A court has ordered a restraining order against actress Halle Berry after her ex-husband, Olivier Martinez, accused her of abusive behavior toward their son, Maceo Robert Martinez. Martinez asserts that this is not the first occurrence of such behavior.
Allegations of Abuse
Martinez, known for his roles in French films, reported that their son Maceo called him to pick him up from Berry’s residence, claiming she had yelled at him and engaged in physical aggression. According to court documents reviewed, Martinez alleges Berry, who has martial arts training, has repeatedly put their son in a chokehold.
“There have been numerous occasions where [Berry] has unexpectedly grabbed our son’s neck, forcing him to ‘tap out,'” Martinez claimed.
A judge has provisionally restricted Berry’s custody to unsupervised daytime visits. There has not been a final legal decision on the veracity of these allegations.
Response from Berry’s Legal Team
Berry’s attorney, Marina Beck, refuted the claims, calling them “entirely meritless and deliberately misleading.” Beck stated that Berry remains committed to her son’s wellbeing despite these accusations.
Newsweek attempted to reach Beck for further comment.
History of Legal Disputes
The couple, who married in 2013, has engaged in prolonged legal battles despite their marriage ending in 2016. Disputes over custody, child support, and related issues continued for years.
October 2015: Divorce Filings
The divorce filings cited irreconcilable differences, with both parents initially seeking joint custody.
December 2016: Official Divorce
Their marriage was legally dissolved by the end of 2016.
August 2023: Custody Agreement
A settlement was reached, granting shared custody and setting child support terms.
Recent Incident Details
Martinez described a recent incident where Maceo contacted him during a traumatic night, reporting that Berry physically attacked him. Maceo described a situation where Berry allegedly pushed and insulted him while he was using a Virtual Reality headset.
Text Messages
Text exchanges between Berry and Martinez revealed a tense conversation following the incident. Berry expressed regret over the episode and sought to communicate with Maceo.
Martinez’s Additional Claims
Martinez alleges ongoing abuse, including incidents where Berry allegedly slapped and choked Maceo. He expressed concern for Maceo’s safety, citing potential for severe harm from these actions.
He also mentioned instances of verbal and emotional abuse, highlighting past confrontations.
Details of the Restraining Order
The restraining order demands Berry refrain from threatening or assaulting Martinez and Maceo, includes a no-contact clause, and enforces a 100-yard distance requirement, except for sanctioned visits. Berry is allowed unsupervised visits on specified days.
The temporary order is valid until a court hearing on October 16.