Halle Berry’s teenage son took the stand for nearly three hours Monday in a heated Los Angeles custody hearing.
Berry, 60, sat inside Los Angeles Superior Court alongside her fiancé, Van Hunt, and her legal team as Maceo, 13, testified before Judge Shelley Kaufman. The Oscar winner’s ex-husband, Olivier Martinez, 60, arrived with the boy and his own attorneys, and the two parents exchanged icy glares once inside. Eyewitnesses described the atmosphere as “icy,” and the hearing may continue Tuesday.
Kaufman opened the proceeding by calling Maceo to testify, then cleared the courtroom to seal the teen’s statements from public disclosure. The boy, dressed in a graphic T-shirt, shorts and Crocs, did not interact with his mother during his time at court. Berry appeared worried and anxious at points despite seeming in good spirits otherwise.
The testimony comes after Martinez secured a temporary domestic violence restraining order against Berry on Oct. 1. The French actor alleged that during a Sept. 26 incident, Berry choked Maceo following an argument over virtual reality goggles. Martinez claimed the actress called their son “such an idiot” for playing a game on the headset and accused her of multiple instances of abuse over the past year and a half.
Berry has vigorously denied all allegations. Her daughter, Nahla Aubry, 18, submitted a court declaration supporting her mother, stating she was “shocked” by the claims and had never witnessed aggressive behavior toward her half-brother.
The “Monster’s Ball” star filed her own requests with the court, asking Kaufman to deny Martinez’s restraining order, lift temporary restrictions on her contact with Maceo, and restore 50-50 custody. She sought to preserve her authority over final decisions regarding the boy’s education and mental health treatment when parents disagree. Berry further accused Martinez of escalating their custody dispute, interfering with Maceo’s educational and therapeutic needs, and turning their son against her. She noted that she has historically been the parent enforcing discipline and pursuing behavioral intervention.
Berry strongly opposed Maceo’s involvement in the case, but Kaufman ruled he could testify with limitations restricting his statements to claims within his father’s restraining order request. Martinez has asked for sole legal and physical custody of the teenager, and the judge previously restricted Berry’s contact and limited her visitation rights.
Berry and Martinez married in July 2013, separated two years later, and were declared legally single in December 2016. Their divorce finalized in August 2023 after years of ongoing legal entanglements.
The temporary restraining order and custody restrictions emerged from Martinez’s Sept. 26 allegations, which he detailed in his October filing. The incident reportedly began with a dispute over virtual reality equipment and escalated into physical contact, according to the actor’s claims. Berry’s opposition has framed Martinez’s actions as an attempt to weaponize their son and manipulate the custody arrangement.
The hearing remains ongoing with possible continuation Tuesday.
