Halle Berry Appears Upbeat as She Returns to Court Amid Ongoing Custody Battle

Halle Berry appeared composed and in good spirits as she arrived at a Los Angeles courthouse Tuesday for the latest hearing in her custody dispute with ex-husband Olivier Martinez.

The Oscar-winning actor has firmly rejected Martinez’s allegations that she physically abused their 13-year-old son, Maceo.

Berry was seen smiling outside the courthouse during the increasingly contentious legal battle involving her former spouse.

She wore a restrained charcoal trouser suit over a checked blouse, completing the look with a coordinating scarf.

Her court appearance came shortly after her fiancé, Van Hunt, testified that Maceo allegedly shoved his mother during a heated confrontation at their home, according to court documents exclusively obtained by the Daily Mail.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Berry’s representative and attorney for comment.

Hunt, the only identified eyewitness to the September 26 incident involving Berry and her son, said in a public court declaration obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail that Berry shouted, “So, you’re going to fight me now?!” after Maceo allegedly refused to remove his Oculus virtual-reality headset.

In the declaration filed with Los Angeles Superior Court, Hunt said the teenager “aggressively resisted” when Berry attempted to take off the device. Maceo then allegedly threw the headset and shoved his mother, prompting Hunt to step in.

The Grammy-winning musician said Berry and Maceo were shouting at one another and appeared “on the verge of tears” before the teenager began calling his father and gathering his clothes.

Martinez, 60, is seeking sole custody of Maceo, claiming Berry “physically abused” their son in a bombshell filing submitted October 1.

A judge granted Martinez a temporary domestic-violence restraining order against Berry covering both him and their son. The order requires Berry to remain at least 100 yards away from Martinez.

Berry also temporarily lost her 50/50 custody arrangement on October 1. Under the current terms, she may see Maceo only during court-ordered visits twice a week and on alternating weekends.

Berry’s attorney, Marina Beck, told the Daily Mail that Martinez’s filing was “entirely meritless,” saying her client is “used to this kind of outrageous conduct” from him.

A judge has since approved Maceo’s testimony in the custody dispute later this month. Berry has repeatedly and vehemently denied the allegations against her.

Hunt alleged that Martinez had “emboldened” Maceo by allowing the teenager too much control over his own life.

In his declaration, Hunt described his fiancée as a “loving, attentive, highly engaged, forbearing mother” and said she had never been abusive.

He added that he and Maceo had formed a “close relationship” since he began dating Berry six years ago, including five years living together.

On September 26, the day of the alleged incident, Hunt said that Maceo was in ‘great spirits’ and that he and his mother went shopping for birthday gifts; he celebrated his 13th birthday on October 5.

They were back at home when Maceo when Berry went to the boy’s room with Hunt close behind her.

According to his statement, Hunt said he heard Berry say ‘Maceo,’ to which the boy gave a ‘monotone’ reply of ‘Yeh.’

Soon after Maceo called out Hunt’s name ‘playfully,’ which he took to mean his mother was tickling him, Hunt claims.

But then Hunt heard Berry tell Maceo twice that ‘you don’t have anything to prove’ – the second time with a ‘pleading’ in her voice that made Hunt go into the room, he said in the statement.

Hunt added: ‘Halle instructed Maceo to remove the Oculus and asked, ‘So, you’re going to fight me now?!’

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: JFK Airport Stages Eerie Plane Crash Drill With Screaming Actors

‘Maceo ignored her. Halle reached to remove the headset from over Maceo’s head, but Maceo aggressively resisted and then threw off the headset himself and shoved Halle. I immediately jumped in between them.

‘They started yelling at each other with me standing between them. Maceo began threatening to call Olivier.’

According to Hunt, this was the first time he had ever heard Maceo make such a threat.

He said in his statement: ‘I could also see that both Maceo and Halle were on the verge of tears – they both appeared like they wanted to work things out but didn’t know how; which was heartbreaking to see.

‘Maceo started calling Olivier [his father] and began packing some clothes. Halle did not want Maceo leaving home late in the evening or removing his belongings, but to de-escalate the situation, I encouraged Halle to allow Maceo some space and to take whatever belongings he wanted with him’.

Martinez arrived and took Maceo away. The boy came back to his mother’s house two days later, during which time, Hunt said, their interactions were ‘normal, positive and loving.’ 

According to Hunt, Berry and Martinez have long argued over how best to attend to Maceo’s ‘educational and mental health needs’ which include ‘behavioral challenges and impulse control issues.’

He also claims in the statement that Martinez has ’emboldened’ the boy by giving him too much control over his own life. 

Hunt said he has tried to mediate between Berry and Martinez, having ‘multi-hour conversations’ on the phone with the two.

But, according to Hunt, Martinez would not back down and once said: ‘When she [Berry] stops, I will stop.’

Hunt claimed Martinez resisted all of the suggestions to get help for his son and then changed his tune, claiming that Maceo should be the one to decide, even though he is still a minor.

After Maceo learned of this, he became ’emboldened’ and, after coming back from a visit to his father, he told Berry: ‘I should be the one to decide.’

In his declaration, Hunt also gave fresh insight into Berry’s relationship with Maceo and said they often wrestle with each other, adding that they like roughhousing together.

‘Their interactions are always loving and playful,’ Hunt said.

‘I have never witnessed Halle choke Maceo, place him in a headlock, put her hands around his neck, restrict his breathing, force him to “tap out” or make statements such as: “Who is dominant now?”‘ – a reference to Martinez’s claims.

The only time Hunt heard anyone use the word ‘dominant’ was Maceo when describing his performance after a soccer game.

But this became a source of frustration for Martinez, who chided Hunt for agreeing with Maceo’s concern that he wasn’t strong enough.

According to Hunt, Martinez told him he should ‘have let Maceo dream.’ 

‘I told him that Maceo has plenty of dreams, what he doesn’t need, especially from me – a person who really cares for him – is insincerity,’ Hunt said in the court papers.

Berry and Martinez finalized their divorce in 2023 after a bitter eight-year battle.

The Monster’s Ball star was ordered to pay Martinez $8,000 a month in child support and 4.3 percent of any income she received over $2 million in additional support.

The judge overseeing the case has imposed a restraining order against Berry and will determine if it will stay in place permanently.

Berry’s daughter Nahla Ariela, 18, has already submitted a declaration saying she had never seen her mom being abusive.