Halle Berry’s 18-year-old daughter, Nahla Aubry, has spoken out in defense of her mother after Berry’s former husband, Olivier Martinez, alleged in a court filing that the actress had abused their 13-year-old son, Maceo.
Nahla, whose father is Berry’s former partner Gabriel Aubry, 50, said she had “never witnessed her act violently toward anyone,” according to a declaration filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court and reviewed by The Daily Mail.
The declaration came days after Martinez, 60, secured a temporary domestic violence restraining order against Berry. The order followed his claims that she abused Maceo during a September 26 incident involving alleged choking. Berry has denied all of the allegations.
“I have also never seen my mom throw anything at anyone, not a knife, or plate, or any other object,” Nahla said. “I have never seen my mom hit, slap, choke, grab, or physically abuse Maceo in any way.”
Nahla said she had often seen Berry and Maceo playfully wrestle, tickle each other and roll around laughing on the floor or a bed.
She added that she had never witnessed Berry, 60, engage in “any conduct remotely resembling the allegations that have been made against her.”
The Daily Mail contacted legal representatives for both Berry and Martinez for comment. Berry’s representatives said, “We believe the filing speaks for itself (including Nahla Aubry’s declaration) and have no further comment.”
Halle Berry’s daughter Nahla Aubry, 18, has defended her mother after Olivier Martinez alleged that Berry abused their 13-year-old son, Maceo. Berry is pictured with Nahla (right) in 2022
In her declaration, Nahla described Berry, 60, as “a loving and devoted parent” who “can be strict when necessary and expects her children to follow rules and be respectful.” Berry is pictured in New York City in September
Nahla characterized her mother as “a loving and devoted parent” who could be strict when needed while expecting her children to follow rules and show respect.
She said she had lived with Maceo for years before moving from California to Massachusetts to attend college.
According to Nahla, Berry has always encouraged both children to maintain loving relationships with their fathers and has never spoken negatively about either Aubry or Martinez.
Nahla also described Berry as “warm, supportive, and deeply involved in our lives,” despite the demands of her career.
“No matter how demanding her career has been, she always made time for me and prioritized what was important to me. I have watched her do the same for Maceo,” Nahla said. “She attended his games, drove him to practices and tournaments, and advocated for his education and access to medical treatment and therapy.”
“She celebrates our successes, supports us through challenges, and is always there when we need her,” Nahla added.
Nahla said she was “shocked, very sad, and very upset” when she learned of Martinez’s allegations against Berry.
“Having lived with my mom my entire life and having personally observed her relationship with Maceo for years, the allegations are completely inconsistent with the mom I know,” she said.
Berry and her daughter Nahla are pictured together in Los Angeles in 2019
The developments followed Martinez’s successful request for a temporary domestic violence restraining order against Berry over his claims concerning a September 26 incident involving alleged choking. Berry has denied the allegations; Martinez is pictured in 2016
Berry completed the mandated online parenting program Our Children First on Tuesday amid the ongoing custody dispute. Berry and Martinez are pictured in Los Angeles in October 2012
Nahla claimed in the declaration that she was ‘heartbroken for Maceo’ and it pained her ‘to see him become the subject of a public dispute that he may not fully understand.’
She added in the declaration, ‘I am also angry that Olivier did not respect or care about me enough to subject me to headlines about my mom. I feel like I am an afterthought for Olivier in his quest to destroy my mom.’
On Tuesday, Berry finished a mandated online parenting program called Our Children First amid the ongoing custody battle. The Daily Mail reviewed documents confirming the news on Wednesday.
The next hearing in the case is slated for October 16.
Berry previously requested her 50/50 arrangement with Martinez be reinstated in a series of legal filings she made Monday after he was granted primary custody of their son.
She also characterized herself as a victim of domestic violence in response to allegations she had gotten physically abusive with the boy.
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In a request filed with Los Angeles Superior Court reviewed by the Daily Mail, Berry asked the court to reinstate the past custody arrangement that she and Martinez had in 2023.
The Oscar-winning star requested the court make her the tie-breaking authority and require Martinez to take part in therapy sessions the court has ordered.
