Halle Berry’s courtroom battle with ex-husband Olivier Martinez has reached an extraordinary stage. Their 13-year-old son has spent nearly four hours testifying behind closed doors, Berry’s 18-year-old daughter has become involved in the proceedings, and Martinez reportedly left court during an animated exchange with his lawyer.

According to Page Six, Martinez appeared visibly upset as he left a Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday, October 20, alongside his attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians. Witnesses reportedly heard him swearing during their conversation about testimony presented in court.

The pair headed towards a restroom before returning approximately five minutes later. However, a source subsequently disputed the suggestion that Martinez stormed out in anger, telling Extra that the two were simply taking a brief bathroom break. (Complex)

So even the circumstances surrounding a five-minute absence from court have become another point of disagreement.

Halle Berry Denies Allegations Involving Her Son

Behind the courtroom drama lies something considerably more serious. Martinez has accused Berry of physically abusing their son, Maceo, during a September 26 confrontation involving a virtual reality headset. He alleges that Berry grabbed and choked the teenager and has requested sole custody.

Berry has strongly denied physically abusing her son. Her legal team has characterised Martinez’s allegations as misleading, while Berry maintains that the incident involved roughhousing rather than an assault.

On October 1, a judge granted Martinez a temporary restraining order that restricted Berry’s parenting time but continued to allow certain daytime visits with Maceo. Martinez is seeking sole legal and physical custody, while Berry wants the restrictions lifted and their previous 50-50 custody arrangement restored. The temporary order does not establish that Berry committed abuse.

There is also a financial dimension to this dispute. Under their 2023 divorce settlement, Berry agreed to pay Martinez $8,000 a month in child support, plus 4.3% of her annual income exceeding $2 million. The agreement also required Martinez to make reasonable efforts to find employment. Although he appeared in the 2024 film Hunting with Tigers, Berry has since accused her ex-husband of being voluntarily unemployed and suggested that obtaining more custody could increase his financial support. Martinez’s actual employment and financial circumstances have not been independently established.

Halle Berry’s Children Have Become Central to the Proceedings

Perhaps the most troubling development is how deeply the former couple’s children have become involved. On Monday, October 19, Maceo testified for nearly four hours. Judge Shelley Kaufman closed the courtroom to protect his privacy, and his testimony remains sealed.

Meanwhile, Berry’s daughter Nahla Aubry, whom she shares with former partner Gabriel Aubry, submitted a sworn declaration defending her mother.

Nahla stated that she had never witnessed Berry physically abuse her younger brother. More recent reporting indicates that Nahla and Berry’s fiancé, musician Van Hunt, also testified on Wednesday.

When a Celebrity Custody Battle Becomes a Family Crisis

There is no denying that the reports surrounding Martinez’s courtroom behaviour make for sensational headlines. But I think the bigger story is what this legal dispute must mean for the children caught in the middle.

Berry and Martinez married in 2013, separated in 2015 and finalised their divorce in 2023. Yet their disagreements over parenting have continued long after their romantic relationship ended.

Both parents have made serious allegations. Martinez maintains that he is acting to protect his son, while Berry has accused him of undermining her relationship with Maceo and interfering with aspects of the teenager’s education and therapy. Those claims remain disputed.

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