Daily Mail
· collected 2026-10-02 · by Christine Rendón, Diana Cooper
Story summary
Olivier Martinez, the ex-husband of Halle Berry, filed a temporary restraining order against her on September 26, accusing her of physically abusing their son Maceo, who is 12 years old. According to court documents, Martinez claims that Berry choked Maceo by putting her hands around his neck and jumping on him during an incident in which her fiancé, Van Hunt, was also present.
Martinez filed for sole custody of Maceo, alleging multiple instances of physical and emotional abuse over the past year and a half. He further accuses Berry of telling their son that he is "a white b—h trying to rob a black woman," referring to their child support issues. After seeking a restraining order in Los Angeles Superior Court on October 1, Martinez was granted temporary primary custody of Maceo, with Berry allowed only two days a week and every other weekend for visitation.
Berry's attorney, Marina Beck, strongly denied the allegations, calling them "entirely meritless" and stating that there is evidence showing Martinez violated court orders multiple times. The next hearing regarding custody will be on October 16.
Written for “Halle Berry Child Abuse Allegations” on 2026-10-05,
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Halle Berry's ex Olivier Martinez has been granted temporary primary custody of their 12-year-old son Maceo after accusing the actress of physically abusing him – claims Berry has slammed as 'entirely meritless.'
uncertain
Berry → get → him
In bombshell court documents filed in Los Angeles on Thursday and obtained by The Daily Mail, Martinez alleged Berry 'physically abused our son by jumping on him and choking him' during a September 26, 2026 incident.
asserted
Berry → file → incident
Martinez was granted a temporary domestic violence restraining order against Berry, which protects both himself and their son from the actress.
asserted
which → grant → actress
The order requires Berry to stay 100 yards away from Martinez.
asserted
order → require → Martinez
The Monster's Ball actress has also lost 50/50 custody, and will be allowed to see their son only during court-ordered visitation two days a week and every other weekend until a hearing on October 16.
asserted
actress → lose → October
Berry's attorney Marina Beck told the Daily Mail the filing is 'entirely meritless' and added that Berry is 'used to this kind of outrageous conduct' from Martinez.
asserted
Berry → tell → Martinez
The actress is 'deeply saddened' by the situation, though she will 'not allow it to deter her from fighting for Maceo's best interests and providing him with the love and support he needs.
asserted
he → sadden → love
The filing lays bare a series of alleged disputes between Berry, Martinez, and their son over the last few years – with the most recent one prompting him to take legal action against her.
asserted
one → lay → her
Halle Berry's ex Olivier Martinez has been granted temporary primary custody of their 12-year-old son Maceo after accusing the actress of physically abusing him
Berry is pictured on September 24, just two days before the alleged incident
'Throughout the last year-and-a-half, Ms. Berry has wrestled Maceo to the ground and forced him to "tap out,"' Martinez alleged.
asserted
Martinez → grant → him
The documents allege Berry has 'grabbed our son's neck from the back when he is not looking and forced him to tap out' multiple times previously – instances that she allegedly insisted were done in jest, but which their son disliked.
uncertain
son → allege → which
Berry and Martinez have also been ordered to participate in confidential mediation to discuss custody, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ.
uncertain
Berry → order → TMZ
The incident which triggered the restraining order allegedly all began after Berry told Maceo he looked 'so stupid' and was 'an idiot' while playing a virtual reality game and wearing specialized goggles.
uncertain
he → trigger → goggles
According to Martinez, Maceo told him his mother 'came into Maceo's bedroom and began pushing Maceo.
uncertain
mother → accord → Maceo
From what I can tell, the initial contact appeared to be intended to be in a joking manner.
asserted
contact → tell → manner
Maceo told Petitioner [Berry], "Stop. Let me finish the game first."
asserted
me → tell → game
This sent Petitioner into a rage.'
asserted
This → send → rage
The actor further alleged in the court document: 'Petitioner told Maceo that he looks "so stupid" and is "such an idiot' for playing this game with the VR goggle.
'
asserted
he → allege → goggle
The situation escalated from there.
asserted
situation → escalate → ?
Petitioner jumped on Maceo and started physically fighting with him.
asserted
Petitioner → jump → him
She grabbed Maceo by the neck and started choking him while shouting, "Who is dominant now?!
asserted
Who → grab → him
'
'Maceo told me he had to fight back,' Martinez wrote in the filing.
asserted
Martinez → tell → filing
'Through his efforts, he managed to escape Petitioner's grip.
asserted
he → manage → grip
He started screaming, at which point, Petitioner's boyfriend came into the room.
asserted
boyfriend → start → room
'Throughout the last year-and-a-half, Ms. Berry has wrestled Maceo to the ground and forced him to "tap out,"' Martinez alleged
asserted
Martinez → wrestle → him
According to Martinez, Maceo claimed that Berry's fiance, Van Hunt, treated him 'fair.'
uncertain
fiance → accord → him
The document states that Hunt 'defended Maceo as he was packing his clothes to leave when Petitioner tried to tell him that he could not take his clothes because Petitioner had bought them for him.'
uncertain
Petitioner → state → him
'When Maceo said that the clothes had been given to him so he could take them with him, Petitioner's boyfriend agreed with him and convinced Petitioner to allow him to pack his clothes.'
Martinez claimed that on the night of the alleged incident, he received a 'frantic call' from his son asking him to pick him up '"right now."'
Martinez said he then contacted Berry over text message about picking Maceo up, asking if she was 'OK with it.'
Text messages included in the filing show the correspondence between Martinez and Berry, with the actress allegedly responding to Martinez's pick up request: 'No I'm not ok with it.
uncertain
I → say → it
He wants to fight his mother??
asserted
He → want → mother
What kind of kid are we raising."
asserted
we → raise → kid
Martinez alleged he had several more calls with his son and could hear Berry's voice in one of the conversations.
uncertain
he → allege → conversations
He claims to have heard his son telling Berry that he is going to 'leave forever', with Berry 'yelling' to their son, 'Good.
uncertain
Berry → claim → son
I don't want to see anymore.'
asserted
I → want → ?
He alleges to have received several more urgent-sounding text messages from Maceo asking when he will arrive.
asserted
he → allege → Maceo
When he arrived to the house, Maceo emerged with Hunt, who was carrying bags of Maceo's clothing and 'had a shocked look on his face' when asked by Martinez about what had happened.
asserted
what → arrive → Martinez
He alleged Hunt 'did not respond to my question.'
asserted
Hunt → allege → question
Martinez said he was unaware of the alleged physical confrontation between his son and Berry and did not push him for details during the car ride home.
asserted
he → say → ride
Maceo ended up sharing what had allegedly transpired later that night.
uncertain
what → end → ?
In court documents obtained by The Daily Mail, Martinez alleged Berry 'physically abused our son by jumping on him and choking him' during a September 26, 2026 incident.
asserted
Berry → obtain → incident
The following morning, Martinez allegedly received a text message from Berry which read: 'Oliver, I've reached out to Maceo and asked to speak with him.
uncertain
I → receive → him
I know you very much think he makes his own decisions but I would really appreciate it if you would encourage him to speak with me today.
asserted
you → know → me
…and 42 more, not listed.
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