Halle Berry’s daughter Nahla has defended her mother against allegations that the actress physically abused her 13-year-old son, Maceo.
Nahla, 18, said in a declaration submitted to Los Angeles Superior Court that she had never witnessed Berry behave abusively towards Maceo. Her statement follows a temporary restraining order granted after Berry’s former husband, Olivier Martinez, alleged that she had attacked their son.
Martinez, 60, claimed Maceo called him and said Berry had physically assaulted him and placed him in a chokehold. Berry has denied the allegations.
“I never observed anything abusive about her parenting,” Nahla wrote in her declaration, describing her mother as a “loving and devoted parent” who was “warm, supportive, and deeply involved”.
She added: “I have never seen my mom hit, slap, choke, grab, or physically abuse Maceo in any way. 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 said she had lived with Maceo for most of his life and that Berry had co-ordinated their schedules following her separation from Martinez in 2015 to maximise the time they spent together.
She also said Berry had prioritised her children despite her public career, attending Maceo’s games, taking him to practices and tournaments, and supporting his education, medical treatment and therapy.
“I never doubted my mom’s love for me,” Nahla wrote. “She consistently provided me with stability, support, guidance, and unconditional love.”
Nahla, whose father is Berry’s former partner Gabriel Aubry, said her mother had never spoken negatively about either man to her or Maceo and had encouraged them to maintain loving relationships with their fathers.
In her declaration, Nahla also alleged that Martinez had beaten Aubry when she was a child. She said she had never witnessed Berry act violently towards anyone, but recalled “Oliver beating up my father in our driveway when I was little”.
She further said she had seen Berry and Maceo playfully wrestle and had never seen him become hurt or distressed during those interactions.
Nahla said she spoke to Berry and Maceo on the same phone call two days after the alleged incident on September 29, and that her brother “didn’t seem upset about anything”. She said she was shocked and upset when she learned of Martinez’s allegations.
She also described Maceo as loving his mother and sharing a close bond with her, while saying she had witnessed occasions when he was disrespectful, aggressive and unwilling to follow household rules.
Nahla said she had not spoken to Maceo since Martinez filed the allegations because she was uncertain what was legally permitted, but hoped to speak to him soon. “Maceo is my brother, I care deeply about him,” she wrote, expressing concern about the effect of the proceedings on him and his relationship with Berry.
