them.
Closing arguments wrapped up on Monday, October 26, leading to the judge’s final verdict.
What Was the Alleged Altercation?
In his October 1 restraining-order petition, Martinez alleged that Berry physically assaulted Maceo during a September 26 incident, including putting her hands around his neck and choking him. Berry denies abusing their son.
Text messages included in the filing show the former couple discussing Maceo’s request to leave Berry’s home early. According to People, Berry objected and expressed frustration about their son’s behavior toward her.
In a message dated September 27, Berry asked Martinez to encourage Maceo to speak with her and wrote that she felt terrible about the previous night. The messages describe a conflict; Berry disputes Martinez’s account of physical abuse.
A judge granted Martinez a temporary restraining order and temporarily restricted Berry’s parenting time until the outcome of these proceedings.
How Has Berry Responded?
Berry has denied physically, emotionally or otherwise abusing Maceo. Her attorney, Marina Beck, has called Martinez’s filing meritless and misleading. Berry’s legal team has also accused Martinez of violating previous court orders and interfering with support for their son—claims that form part of the parents’ broader dispute.
The conflict follows years of parenting disagreements. Berry and Martinez married in 2013, separated in 2015 and reached their divorce settlement in 2023. The agreement provided joint legal custody of Maceo and required Berry to pay $8,000 a month in child support, plus school and extracurricular expenses. It also required additional support equal to 4.3 percent of her income above $2 million.
Berry’s Work Supporting Domestic Violence Survivors
In responding to the allegations, Berry has cited her own experience with domestic violence and her work supporting survivors. In her court declaration, she stated that she would never hurt her child.
Her advocacy includes a longstanding relationship with the Jenesse Center, a Los Angeles organization providing domestic violence intervention and prevention services. Through her “What A Little Love Can Do” project, Berry set out to renovate one of the organization’s transitional housing shelters.
According to her statement on Jenesse’s website, she personally funded the first two of 15 planned remodels. One became Nahla’s World, a space for children to play, read, receive clothing and access therapeutic services. The second was an apartment renovated for a family, with new appliances and an updated heating system.