Key Takeaways
- Halle Berry denied ever abusing her 13-year-old son, Maceo, and described their disputed September 26 confrontation as roughhousing.
- Maceo testified privately for nearly four hours after Olivier Martinez accused Berry of choking him and secured a temporary restraining order limiting her contact.
- Martinez wants sole custody, while Berry seeks to restore their 50-50 arrangement and accuses her ex of interfering with Maceo’s education, therapy, and relationship with her.
Halle Berry's 13-year-old son spent nearly four hours testifying behind closed doors on Monday, October 19, as the Oscar winner's increasingly bitter custody battle with ex-husband Olivier Martinez erupted into another courtroom showdown. The former couple reportedly exchanged dirty looks during the hearing in Los Angeles, where their son, Maceo, took the stand over allegations that Berry physically abused him.
According to Page Six, Berry arrived at Los Angeles Superior Court with her attorneys and fiancé, musician Van Hunt, while Martinez showed up with Maceo and his legal team. Witnesses described the atmosphere as "icy," with Martinez reportedly glaring at Berry and the actress returning the look.
But the real drama unfolded away from public view.
Judge Shelley Kaufman cleared the courtroom before Maceo testified, keeping the teenager's account sealed. His testimony lasted nearly four hours, interrupted by a lunch break during which he was seen chatting comfortably with his father. Page Six reported that Maceo did not interact with Berry during the proceedings.
"Olivier is a great, loving father," Martinez's attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, told Page Six. "He is very caring and only wants the best for his son."
The hearing follows Martinez's explosive allegations that Berry choked Maceo during a September 26 confrontation over a virtual reality headset. In court documents, Martinez accused Berry of calling their son "such an idiot" for playing a game before allegedly grabbing him by the neck.
Martinez also claims the alleged confrontation wasn't an isolated incident, accusing Berry of physically mistreating Maceo on multiple occasions over the past 18 months.
Berry has vehemently denied the allegations, saying she and Maceo were roughhousing, not fighting.
"I have never physically, emotionally, or otherwise abused Maceo," Berry stated in an earlier court filing. "I would never hurt our child."
Martinez obtained a temporary restraining order on October 1, restricting Berry's contact with Maceo. He's now seeking sole legal and physical custody, while Berry wants the order lifted and their previous 50-50 custody arrangement restored.
The actress has also accused Martinez of interfering with Maceo's educational and therapeutic needs and attempting to turn their son against her. She wants to retain final decision-making authority over his education and mental health treatment when the parents disagree.
Berry's daughter, 18-year-old Nahla Aubry, has also entered the dispute. In a sworn declaration, Nahla said she was "shocked" by the allegations and had never witnessed her mother physically abuse Maceo.
