Halle Berry’s ongoing custody battle with ex Olivier Martinez just escalated in a major way. On Thursday, October 1, Martinez was granted a temporary restraining order against the actress after accusing her of physically abusing their 12-year-old son, Maceo. According to the filing, Martinez alleges an incident on September 26 in which Maceo called him for a pickup after Berry allegedly attacked and choked the boy, and he claims Berry later texted an apology. Under the order, Berry’s visitation is now limited to Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and a judge denied a request to monitor her sobriety due to insufficient information.
Berry’s attorney, Marina Beck, responded forcefully, calling the filing“entirely meritless and deliberately misleading”and accusing Martinez of a history of erratic behavior and court-order violations. Martinez, meanwhile, says he doesn’t want to permanently sever the relationship between Maceo and Berry, but believes they shouldn’t be interacting until she takes sufficient accountability for her actions. It’s a sharp, public back-and-forth between two parents, with a seventh-grader caught in the middle.
A hearing later this month will determine whether the temporary order becomes permanent, which means this story is far from finished. Until then, it’s worth remembering that a temporary restraining order is not a final ruling, and both sides will get their day in court. What do you think: should high-profile custody cases like this stay out of the public eye for the sake of the kids?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.