Halle Berry Loses Custody of Son After Child Abuse Allegations.
Olivier Martinez, 60, filed a domestic violence restraining order and sole custody request against Halle Berry, 60, in Los Angeles Superior Court on Oct. 1. He alleges Berry choked their 12-year-old son Maceo during a Sept. 26 incident at her home.
- Martinez alleges Berry jumped on Maceo, grabbed his neck, and shouted, 'Who is dominant now?!'
- Berry allegedly texted Martinez the next day: 'I feel terrible about what happened last night.'
- Martinez cites past incidents: an alleged face strike 5 years ago and a plate thrown 10 years ago.
- Martinez is requesting Berry stay 100 yards away and complete a 52-week batterer intervention program.
Why it matters: The couple has shared joint legal and physical custody since their 2023 divorce. Martinez's filing directly challenges that arrangement.
- Martinez also requests mandatory sobriety testing before, during, and after Berry's visits with Maceo, citing concerns about alcohol use.
How 7 sources split on this story
Where they split: Coverage divides on how much background context to include: right-leaning outlets add prior custody disputes and Berry's earlier legal actions against Martinez, while center outlets focus on the current filing's specific allegations.
Center coverage, 3 sources: The center presents the filing factually and sequentially, leading with the court action and quoting the declaration's specific allegations with limited editorializing.
Right coverage, 2 sources: The right frames the story with greater emphasis on the couple's contentious custody history and prior legal disputes, providing broader context around Martinez's motivations.
What’s next: A Los Angeles Superior Court judge must rule on the temporary restraining order.
- Representatives for Berry had not responded to media inquiries as of Oct. 1.
- Will Berry contest the allegations, and what will her legal response say?
- How will the court weigh the existing joint custody agreement against Martinez's new filing?