Halle Berry’s 13-year-old son, Maceo, spent nearly three hours testifying Monday in a Los Angeles courtroom amid his parents’ ongoing custody battle. Judge Shelley Kaufman cleared the courtroom for his testimony, keeping the teenager’s statements out of public view.
The October 19 hearing centered on a domestic violence restraining order sought by Maceo’s father, Olivier Martinez. Court documents show Kaufman permitted the teenager to testify only about the restraining order request. What Maceo actually said, which questions he answered, and whether he supported either parent’s account have not been publicly disclosed.
Page Six reported that Berry arrived with her fiancé, musician Van Hunt, and her attorneys, while Martinez attended with Maceo and his legal team. Eyewitnesses described the atmosphere as “icy,” with the former spouses appearing to exchange tense looks.
Martinez’s attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, defended his client in a statement to Page Six.
“Olivier is a great, loving father. He is very caring and only wants the best for his son.”
The restraining order stems from Martinez’s accusations about a September 26 confrontation at Berry’s home. According to filings, Martinez alleged that Berry grabbed Maceo by the neck and choked him during a disagreement involving virtual reality goggles. He also alleged other incidents of mistreatment over an extended period.
Martinez’s additional allegation is that Berry called Maceo “such an idiot” over his use of the headset. These accusations appear in Martinez’s filings and should not be confused with statements from the teenager’s sealed testimony.
Berry disputes the account. The actress said she told Maceo to stop playing, began recording him on her phone, and later engaged in “playfully roughhousing” after he approached and grabbed the device. She denied putting her hands around his neck or restricting his breathing.
Berry’s filing also challenged the interpretation of a photograph taken around the incident. She argued that the image did not show injuries supporting the choking allegation and said Hunt, who was present, did not observe neck bruising or redness.
In his petition, Martinez submitted alleged text messages between the parents. One message attributed to Berry read, “I feel terrible about what happened last night as I know he does as well.” The message does not independently establish what occurred during the confrontation.
In a declaration reported by Entertainment Weekly, Berry stated, “I have never physically, emotionally, or otherwise abused Maceo.”
She added, “I am not a perpetrator of violence. I would never hurt our child.”
The teenager’s participation became another dispute in the custody battle. Martinez said Maceo wanted to tell the judge his version of events. Berry objected, alleging that her former husband had discussed the case with their son and that the teenager had been “coached and manipulated.” Martinez rejected that allegation through his attorney.
Kaufman nevertheless authorized the testimony. As previously reported by Baller Alert, the court directed that “The minor child shall not be coached” and limited his appearance to the restraining order request. That ruling established the legal boundaries of Monday’s testimony without revealing his private answers.
Berry’s daughter, 18-year-old Nahla Aubry, also submitted a declaration defending her mother. Nahla was “shocked” by Martinez’s accusations and said she had never seen Berry act aggressively toward Maceo.
The dispute has already changed Berry’s time with her son. The Los Angeles Times reported that Martinez received a temporary protective order on October 1 and that the court restricted Berry’s contact and visitation. Martinez is seeking sole legal and physical custody, while Berry wants the restraining order denied and their previous shared custody arrangement restored.
Their custody battle began well before these allegations. According to the Los Angeles Times, Berry and Martinez married in 2013, separated in 2015, and finalized their divorce in August 2023. Their settlement provided for shared custody and required Berry to pay $8,000 monthly in child support, plus additional support tied to her earnings.
Parenting disagreements continued after the divorce. The former spouses agreed to parenting therapy in May 2024, but Berry later accused Martinez of refusing to continue sessions. A judge initially denied her emergency enforcement request because the matter was not deemed urgent. Martinez disputed her broader claims.
Berry also sought greater authority over decisions involving Maceo’s education and counseling, arguing that Martinez was interfering with services she believed their son needed. According to the Los Angeles Times, Martinez challenged her characterization of their parenting disagreements.
No final ruling had been publicly announced on the restraining order request or the competing custody demands. The hearing could continue Tuesday, October 20.
why would she be recording him on her phone before a fight even began?