Halle Berry’s daughter Nahla Aubry has jumped to her mum’s defence in court following child abuse allegations from Berry’s ex-husband Olivier Martinez.
Martinez claims Berry has been abusive towards their shared son Maceo Martinez, 13, which has ignited a high-profile custody battle over the teen.
Martinez currently has primary custody of Maceo after he filed for a restraining order against Berry due to an altercation where Martinez accuses Berry of choking Maceo.
In a letter filed to the Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by Page Six, Nahla, 18, defends her mother by describing her as a “loving and devoted parent” who “can be strict when necessary.”
Berry’s daughter, who she shares with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, asserted that she has “never seen my mum hit, slap, choke, grab, or physically abuse Maceo in any way.”
“I have never seen my mum 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 added.
Nahla and Maceo shared most of their childhoods together, despite Nahla splitting time between her mother and father’s homes before recently moving to Massachusetts for college.
Berry is described in the letter as a hands-on mother who has “always made time” and “prioritised what was important.”
Nahla added that she has watched her mum do the same for Maceo.
“She attended his games, drove him to practices and tournaments, and advocated for his education,” Nahla stated.
“She celebrates our successes, supports us through challenges, and is always there when we need her.”
The letter also acknowledged that Berry would be disciplinary when necessary, despite her “loving and devoted” nature.
“She can be strict when necessary and expects her children to follow rules and be respectful,” Nahla wrote.
“At the same time, she is warm, supportive, and deeply involved in our lives.”
The comment is followed by the confirmation that Nahla “never observed anything abusive about her parenting.”
The 18-year-old said she was “shocked, very sad, and very upset” to learn of her ex-step-father’s accusations against her mother.
Nahla said she was “heartbroken” for her younger brother who she described as “funny, smart, and full of personality.”
Nahla said she last spoke to Maceo on the phone on September 29 as Berry drove him to school.
She claimed they discussed her recent move to college and Maceo “sounded happy for me and didn’t seem upset about anything.”
The teen said she has been concerned about reaching out to her brother during the ongoing custody battle.
“I want very much to speak with my brother and check on him. I want him to know that I love him.”
Berry is currently restricted to court-ordered visitation two days a week and every second weekend until a verdict at the next hearing on October 16.
Martinez’ claims include an altercation where Berry grabbed their son by the neck and choked him in an argument while Maceo was playing a virtual reality game.
He also alleged Berry had physically wrestled with Maceo on numerous occasions and made racially charged comments to him.
Nahla pushed back against this accusation in her letter, saying she had never heard her mother make “racially insensitive or racially charged comments.”
“My mum is biracial, I am biracial, and Maceo is biracial,” she wrote.
“Throughout my life, my mum taught both of us to embrace who we are, appreciate our differences, and respect people from all backgrounds.”
The actress has vehemently denied Martinez’ allegations against her whilst filing a defence to reinstate the ex-couple’s 50/50 custody agreement.
“There is voluminous evidence, including numerous judicial rulings, that Olivier Martinez repeatedly violated court orders and interfered with necessary therapeutic and educational interventions to the detriment of his and Halle Berry’s minor son, Maceo — misconduct for which Mr. Martinez has already been legally sanctioned,” the actress’ lawyer Marina Beck said in a statement.
Berry also claimed that Martinez deliberately pits Maceo against her, causing him to be “angry and combative” through “continued attempts to align Maceo with him and against me in many areas of our child’s life and activities.”
Berry and Maceo were spotted in Los Angeles together two days after the restraining order filing.
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