Halle Berry has received public support from her eldest daughter, Nahla Aubry, amid an escalating custody dispute with her former husband, Olivier Martinez. In a declaration filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Nahla defended her mother against allegations made by Martinez concerning their 12-year-old son, Maceo.
The ongoing legal dispute has drawn attention because of the seriousness of the allegations, the family’s complicated history, and the competing accounts presented in court documents. Martinez has accused Berry of physically abusing their son during an alleged incident on September 26 and has sought a restraining order as well as sole legal and physical custody.
Berry’s representatives and supporters have disputed aspects of Martinez’s claims. Nahla, who is Berry’s daughter with her former partner Gabriel Aubry, has also submitted a declaration describing her experiences growing up with her mother and explaining why the allegations left her distressed.
In her statement, Nahla said she had never witnessed her mother behaving violently toward anyone. She also described Berry as a parent who provided stability, guidance, and support throughout her childhood.
The dispute remains a legal matter, with further proceedings scheduled for October 16. The allegations and responses outlined in the court filings have not, by themselves, established that either parent’s account is correct.
Nahla Aubry Speaks Out in Support of Halle Berry
Nahla Aubry, 18, has generally been kept out of the public spotlight by her mother. However, the ongoing custody dispute involving Berry and Martinez has brought her perspective into the legal proceedings.
According to her declaration, Nahla was shocked and upset by the allegations Martinez made against Berry.
She said the description of her mother’s alleged behavior was inconsistent with the values Berry had taught her throughout her life.
Nahla also stated that she had never witnessed her mother acting violently toward another person.
Her declaration described Berry as a parent who had consistently provided her with emotional support, guidance, and stability while she divided her time between her mother’s and father’s homes.
Nahla’s account represents her personal experience of growing up with Berry. It does not independently establish what occurred during the September incident involving Maceo, but it provides additional context about her relationship with her mother.
The declaration also highlights the emotional difficulties that can arise when family disagreements become part of public legal proceedings.
For Berry, the support of her eldest daughter comes at a time when allegations about her parenting are being considered by the court.
What Olivier Martinez Has Alleged in the Custody Case
Martinez’s legal filing contains serious allegations concerning Berry’s treatment of their son.
According to the court documents described in reports about the case, Martinez alleged that Berry physically assaulted Maceo during an incident on September 26. He claimed that she placed her hands around the boy’s neck and choked him.
Martinez sought a restraining order and requested sole legal and physical custody of their son.
These are allegations made by Martinez, and they should not be treated as established facts simply because they appear in a court filing.
The case involves competing accounts from people close to the family, and the court will have to consider the relevant evidence and legal arguments.
A restraining order was granted, according to the supplied reporting, although further proceedings concerning the requested order and custody arrangements remain important to the case.
The available information does not establish a final judicial finding that Berry committed the alleged abuse.
The distinction matters because allegations involving a child’s safety are serious and require careful consideration, particularly when parents are involved in a contentious custody dispute.
Nahla Says She Has Never Seen Her Mother Act Violently
A central part of Nahla’s declaration concerns her own observations of Berry over the years.
She stated that she had never witnessed her mother act violently toward anyone.
Nahla also described Berry as someone who can be strict but is nevertheless warm, supportive, and deeply involved in her children’s lives.
Her statement offers a personal perspective on Berry’s parenting style and the environment in which she grew up.
However, it is important to distinguish between a person’s general experience of a parent and what may or may not have occurred during a particular incident.
Nahla’s declaration speaks to what she says she has personally witnessed. It does not automatically resolve the specific allegations concerning Maceo.
The court’s assessment will depend on the evidence presented through the legal process.
Nahla also addressed claims concerning Berry’s relationship with her children’s fathers, saying her mother had consistently encouraged them to maintain loving relationships with their fathers.
That statement appears to respond to allegations Martinez raised about comments Berry allegedly made to Maceo in 2023.
The Disagreement Over Alleged Comments About Maceo’s Father
Martinez’s filing also referenced an alleged incident from 2023, when Maceo was reportedly nine years old.
According to the account included in the court documents, Berry allegedly described Martinez in derogatory racial terms during a disagreement involving child support.
Nahla disputed the broader suggestion that her mother had encouraged hostility toward the children’s fathers.
In her declaration, she said Berry had always encouraged her children to maintain loving relationships with their fathers.
These accounts present a disagreement about family communication and the way the parents’ relationship has affected their children.
Because the statements are disputed, it would be inappropriate to conclude from the available material that the alleged conversation occurred exactly as described or that either parent’s broader account has been definitively established.
What is clear is that the parents’ disagreements have become part of the custody proceedings, bringing sensitive family matters into court.
For children involved in a custody dispute, conflict between parents can create significant emotional pressure. Courts generally have to consider the child’s welfare when evaluating custody and visitation arrangements, alongside the specific evidence and applicable legal standards.
Nahla Recalls a Past Physical Altercation Involving Her Father
Nahla’s declaration also refers to an earlier confrontation involving Gabriel Aubry, her father, and Martinez.
She recalled an incident in 2012 when Martinez and Aubry were involved in a physical altercation in the driveway of Berry’s home.
Nahla said she remembered Martinez beating up her father when she was little.
The incident was previously reported as a confrontation between the two men during the period when Berry and Aubry were involved in a dispute concerning custody and visitation arrangements for Nahla.
The recollection is relevant to Nahla’s declaration because she used it to explain her own experiences involving Martinez and her family.
However, the past confrontation is separate from the current allegations concerning Maceo. It should not be treated as proof of what happened during the September 2026 incident.
The distinction between past events and the current dispute remains important as the legal proceedings continue.
