Halle Berry is opposing her ex-husband Olivier Martinez’s request for their 13-year-old son, Maceo, to testify in their ongoing custody battle, arguing that the teenager may have been influenced by his father while the court considers allegations of abuse.
According to court documents obtained by People, the Oscar-winning actress believes the court should carefully evaluate whether Maceo’s account of a September incident has been affected by discussions about the case. Martinez, meanwhile, argues that their son deserves an opportunity to explain what he says he experienced.
The dispute centers on an alleged incident on September 26 that prompted Martinez to seek a domestic violence restraining order against Berry. The actress has denied physically abusing their son, and the allegations have not been established as fact in court.
In a declaration cited by People, Berry claimed Maceo had spent the preceding two weeks primarily in his father’s care. She also alleged that Martinez had discussed the legal proceedings with the teenager, raising concerns about the potential influence on his testimony.
Berry urged the court to exercise caution when evaluating testimony from a child who, she claimed, had been repeatedly discussing the case with the parent seeking custody relief.
The actress also argued that the court should give greater consideration to testimony from adults with direct knowledge of the September incident.
Berry identified her fiancé, musician Van Hunt, as the only adult third-party eyewitness and pointed to her daughter, 18-year-old Nahla Aubry, as another person with firsthand knowledge of the family’s circumstances.
Nahla previously submitted a declaration supporting her mother in response to the abuse allegations. She described Berry as a supportive parent and said she had never witnessed her behave violently toward anyone.
Martinez, however, maintains that Maceo should have the opportunity to speak directly to the court.
In his court filing, the French actor said their son wanted to discuss the September incident and express his preferences regarding custody.
“He should have the opportunity to have his voice heard regarding what he experienced that night,” Martinez wrote.
His attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, also rejected Berry’s suggestion that the teenager had been coached or manipulated.
“We vehemently deny such allegations. The child is the primary victim here. Victims of abuse should be able to testify regarding the abuse inflicted upon them,” Baghdaserians told People.
He further argued that preventing Maceo from addressing the court could discourage him from reporting problems or potential abuse in the future.
The competing arguments come after Martinez alleged that Berry physically attacked their son on September 26, including placing her hands around his neck and choking him. Berry has denied the allegations, while her legal team has described Martinez’s claims as misleading and without merit.
A judge previously granted a temporary restraining order and modified Berry’s visitation arrangements while the case proceeds. Martinez is seeking sole legal and physical custody of Maceo.
Berry and Martinez married in 2013 and separated in 2015. Their divorce was finalized in August 2023, after which they shared custody of their son. Berry was also ordered to pay Martinez $8,000 per month in child support.
The latest dispute puts the question of Maceo’s participation in the proceedings at the center of the case. Whether the teenager will testify remains unresolved in the supplied information, as both parents continue to present competing accounts of what happened and what they believe is best for their son.
