Halle Berry’s fiancé Van Hunt testified on her behalf in closed-door court proceedings last month, standing by the Oscar winner as she fights abuse allegations from ex-husband Olivier Martinez.
Berry, 60, and Hunt, 56, were spotted heading to lunch at The Bird Streets Club in West Hollywood just days after a judge denied Martinez’s bid for a permanent domestic violence restraining order against her. The musician has emerged as a steady presence throughout the contentious legal showdown, even taking the witness stand in Los Angeles Superior Court to support his fiancée.
“Van has really been Halle’s rock through all of this,” a source said. “He’s been by her side throughout the whole custody battle and restraining order situation.”
The insider continued: “It’s obviously been an incredibly difficult and stressful time for her, but he’s been such a calming presence and a huge source of strength.”
“He’s been incredibly supportive through everything, and having someone like him to lean on has made a big difference for her,” the source added.
Berry’s 18-year-old daughter Nahla, whom she shares with ex Gabriel Aubry, also testified in support of her mother during the proceedings.
The legal battle centers on Martinez’s accusation that Berry choked their 13-year-old son Maceo during an alleged altercation at her home on Sept. 26. A judge granted Martinez a temporary domestic violence restraining order last month, giving him primary custody of Maceo and restricting Berry’s time with their son while the case moved forward.
Berry has vehemently denied the allegations through her attorney, Marina Beck, who previously stated that Martinez’s claims were “entirely meritless and deliberately misleading.”
In court documents filed ahead of the hearing, Berry’s legal team accused Martinez of interfering with their son’s education and therapeutic care and involving the teenager in their ongoing legal disputes. The “Catwoman” star asked the court to dismiss Martinez’s restraining order request and lift the temporary restrictions on her contact with Maceo.
She is also seeking sole legal custody, which would give her greater authority over decisions involving their son’s education, medical care and mental health, as well as the restoration of their previous 50-50 physical custody arrangement.
On Oct. 29, a judge dissolved the temporary domestic violence restraining order against the “Monster’s Ball” star and denied Martinez’s request to make it permanent. However, Martinez retained primary physical custody of Maceo, while Berry’s parenting time remained limited to daytime visits without overnight stays.
The ruling marked a partial victory for Berry, who had been fighting to have the restraining order dismissed and restore the former couple’s previous shared custody arrangement. Beck welcomed the decision, saying Berry remained focused on her family’s well-being.
Berry and Martinez married in 2013 before announcing their split in 2015. Their divorce was finalized in 2023 after a lengthy legal battle. The actress has been romantically linked to Hunt since 2020, and the couple have since gotten engaged.
Berry accessorized her lunch outing look with a cream-colored fedora and dark sunglasses, wearing her shoulder-length hair down in loose waves. Hunt kept things casual in a graphic T-shirt, cropped black pants, sunglasses and a brown bag.
A rep for Berry did not immediately respond to the outlet’s request for comment.
