Halle Berry’s eldest child, Nahla Aubry, has defended her mom after the X-Men star was accused of child abuse by her ex-husband, Olivier Martinez.
Last week, French actor Martinez accused the Oscar winner of physically abusing their 13-year-old son, Maceo, and a court granted a temporary restraining order against her. Berry has since defended herself against the allegations and said: “I am not a perpetrator of violence. I would never hurt our child.”
Nahla, whose father is Canadian model Gabriel Aubry, defended her mom in an October 3 Los Angeles Superior Court declaration obtained by People, stating that she has never seen the actor physically abuse Maceo, her half-brother who she has lived with part-time for most of his life.
“I never observed anything abusive about her parenting,” Nahla wrote.
The 18-year-old described her mom as a “loving and devoted parent” who is “warm, supportive and deeply involved.”
She said her mom “can be strict when necessary and expects her children to follow rules and be respectful.”
“I have never seen my mom hit, slap, choke, grab, or physically abuse Maceo in any way,” Nahla wrote. “I have never seen my mom place her hands around Maceo’s neck, put him in a chokehold, restrict his breathing, or engage in any conduct remotely resembling the allegations that have been made against her.”
Nahla continued by sharing that she’s seen Maceo and Berry “playfully wrestle, tickle each other, and roll around laughing on the floor or on a bed many times,” later claiming, “I have never seen Maceo hurt, upset, cry or do anything but laugh after his and my mom’s playful wrestling.”
She then alleged that she watched Martinez beat up her father when she was a child. “In all my years living with my mom, I have never witnessed her act violently toward anyone; however, I do remember Olivier beating up my father in our driveway when I was little,” she wrote. The Independent has contacted Martinez’s representatives for comment.
Nahla said their mother has always prioritized her and Maceo despite her public life.
“She attended his games, drove him to practices and tournaments, and advocated for his education and access to medical treatment and therapy,” she wrote. “She celebrates our successes, supports us through challenges, and is always there when we need her.
“I never doubted my mom’s love for me,” Nahla continued. “She consistently provided me with stability, support, guidance, and unconditional love.”
She added that the situation was “very upsetting” because Maceo is her brother and she “cares deeply” about him. “I am concerned about he impact these proceedings are having on him and his relationship with his mom,” she added.
The Independent has contacted Berry’s representatives for comment.
In a declaration filed October 5 and seen by People, Berry wrote: “I have never physically, emotionally, or otherwise abused Maceo. I am a victim of domestic violence, and I help victims of domestic violence.”
Berry has previously said she was a victim of domestic violence growing up and also in an adult relationship, though the former partner she accused has not been identified.
The Catwoman star provided her own account of an alleged September 26 incident, stating that she did not put her hand around her son’s neck, choke or restrain him.
Berry’s filing comes after Martinez was granted a temporary restraining order against the actor, covering both himself and Maceo, as of October 1, according to court documents seen by People.
In his petition to the court, Martinez alleged that Berry caused him “emotional and mental distress due to physical abuse of our minor child, Maceo,” the publication reported. He also claimed that the X-Men actor “grabbed Maceo by the neck and started choking him while shouting, ‘Who is dominant now? Who is dominant?’” during the alleged incident.
Martinez also reportedly alleged that Berry had engaged in “instances of abuse over the course of the last few years,” which included “additional physical attacks against our son, as well as verbal and emotional abuse from Petitioner to me.”
Berry was in a relationship with Nahla’s father Gabriel Aubrey from 2005 to 2010. She married Martinez in 2013, and they finalized their divorce in 2016 (with custody agreements extending to 2023).
A hearing regarding the restraining order will take place October 16.
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