Halle Berry’s court battle with ex-husband Olivier Martinez entered a third day of hearings on October 21, following his allegations that she physically abused their 13-year-old son, Maceo, last month. Berry denies the allegations. Martinez is seeking sole custody, while Berry wants their previous shared custody arrangement restored.
Berry arrived at the Los Angeles courthouse Wednesday and declined to answer reporters’ questions. According to Extra, she returned to the stand after testifying Tuesday. With courtroom proceedings closed to the press and public, much of the testimony remains confidential. Here’s what has been reported so far.
Who Has Testified?
Maceo testified Monday, October 19, the first day of this round of hearings. According to reporting, his testimony lasted nearly four hours. The judge permitted him to testify specifically about the request for a restraining order.
Berry’s daughter, Nahla Aubry, whose father is model Gabriel Aubry, and Berry’s fiancé, musician Van Hunt, have also taken the stand, according to Extra. The outlet did not specify the day each testified.
Nahla previously defended her mother in a written court declaration, stating, “I have never seen my mom hit, slap, choke, grab, or physically abuse Maceo in any way.” She described Berry as a devoted, affectionate parent who could be strict when necessary. Nahla also said Berry had not spoken negatively about either child’s father to them.
Separately, Page Six reported that Martinez abruptly left the courtroom Tuesday during closed testimony. An unnamed source disputed that characterization to Extra, saying Martinez and his attorney were taking a brief bathroom break. Because the testimony was closed, the competing descriptions should not be treated as evidence of what occurred inside.
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 income she receives 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.