Halle Berry has spent years keeping her two children, Nahla Aubry, 18, and Maceo Robert Martinez, 13, mostly out of the spotlight.
Paparazzi have captured the actress with her kids on rare occasions. But recent family drama has thrust both children into the headlines.
Berry’s ex-husband, Maceo’s father, Olivier Martinez, accused Berry of physically abusing their son, and now her daughter is defending her mom’s name and reputation.
Berry married French actor Martinez and gave birth to their son in 2013 before they split in 2015.
Year earlier, she dated model Gabriel Aubry, and they welcomed their daughter, Nahla, before breaking up in 2010. While she denies the allegations, Nahla is offering her mother extra support.
‘Wow’: Halle Berry Fights Back After Ex-Husband’s Explosive Claims Over Their Son’s Private Messages to Dad Send Custody Battle Into Chaos
‘As Low as You Can Go’: Halle Berry Overshadows Her Daughter’s Graduation with One ‘Inappropriate’ Look and an Awkward Run-In with Her Ex
On Oct. 7, Nahla filed a declaration in the Los Angeles Superior Court disputing Martinez’s claims and defending her mom’s parenting style.
“I have never seen my mom hit, slap, choke, grab, or physically abuse Maceo in any way,” the New York Post reports she wrote.
“I have never seen my mom place her hands around Maceo’s neck, put him in a chokehold, restrict his breathing, or engage in any conduct remotely resembling the allegations that have been made against her.”
In his Oct. 1 restraining order filing, Martinez claimed Berry choked their son while he played a virtual reality game. It allegedly led to Maceo begging for his father to come pick him up, before later telling him what occurred.
Martinez alleged that this wasn’t an isolated incident, claiming Berry has put him in chokeholds before.
But Nahla counters that claim.
“I never observed anything abusive about her parenting,” she said, before adding that she was “shocked, very sad and very upset” about Martinez’s accusations.
Nahla further described her mother as a loving parent who uses discipline in times that are needed.
“My mom is a loving and devoted parent. She can be strict when necessary and expects her children to follow rules and be respectful,” she said. “At the same time, she is warm, supportive, and deeply involved in our lives.”
Nahla slammed Martinez’s statement that Berry makes “racially insensitive or racially charged comments” to Maceo.
She said, “My mom is biracial, I am biracial and Maceo is biracial. Throughout my life, my mom taught both of us to embrace who we are, appreciate our differences and respect people from all backgrounds.”
One fan calling out the ex-husband said, “Despite living on Halle’s alimony, Oliver Martinez has aged badly.”
A second person defending Berry wrote, “Maceo is probably a spoiled brat and hard to handle and now he’s got his mom in trouble. He should be with his mother instead of his all too permissive father, Olivier.”
A third person was skeptical about Nahla’s statement, writing, “Obviously, Berry’s lawyer wrote the daughter’s response.” Another said, “Sounds like a forced statement to me. Perhaps she thinks this is the only way of seeing her half-brother again. Plus, just bc she never saw it happen doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”
An eyewitness alleged to People that they saw Berry and Hunt out with Maceo after the restraining order was filed. The couple allegedly was at Sky Zone with him in Los Angeles on Oct. 4.
But Berry has already made her defense.
In a declaration filed Oct. 5, she said, “I have never physically, emotionally, or otherwise abused Maceo. I am a victim of domestic violence, and I help victims of domestic violence.”
In her account of the incident, she claims she went into Maceo’s room to tell him it was time to get off the game. She started recording him, and when Maceo noticed, they began “playfully roughhousing” which they “frequently do.”
She said things took a turn when Maceo got seriously upset and pushed her twice. Berry claims she tried to take his headset, and her fiancé Van Hunt ran upstairs to get in between them. It was then that Maceo threatened to call his father and leave the house.
Berry confirmed that she texted Martinez to apologize for what happened, but she was not apologizing for harming Maceo — as Martinez claims she did. She was apologizing because she felt bad about the overall incident.
She also stated that Maceo can be “angry and combative” when coming from his father’s house.
Martinez was granted a temporary restraining order on the same day of the filing.
Berry’s visitation with Maceo has since been modified to Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Their previous 50/50 custody agreement may soon be reinstated following push from Berry.
TMZ also reports that the “Catwoman” star completed the Los Angeles Superior Court’s “Our Children First” parenting class on Oct. 6. It remains unclear whether Martinez has completed it.
Olivier is asking for sole custody. Their next court hearing will be Oct. 16
