Halle Berry's words to her ex-husband Olivier Martinez have emerged after an alleged confrontation involving their 12-year-old son, just as a judge granted Martinez a temporary restraining order against her. Berry allegedly texted that she felt 'terrible about what happened' on 27 September, one day after Martinez alleged she physically attacked their son Maceo, while the court temporarily restricted her visitation arrangements with him.
The development has escalated the couple's ongoing custody dispute, with Martinez seeking sole custody and Berry's legal team strongly rejecting his allegations. The temporary order does not determine whether the allegations are true, but it imposes immediate restrictions while the case moves ahead of another hearing.
Berry's Message Appears in Court Documents
The text exchange provides a glimpse into the communications after the alleged confrontation, with Martinez telling Berry that Maceo had wanted to leave early. Berry reportedly responded angrily, questioning what kind of child they were raising and insisting that she was his mother and should have a say in what happened.
The following day, Berry reached out again and asked Martinez to encourage Maceo to speak with her. She then wrote, 'I feel terrible about what happened last night as I know he does as well', a message now forming part of the court documents surrounding the custody dispute.
Martinez Alleges a Physical Confrontation
Martinez alleges the incident happened on 26 September while Maceo was at Berry's home and playing a virtual reality game in his bedroom. According to his filing, an argument began after Berry criticised the teenager for playing the game before the situation allegedly escalated into a physical confrontation.
In his filing, Martinez alleges Berry jumped on Maceo, placed her hands around his neck and choked him. He also described the alleged incident as the latest in what he claims was a wider pattern of physical, verbal and emotional conflict, allegations that Berry's legal team has rejected.
Judge Grants a Temporary Restraining Order
The court granted Martinez a temporary restraining order on 1 October, requiring Berry to stay 100 yards away from him. She can still see Maceo through court-ordered visitation, reported to be two days a week and every other weekend ahead of a hearing on 16 October.
The order represents a significant change from the joint legal custody arrangement Berry and Martinez agreed to after finalising their divorce in 2023. Martinez is now seeking sole custody, while the temporary arrangement places limits on Berry's time with their son during the ongoing proceedings.
Sobriety Conditions Enter the Dispute
The court documents also address alcohol and substance use in connection with Berry's visits with Maceo. The temporary order reportedly prohibits Berry from drinking or using substances in Maceo's presence and includes sobriety-testing requirements around visitation.
Those conditions should not be presented as a finding that Berry has a substance problem. Instead, they form part of the temporary arrangements governing her contact with Maceo while the court considers the wider custody dispute.
Berry's Lawyer Calls Filing Misleading
Berry's attorney, Marina Beck, has strongly disputed Martinez's allegations, describing his filing as 'entirely meritless and deliberately misleading'. Her response also accuses Martinez of repeatedly violating court orders and interfering with therapeutic and educational interventions involving Maceo, claims made on Berry's behalf.
Martinez's lawyer, meanwhile, has said his client's main concern is Maceo's safety and wellbeing. The former couple has previously used co-parenting therapy to address disagreements involving their son, indicating that tensions around their parenting arrangements predate the latest court action.
Custody Battle Heads Into October Hearing
Berry and Martinez, who married in 2013 and separated in 2015, finalised their divorce in 2023 after years of legal negotiations. Their agreement gave them joint legal custody of Maceo, with Berry also ordered to pay $8,000 a month in child support and cover certain education and activity costs.
Now, the custody arrangement is under renewed pressure as both sides present sharply different accounts of what happened. With mediation also ordered and another hearing scheduled for 16 October, Berry's 'I feel terrible' text is among the messages cited in the custody dispute, but the court has yet to make a final determination on the allegations.
