Halle Berry responds to ex-husband's 'meritless' accusations she 'choked' 12-year-old son
Halle Berry responds to ex-husband's 'meritless' accusations she 'choked' 12-year-old son
Demetria Osei-Tutu, Angelica Cheyenne Fri, October 2, 2026 at 2:20 AM UTC
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Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez split up in 2015 (Image: WireImage)
Halle Berry faces allegations of choking her 12-year-old son by her former partner, Olivier Martinez - and the Hollywood star has responded forcefully.
The 60-year-old French actor and the 60-year-old Hollywood starlet share a son, Maceo, whom they co-parent following their separation in 2015. TMZ initially reported that Martinez sought a restraining order against Berry for allegedly physically harming their child on September 26. Based on court filings, Berry was accused of lunging at Maceo and placing her hands around his throat during the alleged incident.
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Martinez also claimed that Berry's fiancé, Van Hunt, was present when the incident occurred. Berry confirmed her engagement to Hunt in February 2026; the couple has been together for six years.
The Oscar-winning actress's attorney, Marina Beck, addressed the restraining order and the accusations leveled by her former spouse.
Martinez and Berry share son Maceo (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Berry's attorney told the Express US, "To say this filing is entirely meritless and deliberately misleading would be an understatement."
The statement continued, "There is voluminous evidence, including numerous judicial rulings, that Olivier Martinez repeatedly violated court orders and interfered with necessary therapeutic and educational interventions to the detriment of his and Halle Berry's minor son Maceo - misconduct for which Mr. Martinez has already been legally sanctioned."
"In a way, today's filing is not entirely unexpected from an individual with a well-documented history of erratic, possessive and violent behavior," the lawyer's official statement went on to state.
Halle Berry's lawyer has denied her ex's allegations (Image: Getty)
Beck's statement to the Express US concluded, "Fortunately, Halle is used to this kind of outrageous conduct from Mr. Martinez and, while she is deeply saddened, she will not allow it to deter her from fighting for Maceo's best interests and providing him with the love and support he needs."
The court filings, obtained by Page Six, reveal that Martinez said the alleged incident began with a dispute between Halle and Maceo, when the Catwoman actress told the boy he looked "so stupid" and was "such an idiot" for playing a game with his virtual reality goggles.
"The situation escalated and Petitioner jumped on our son and started physically fighting with him," Martinez alleged in the court documents. "She grabbed Maceo by the neck and started choking him while shouting, 'Who is dominant now? ! Who is dominant?!,'" Martinez claimed.
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Martinez stated that Maceo phoned him in distress to pick him up following the alleged incident with his mother and informed his father he didn't want to return to her residence because he is "traumatized."
Martinez also alleged that Berry has been abusive toward Maceo on multiple occasions. "Throughout the last year and a half, Ms Berry had wrestled Maceo to the ground and forced him to 'tap out," he claimed in the court filings.
He alleged that Berry has inflicted mental and emotional harm on their son through racially-charged comments she has directed at him.
Martinez referenced an alleged incident in 2025, when Berry told Maceo that his father is "a white b---- trying to rob a black woman," in reference to their child support disputes.
"Ms. Berry then asked our son, 'How do you feel about that as a Black man?'" Martinez alleged.
Following their eight-year contentious legal battle-where they finalized their divorce after their breakup in 2015-the pair reached an agreement on joint legal custody, with Berry paying Martinez $8,000 monthly in child support, according to PEOPLE.
The former beauty pageant winner was obligated to pay him "4.3% of any income she receives above $2,000,000" in additional support.
Martinez additionally alleged that he has "significant concerns" about Berry's mental health," as well as her alcohol abuse, which I believe have contributed to her abusive conduct."
Alongside the restraining order filed for himself and Maceo, Martinez is seeking sole custody of the tween.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
