Halle Berry’s California custody battle with ex-husband Olivier Martinez has taken an alarming turn after he accused the actress of physically attacking their 12-year-old son.
Martinez made the allegations while seeking a restraining order against Berry in Los Angeles County. He claims the confrontation happened September 26 at Berry’s California home while their son, Maceo, was playing a virtual reality game.
According to Martinez’s court filing, Berry allegedly became angry during the incident before the disagreement turned physical.
He claims the Oscar-winning actress grabbed Maceo around the neck and choked him while demanding:
“Who is dominant now?!”
Berry strongly disputes Martinez’s version of events.
Martinez alleges Maceo wanted to leave Berry’s home after the confrontation and contacted his father to ask to be picked up.
Messages submitted during the custody fight reportedly show the 12-year-old repeatedly checking whether Martinez was coming before eventually pleading:
“Please come.”
Berry’s own alleged messages add another complicated layer. The following day, she reportedly told Martinez, “I feel terrible about what happened last night,” while asking him to encourage Maceo to speak with her.
That message does not establish that Martinez’s allegation that Berry choked their son is true.
A Los Angeles County judge has since granted Martinez a temporary restraining order covering himself and Maceo. Berry has not been completely cut off from her son, but her parenting time has temporarily been restricted while the dispute moves forward.
Berry’s attorney, Marina Beck, has forcefully rejected Martinez’s accusations, calling his filing “entirely meritless and deliberately misleading.”
Halle Berry’s Abuse Allegations Spark Heated Reactions Online
The explosive claims quickly divided people on social media, with some criticizing Berry while others warned against deciding what happened before the court hears from both parents.
“At 12 years old, the child can say what really happened,” one X user argued.
Another focused on how quickly people had taken sides.
“The way people are already picking sides and neither of them was in that room when it happened is exactly why this is gonna get so messy in court,” the user wrote, adding, “I hope that little boy is okay more than anything else.”
Others were considerably more blunt.
“Ask the kid who was choked,” one person wrote.
Another urged people to wait for more information, saying, “Serious allegations. Let the evidence and facts speak for themselves.”
Some commenters also began revisiting Berry’s past relationships amid the latest accusations.
“Wow. It seems to be a pattern in all her relationships,” one person claimed.
Another simply dismissed the latest celebrity family drama as “More Hollywood craziness.”
Martinez is seeking sole legal and physical custody of Maceo, while Berry continues to deny his abuse allegations.
The former couple is expected back in court October 16, when a judge can hear more from both sides before deciding whether the temporary restrictions should remain in place.
For now, Martinez’s accusations remain disputed allegations, not a final finding that Berry abused her son.
