Halle Berry Accuses Ex Olivier Martinez of Coaching Their Son Amid Bitter Custody Battle

Halle Berry has urged a court not to place significant weight on her 13-year-old son’s potential testimony in an escalating custody dispute with ex-husband Olivier Martinez, alleging that the actor has been coaching and manipulating the teenager.

In her latest court filing, the Monster’s Ball Oscar winner accused Martinez of discussing the allegations, ongoing litigation and his anticipated testimony with their son, Maceo, while the boy has been primarily in his father’s care over the past two weeks.

Berry also argued that the court should consider testimony from her fiancé, Van Hunt, whom she described as the only adult eyewitness to the incident at the centre of the dispute, as well as her daughter, Nahla Aubry. Nahla, whom Berry shares with ex-partner Gabriel Aubry, has publicly supported her mother, saying the allegations are inconsistent with the parent she has known throughout her life.

Martinez’s attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, strongly rejected Berry’s position, insisting that Maceo should have the opportunity to tell the court what he experienced. He argued that hearing the teenager’s account is essential to establishing the facts and ensuring the child feels able to report potential abuse in the future.

The legal battle intensified in September 2026, when Martinez accused Berry of physically abusing their son, alleging that she jumped on him, grabbed his neck and choked him. He subsequently sought full custody and an emergency restraining order. The order was granted the following day, temporarily restricting Berry’s contact with Martinez and Maceo.

Berry has vehemently denied the allegations, stating in a court declaration that she has never physically or emotionally abused her son. She also described herself as a survivor of domestic violence and rejected any suggestion that she would harm her child.

The former couple, who married in 2013 and divorced in 2016, finalised their divorce in 2023 with a 50-50 custody arrangement. The latest dispute has now placed their son’s welfare and the question of his testimony at the centre of a contentious legal fight.

Both sides maintain sharply opposing accounts of the events in question, leaving the court to weigh the allegations and determine what arrangement best serves Maceo’s interests.