Halle Berry is denying allegations from her ex-husband Olivier Martinez, who obtained a domestic violence restraining order on October 1 on behalf of himself and their 13-year-old son, Maceo. According to Martinez, Maceo said during a September 26 phone call that Berry attacked and choked him during an argument. Berry says she was blindsided by the filing, and her attorney calls the claims entirely meritless and deliberately misleading.
The two sides are telling very different stories. Berry’s team argues that evidence suggests Maceo was coached and manipulated by his father, and they point to a photo Martinez cites as proof, saying it shows Berry standing calmly with no visible injury. Martinez’s lawyer counters that the child is the primary victim and should be allowed to testify. Berry argues the opposite, saying testifying would force her son to choose sides in a highly emotional family conflict. Berry’s 18-year-old daughter, Nahla, has publicly defended her mother.
No matter how this plays out in court, it’s a reminder of how brutal celebrity custody battles can get, especially when a teenager is at the center of it. So we want to hear from you: should a child be allowed to testify in a dispute between his parents?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.