Halle Berry has filed for sole custody of her 10-year-old son, Maceo, amid concerns about her ex-husband Olivier Martinez’s behavior. Berry alleges that Martinez’s actions are detrimental to their son’s education and emotional well-being.
According to court documents, Berry claims that Martinez, also an actor, has consistently prioritized Maceo’s soccer activities over his education. She accuses Martinez of refusing to address Maceo’s learning difficulties, which has caused him to fall behind in school. “Because of Respondent’s opposition to any interventions whatsoever for years and because of Respondent’s prioritizing soccer activities over Maceo’s educational and psychological well-being, Maceo’s educational and behavioral challenges worsened,” the legal filing reportedly states.
Turbulent Behavior and Emotional Impact on Berry and Her Son
Berry also expresses concerns about Martinez’s behavior towards Maceo during their time together. She claims that after extended periods with his father, Maceo returns home angry and combative. Berry believes that Martinez is involving Maceo in their parental conflicts, which negatively impacts the child’s mental health.
The couple, who met on the set of Dark Tide in 2010, married in 2013 and welcomed Maceo in 2014. However, they separated just two years later, finalizing their divorce in 2023 after a prolonged custody battle. As part of their initial agreement, Berry was ordered to pay Martinez $8,000 a month in child support, along with covering 100% of Maceo’s private school and extracurricular fees.
Despite their agreement, Berry’s recent filing seeks to gain sole custody over decisions related to Maceo’s education and medical needs. She believes that this step is necessary to ensure that Maceo’s best interests are prioritized, as she feels Martinez’s current approach is hindering their son’s development.
Martinez has not yet publicly responded to the latest custody filing, but his legal team has previously accused Berry of attempting to use her wealth and legal resources to strong-arm him into submission.