Halle Berry took the stand to defend her name and reputation as a mom against heinous claims by her ex-husband.
The Oscar-winning actress took the stand Thursday in the ongoing custody battle over her son, Maceo, whom she shares with Olivier Martinez.
Berry and Martinez met in South Africa while working on the film, “Dark Tide,” in 2010. The two went from being madly in love to now sitting on opposite sides in a courtroom over their child.
Berry arrived at Los Angeles Superior Court a few times this week after her third husband accused her of abusing their son.
She has denied the allegations that she jumped on and choked Maceo in September.
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Footage from Monday’s hearing shows Berry leaving the courthouse in a chocolate-brown suit and oversized sunglasses, with fiancé Van Hunt close behind.
She kept a faint smile but ignored reporters’ questions, prompting fans to speculate about how she felt.
At the time, one person said, The wig tells me she’s going to win!” Another cheered, “I know that’s right! Head held high, stop playing with her; this is a family matter, period. Move out of my way.”
But others directed their anger at Martinez, who stormed out of the courtroom Tuesday after a profanity-laced conversation with his lawyer.
He took the stand on Thursday, Oct. 22, after Berry testified earlier in a closed courtroom.
When asked if he was accusing his ex-wife of abusing him for a decade during their relationship, Martinez replied, “Correct.” He also alleged more abuse in 2023, including comments she supposedly made to Maceo.
But Berry’s attorney, Marina Beck, pushed back with a document highlighting a potential inconsistency in Martinez’s claims.
She presented Martinez with a declaration he signed under penalty of perjury on Sept. 30, 2024.
After Martinez confirmed the signature was his, Beck pointed him to the section addressing their history of domestic violence, which states the former couple had no history of domestic violence.
However, his attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, told Page Six the 2024 declaration concerned legal fees, not custody.
“That was related to need-based attorneys fees, that’s a financial request,” he said. “There was no conviction of domestic violence at the time so his statement is correct.”
Under their 2023 divorce settlement, Berry agreed to pay Martinez $8,000 monthly in child support. He also receives 4.3 percent of her income exceeding $2 million. Berry covers additional expenses related to Maceo’s education and health care.
Her previous custody battle with ex-husband and model Gabriel Aubry also involved substantial support payments. Aubry is the father of her daughter, Nahla. Berry previously criticized California’s child support system. She argued that wealthy parents could be exploited financially.
The former couple exchanged nasty looks before Judge Shelley Kaufman began the proceedings on Monday.
The judge cleared the courtroom to protect Maceo’s privacy as the teenager testified for nearly four hours. His statements remain sealed.
During a lunch break, Maceo reportedly appeared relaxed while speaking with his father. He did not interact with Berry at the courthouse.
The hearing followed Martinez’s Oct. 1 request for a restraining order. He alleged Berry choked Maceo during a Sept. 26 disagreement involving virtual reality goggles.
Berry vehemently denied the accusations. She described the encounter as playful roughhousing that escalated into an argument.
“I have never physically, emotionally, or otherwise abused Maceo,” she declared.
Her 18-year-old daughter, Nahla Aubry, also defended her mother in a sworn declaration.
“I have never seen my mom hit, slap, choke, grab, or physically abuse Maceo in any way,” Nahla stated.
Martinez challenged her involvement, arguing that she was biased.
The temporary order has restricted Berry’s parenting time. Martinez wants sole legal and physical custody. Berry is fighting to restore their previous joint custody arrangement.
For now, the parties dispute the allegations. The court has not issued a final ruling.
Halle Berry is all smiles outside court before hearing in custody war with her ex. https://t.co/6jPPkmVhmL
— TMZ (@TMZ) October 20, 2026
