Halle Berry’s daughter, Nahla Aubry, has come to her mother’s defense in a court declaration, saying she has never witnessed the actress physically abuse her 13-year-old son, Maceo, amid an ongoing custody dispute with Berry’s ex-husband, Olivier Martinez.
Nahla, 18, made the statements in a declaration filed on October 3 in Los Angeles Superior Court, according to PEOPLE. Her response follows allegations made by Martinez, who sought sole custody of Maceo after accusing Berry of physically abusing their son in an incident on September 26.
“I have never seen my mom hit, slap, choke, grab, or physically abuse Maceo in any way,” Nahla wrote.
The teenager also denied witnessing conduct resembling the specific allegations outlined in the dispute, including claims that Berry placed her hands around Maceo’s neck or restricted his breathing. Her statements reflect her personal observations and do not, by themselves, establish what happened during the alleged incident.
Nahla described Berry as a devoted parent who provides stability, guidance and support to her children. She acknowledged that her mother can be strict about household rules but said she had never observed anything abusive about Berry’s parenting.
“She attended his games, drove him to practices and tournaments, and advocated for his education and access to medical treatment and therapy,” Nahla wrote, describing how her mother remained involved in the children’s lives despite her demanding public career.
Nahla also said Berry encouraged her and Maceo to maintain relationships with their fathers. She shares Nahla with model Gabriel Aubry, while Maceo is Berry’s son with Martinez.
The declaration also included Nahla’s recollection of an alleged physical confrontation between Martinez and Gabriel Aubry when she was younger. That account is Nahla’s allegation and has not been independently established by the material provided.
She further described seeing Berry and Maceo playfully wrestling and tickling each other, saying she had not observed Maceo appearing hurt or distressed after those interactions.
Nahla said she was shocked and upset when she learned of Martinez’s accusations. She also expressed concern about the effect the legal proceedings could have on her younger brother and his relationship with their mother.
The custody dispute has already affected Berry’s parenting time. According to PEOPLE, Martinez obtained a temporary restraining order on October 1 that restricted Berry to daytime visits with Maceo ahead of a scheduled October 16 hearing.
Martinez said his actions were motivated by concern for their son’s safety and welfare. In a statement to PEOPLE, he urged Berry to take responsibility for whatever happened during the alleged incident. Berry has denied abusing Maceo and has said she is a victim of domestic violence herself.
Berry’s legal team declined to comment to PEOPLE on Nahla’s declaration. The allegations remain part of an ongoing legal dispute, and the competing accounts should not be treated as a final determination of what occurred.
For now, Nahla has made her position clear: based on what she says she has witnessed while living with her mother and brother, she disputes the allegations against Berry and is concerned about the impact the custody battle is having on her family.