Berry said in an ex parte application filed Monday that she herself is ‘a victim of domestic violence’ and advocate for victims.
The two wed in 2013 – the same year they welcomed their son Maceo Robert – and split in 2016; The former pair seen in 2012 in LA at an event
‘I have never physically, emotionally, or otherwise abused Maceo,’ Berry said in the court filing. ‘I am a victim of domestic violence, and I help victims of domestic violence. I am not a perpetrator of violence. I would never hurt our child.’
In her legal request on Monday, Berry outlined a series of concerns she has with ‘Olivier’s conduct’ and how it impacts their ability in her co-parenting arrangement.
She said in the legal request that he had ‘continued’ to make ‘unilateral’ decisions ‘with respect to Maceo’s education and extracurricular activities’ without her ‘prior knowledge and consent.’
Berry claimed in the request that Martinez ‘consistently places Maceo… in the middle of our conflict’ and interferes with their therapeutic work.
Berry said in the legal request that their son would ‘act out’ and be ‘angry and combative’ following visits with his father.
‘He would talk back to me, be untruthful, and do sneaky things (last year, I caught Maceo reading my text messages while on FaceTime with Olivier),’ she claimed in the court filing. ‘It took Maceo 2-3 days to acclimate to being at home and when he would go back to Olivier, the cycle would start all over again.’
The actress said in the legal filing that Martinez has sought to ‘align Maceo with him and against me in many areas of our child’s life and activities which causes Maceo to be angry with me about private issues relating to Maceo which Olivier and I are discussing at the same time.’
Berry in the legal request claimed that her son would ‘repeat disputes’ over issues she and Martinez spoke about privately and take his father’s side.
‘If the dispute related to a decision regarding Maceo (for example, about soccer, school, or therapy), Maceo knew about it before Olivier and I reached a decision with respect to a particular issue and would tell me what he and Olivier are going to do (without my input) completely disregarding my authority as his mother,’ Berry said in the legal request.
Berry told the court in the filing that Martinez has refused to take needed steps to obtain ‘educational and psychoeducational services’ for their son, and leverages ‘Maceo’s soccer activities… for negotiating terms impacting Maceo’s educational and therapeutic needs.’
Martinez has tried to paint Berry as ‘a risk to our child by communicating false stories’ to his teachers and therapists, Berry claimed in the request.
Berry shares Nahla with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry; The two pictured in 2009
Berry has been engaged to musician Van Hunt since earlier this year (pictured in February last year)
Berry told the court in the request that Martinez’s ‘actions and lack of cooperation with respect to Maceo’s psychological and educational needs have been detrimental to Maceo’s health and welfare.’
The actress said in the legal filing that Martinez’s refusal ‘to allow early interventions have caused Maceo to fall further behind in school, caused Maceo’s acting out behaviors to worsen, and caused further damage to’ her relationship with her son.
‘Olivier told me that Maceo is old enough to make decisions for himself and that I should allow Maceo to do so to keep him happy so that he would be nicer to me,’ Berry told the court in the request. ‘While I am attuned to Maceo’s thoughts and feelings and encourage an open dialogue, I do not agree that a [child] should be permitted to make decisions regarding his education, health, extracurricular activities, and general welfare.’
Berry claimed in the legal request that time and legal intervention ‘has not improved’ Martinez’s actions related to the issues at hand.
She added that Martinez has refused to accept her relationship with fiance Van Hunt, who she claimed ‘plays an important role in Maceo’s life.’
Berry said in the request: ‘Olivier’s lack of acceptance of Van has resulted in Olivier refusing to permit Maceo to work in a family therapy setting with me and Van as a means to continue to create a healthy environment for our son within the structure of a blended family.’
Berry and Martinez were married for just three years and endured a bitter custody battle over their son. The pair met on set of Dark Tide, which was filming in South Africa in 2010.
The two wed in 2013 – the same year they welcomed their son – and split in 2016. The couple’s divorce was finalized in 2023, with the outcome being joint custody and Berry paying child support.