Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez face off in custody battle for son
Hollywood star Halle Berry is battling in court with her ex-husband, Olivier Martinez, over custody of their 10-year-old son Maceo. According to court documents obtained by People magazine, Berry accuses Martinez of delaying the court process, which she believes is harming their son. In contrast, Martinez claims that the actress is trying to use the situation against him.
In documents obtained by the media, Halle Berry reports that their son Maceo has learning difficulties, being "grade levels" behind his peers. The star’s son has been diagnosed with ADHD, specific learning disabilities, and mild dyslexia. The actress claims that the French actor ignores or downplays their son’s problems, which, in her view, disqualifies him as a caregiver capable of making decisions on Maceo’s behalf.
Documents presented by Berry suggest that Martinez aims to delay the trial to get more money from the actress. Berry also alleges that Martinez’s arguments about hiring experts are unfounded since the individuals she has chosen to testify in the case know Maceo well.
On the other hand, Martinez, in his documents also obtained by People, argues that Berry does not give him enough time to prepare for the case and is trying to push for a quick resolution, which would deprive him of the right to defence. Martinez states that Berry, earning millions of dollars, refuses to support him in paying for legal counsel while seeking sole custody of their son.
Halle Berry seeks sole custody of her son
In mid-August, Berry filed for sole custody of Maceo, detailing how she has been trying to address her son’s educational difficulties, fighting for tutoring, academic assessment, and finding the right environment for his needs. Berry claims that Martinez has opposed such solutions for years and has not consented.
The acting couple announced their separation in 2015, but it took them eight years to formally settle their matters. According to the agreement, Berry must pay Martinez nearly €7,000 in monthly child support and cover the costs of their son’s private schooling, extracurricular activities, and healthcare. Both must also avoid negative comments about each other in Maceo’s presence.
