Actor Olivier Martinez has filed a petition for a temporary restraining order against Halle Berry, alleging she abused their 12-year-old son Maceo.
According to the filing, Martinez claims that on September 26, Berry “physically abused our son Maceo, by jumping on him, putting her hands around his neck and choking him.” He is seeking sole custody, which would modify their current custody arrangement. The couple divorced in 2015 after two years of marriage.
Martinez also alleges “other instances of abuse over the course of the last few years” involving physical attacks against their son as well as verbal and emotional abuse directed at Martinez himself. He specifically references an incident in which he claims Berry told their son that Martinez was “a white bitch trying to rob a Black woman” due to child support issues and asked their son, “How do you feel about that as a Black man?” Martinez stated that Berry subsequently texted him to apologize for that incident.
In the filing, Martinez wrote that he does not want to “permanently sever the relationship between our son and (Berry),” but believes their son should not interact with her “until Petitioner can take sufficient accountability for her actions.” He also requested that Berry be ordered to not be under the influence of alcohol or other substances while conducting visitation with their son, and stated he believes their son “may be traumatized by the incident” and does not want to spend time at her house.
Berry’s attorney Marina Beck responded with a statement calling the filing “entirely meritless and deliberately misleading.” Beck stated there is “voluminous evidence, including numerous judicial rulings, that Olivier Martinez repeatedly violated court orders and interfered with necessary therapeutic and educational interventions to the detriment of his and Halle Berry’s minor son Maceo.” Beck added that Martinez has “already been legally sanctioned” for such misconduct.
Beck’s statement also characterized Martinez as having “a well-documented history of erratic, possessive and violent behavior” and said Berry is “deeply saddened” but remains committed to “fighting for Maceo’s best interests and providing him with the love and support he needs.”
Key facts
- Martinez alleges Berry physically abused Maceo on Sept. 26 by choking him
- Martinez is seeking sole custody of the 12-year-old
- Berry’s attorney denies the allegations and cites prior court rulings against Martinez
- Martinez also alleges other incidents of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse over several years
- Berry and Martinez divorced in 2015 after two years of marriage