‘X-Men’ Star Halle Berry Responds to Olivier Martinez’s Abuse Claims in Custody Battle

Celebrity custody battles often unfold behind closed doors, but when court documents become public, the details can quickly gain traction. The ongoing case between Halle Berry and her ex, Olivier Martinez, has turned into one of those high-profile stories. Central to this dispute is their 13-year-old son, Maceo, with no court finding yet regarding the allegations.

Since their divorce was finalized in 2023 after an eight-year legal struggle, Berry and Martinez have been co-parenting Maceo under a joint custody agreement. However, that arrangement is now under pressure. Martinez recently filed for sole custody, claiming that Berry physically abused Maceo during an alleged incident at her home on September 26.

In newly obtained court documents from TMZ, Berry is contesting a key piece of evidence presented by Martinez: a photo he claims Maceo took of her after the incident. Berry asserts that the image does not substantiate any wrongdoing on her part.

In new court docs, obtained by TMZ, Halle fires back at Olivier’s claim that their 13-year-old son Maceo snapped the picture to prove “something happened” during last month’s alleged physical altercation. https://t.co/V4FZxtqax4

— TMZ (@TMZ) October 13, 2026

According to the filing, Berry describes the photo as depicting her standing calmly with her hands in her pockets, several feet away from Maceo. She argues that there is no evidence of bruising, redness, or injury to support the claim that she harmed him. Martinez contends that the photo indicates that something occurred between mother and son.

Berry also defends her boyfriend, Van Hunt, who previously stated he did not observe any marks on Maceo. She claims Martinez is misrepresenting those words to imply that Hunt inspected the boy for injuries, when he merely noted he saw none. Berry accuses Martinez of selectively presenting messages and omitting critical details to portray her negatively.

Martinez has alleged that Maceo claimed Berry harmed him during a dispute over a virtual reality game. Berry denies this allegation, stating that she and her son were merely roughhousing before things escalated. She insists she would never harm her child.

Berry’s attorney, Marina Beck, has labeled Martinez’s filing as entirely baseless and intentionally misleading. Her team also asserts that Martinez has repeatedly violated court orders and disrupted therapeutic and educational interventions for their son. Martinez disputes these claims, calling Berry’s emergency filing retaliatory.

In his latest court filing, Martinez states that Maceo wishes to testify and share his custody preferences and what allegedly transpired. He argues that the teenager deserves to express his perspective before the court makes further decisions. Martinez has also claimed that Maceo fears he won’t be believed, which is why the photo was taken.

Determining how a court should consider a child’s wishes is a delicate issue in family law. Judges typically evaluate a child’s age, maturity, and the circumstances before deciding whether and how to hear from them. No ruling on that request has been reported yet.

Earlier this month, Martinez secured a temporary restraining order against Berry, who subsequently filed an emergency request on October 5 to restore their 50-50 custody arrangement. Following her response, the judge clarified that Berry retains final decision-making authority regarding Maceo’s mental health and education. Reports indicate that Berry has also completed a court-mandated parenting program.

It is crucial to note that none of the allegations have been substantiated, and no court has determined that Berry abused her son. The parents are scheduled to return to court on Friday, where further decisions may be made. Until then, the conflicting narratives remain just that: narratives presented in legal filings.

While stories like this can quickly become a public spectacle, it’s essential to remember that a young person is at the center of it. The documents reveal a family navigating a painful, protracted dispute, with details that most families would prefer to keep private. This underscores the importance of treating the claims with caution and recognizing that they are still under judicial scrutiny.

For now, both parties are presenting their cases through their attorneys and legal documents. Berry’s team asserts that the allegations lack merit, while Martinez’s side insists that the child’s account warrants consideration.

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