Halle Berry’s camp insists the allegations are false and that she is the parent enforcing discipline, seeking to reinstate 50-50 custody.
Insiders describe the atmosphere as 'icy,' with Maceo reportedly avoiding his mother entirely during lunch breaks while appearing comfortable with his dad.
Martinez was granted a temporary restraining order on Oct. 1, 2026, alleging a Sept. 26 incident where Berry choked Maceo over VR goggles.
This isn't just a custody dispute; it's a public autopsy of a marriage where a 13-year-old is now the primary witness.
If you want drama, look no further than the Los Angeles Superior Court, where the air was reportedly so cold it could have frozen a volcano. On Monday, Halle Berry’s 13-year-old son, Maceo, took the stand for nearly three hours in a sealed hearing that has left the internet buzzing with speculation. The Oscar winner arrived with her fiancé, Van Hunt, and her legal team, dressed in a dark brown suit that screamed serious business, though eyewitnesses noted she appeared anxious at times.
The tension was palpable from the moment her ex-husband, Olivier Martinez, walked in with Maceo. According to reports, Martinez gave Berry a glare that could cut glass, and she returned the look right back from inside the courtroom. No pleasantries, no nods—just pure, unadulterated hostility.
The core of this legal battle is a temporary domestic violence restraining order granted to Martinez on October 1, 2026. The French actor accuses Berry of physically abusing their son during an incident on September 26, specifically alleging that she choked Maceo after an argument over virtual reality goggles. Martinez claims Berry called their son "such an idiot" for playing a game on the headset.
This isn't just about one bad day; Martinez alleges multiple instances of abuse over the past year and a half, seeking sole legal and physical custody of the teenager. Judge Shelley Kaufman ordered the courtroom cleared for Maceo’s testimony to keep it sealed, but the details leaking out paint a picture of a family fracturing under the weight of these accusations. While the courtroom proceedings were tense, reports from the lunch break offer a chilling glimpse into the dynamic between the teen and his parents.
Dressed casually in a graphic T-shirt, shorts, and Crocs, Maceo reportedly appeared comfortable and happy while talking to his dad. However, sources indicate he did not engage with his mother during the break. This visual of a son choosing his father over his mother, whether by force of circumstance or genuine preference, is the kind of detail that fuels the fire.
Meanwhile, Berry’s daughter, Nahla Aubry, 18, has stepped in with a court declaration, stating she was "shocked" by the claims and has never seen her mom act aggressively toward Maceo. The legal stakes are incredibly high. Berry is vehemently denying the abuse allegations, arguing that Martinez is escalating a bitter custody dispute and turning their son against her.
She has asked the judge to lift the temporary restrictions and reinstate 50-50 custody, while also seeking to preserve her authority over Maceo’s education and mental health treatment decisions. Martinez’s lawyer, Patrick Baghdaserians, told Page Six that his client is a "great, loving father" who only wants the best for his son. With the hearing potentially continuing into Tuesday, the verdict on who is telling the truth—and who is truly protecting Maceo—remains in the hands of the judge. The receipts are being tallied, and the public is watching every move.
