Halle Berry is asking a Los Angeles court to restore the 50-50 custody agreement she and ex-husband Olivier Martinez reached in 2023, after Martinez obtained a temporary domestic violence restraining order against her on behalf of himself and their thirteen-year-old son, Maceo. Berry says that order prevented her from contacting Maceo on his birthday, October 5. Martinez alleges Berry choked and physically attacked Maceo during a September 26 incident. Berry denies the claims, describing the moment as playful roughhousing and stating she never choked him or restrained his breathing. Her attorney says the case“is not about domestic violence”but about a mother’s love for her son.
Berry is also accusing Martinez of obstructing their son’s mental health care and trying to turn Maceo against her, adding another layer to an already complicated co-parenting dispute. The couple’s previous custody arrangement split time evenly, and Berry’s filing argues that structure should return. Martinez’s team stands by the restraining order request. A hearing is scheduled for Friday, October 16, where a judge will weigh both accounts.
These cases rarely stay simple, and this one sits at the intersection of domestic violence allegations, high-conflict co-parenting, and the welfare of a neurodivergent child. The outcome on October 16 could reshape how the family moves forward. What do you think matters most in a case like this: the evidence, or the impact on the kid?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.