Nahla Also Describes Her Brother’s Behavior
In her declaration, Nahla discussed her relationship with her younger half-brother, Maceo.
She described him as someone who can be impulsive and who sometimes acts without thinking before refusing to take responsibility for his actions.
Nahla also stated that she last spoke with Maceo a day after the alleged September incident and that he did not appear upset during their interaction.
She further noted that the restraining order currently prevents her from contacting him.
These details reflect Nahla’s personal observations and the circumstances described in her declaration. They do not independently establish what happened during the alleged incident or determine whether any restrictions should remain in place.
Because Maceo is a minor, details about his behavior and emotional state deserve particular care when being discussed publicly.
The legal dispute concerns his welfare, and the court will need to consider the relevant evidence rather than rely on any single family member’s description.
Halle Berry’s Fiancé and Legal Team Also Support Her
Nahla is not the only person who has submitted a declaration supporting Berry.
Berry’s fiancé, musician Van Hunt, and members of her legal team have also filed declarations in connection with the dispute.
Berry’s attorney, Marina Z. Beck, raised concerns about Martinez’s handling of matters involving their son’s education and therapy.
According to the declaration described in the court documents, Beck accused Martinez of failing to provide Berry with important information about Maceo, interfering with the child’s therapy, and not following recommendations made by the therapist.
Those claims form part of Berry’s side of the dispute and have not necessarily been established as judicial findings.
The documents reportedly also include screenshots of text messages between Berry and Martinez, as well as an email from Maceo’s school concerning disruptive behavior in the days after the alleged September incident.
The existence of these materials may become relevant to the proceedings, but their significance depends on the context in which they were created and how the court evaluates them.
The competing allegations illustrate how custody cases can involve more than one disputed issue, including parenting decisions, communication between parents, education, therapy, and the child’s day-to-day welfare.
Berry and Martinez’s Marriage and Divorce
Berry and Martinez married in 2013 and separated in 2015.
Their relationship was relatively brief, but the legal process surrounding their divorce and arrangements for Maceo continued for years.
Their divorce was finalized in August 2023, when the former couple reached an agreement involving joint custody of their son.
Under that arrangement, Berry agreed to pay Martinez $8,000 per month in child support, according to the supplied reporting.
The current dispute represents a new chapter in their complicated post-divorce relationship.
Although the 2023 agreement established custody arrangements at that time, parents may return to court when disagreements arise over a child’s welfare or when one parent seeks changes to an existing order.
Whether the current allegations will result in a significant change to the custody arrangement remains to be determined through the legal process.
Martinez Also Requested Sobriety Testing
In addition to seeking changes to custody, Martinez asked the court to impose restrictions related to Berry’s alcohol and substance use during visitation.
According to the court documents, he requested that Berry refrain from drinking or using other substances during visitation periods and undergo sobriety testing before, during, and after those periods.
The judge denied the sobriety-testing requests until a further hearing scheduled for October 16.
That decision should not be interpreted as a finding that the allegations supporting the request were true or false. It means the requested testing measures were not granted at that stage of the proceedings.
The upcoming hearing may provide an opportunity for the court to consider additional arguments and evidence concerning the requested restrictions.
Until then, it is important to avoid presenting the allegations surrounding substance use as established facts.
Child Welfare Remains Central to the Dispute
Martinez’s attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, previously stated that the welfare and safety of the child remain paramount.
That principle is central to custody disputes, particularly when one parent alleges that a child has been harmed.
The court’s task is to evaluate the evidence, consider any relevant legal standards, and determine what arrangements best protect the child’s interests.
At the same time, disputes involving well-known public figures can attract substantial attention, sometimes making it difficult to separate verified information from allegations, interpretations, and statements made by interested parties.
The current case involves sensitive allegations about a minor, so restraint is especially important.
Neither public support for Berry nor allegations made by Martinez should substitute for the court’s evaluation of the evidence.
The legal proceedings are ongoing, and the available information does not provide a complete judicial determination of every disputed claim.
A Complicated Family Dispute Under Public Scrutiny
The latest developments have brought renewed attention to Berry’s family life, including her relationship with Nahla and her former marriage to Martinez.
Nahla’s declaration provides a personal account of the stability and support she says she experienced while growing up with her mother.
Berry’s legal team has also raised concerns about communication, therapy, and educational matters involving Maceo.
Martinez, meanwhile, has presented allegations that he says justify protective measures and changes to the custody arrangement.
These competing positions reflect the seriousness of the dispute, but they do not by themselves establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged September incident.
The proceedings are continuing, and further hearings may clarify which requests the court is prepared to grant.
For now, the case remains a legal dispute involving the welfare of a child, with both sides presenting their perspectives.
What Happens Next in Halle Berry’s Custody Case?
The next significant development is expected at the October 16 hearing concerning the restraining-order proceedings.
The court may consider the parties’ arguments and any additional material submitted in support of their positions.
The outcome could affect the restrictions currently in place and may have implications for the broader custody dispute.
However, the precise outcome cannot be predicted from the information currently available.
The case also highlights the importance of protecting children from unnecessary public exposure when parents are involved in legal conflicts.
Although Berry and Martinez are public figures, Maceo is a minor whose personal life and well-being deserve privacy.
As the proceedings continue, the focus should remain on the evidence, the applicable legal process, and the child’s best interests rather than speculation about the family’s private circumstances.
Nahla’s declaration has added a personal perspective to the dispute, but the court will ultimately need to assess the relevant evidence before making further decisions.
For now, Halle Berry’s custody case with Olivier Martinez remains ongoing, and the allegations described in the filings should not be treated as established facts unless confirmed through the legal process.