Halle Berry’s daughter, Nahla Aubry, is coming to her mom’s defense after the actress’ ex-husband Olivier Martinez accused her of abuse against their teen son.
Nahla, who Berry shares with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, described her mom as a “loving and devoted parent” who “can be strict when necessary,” according to a declaration filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by Page Six.
The 18-year-old claimed she never witnessed the actress physically abuse her younger brother, Maceo Martinez, 13, writing, “I have never seen my mom hit, slap, choke, grab, or physically abuse Maceo in any way.”
She added, “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 has lived with Maceo for most of his life, splitting her time between Berry’s home and her father Aubry’s home before recently moving from California to Massachusetts to attend college.
She described Berry, 60, as a hands-on mother who “always made time for me and prioritized what was important to me,” adding that she has watched her mom 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.”
Nahla also acknowledged that her mother can be a disciplinarian, adding, “My mom is a loving and devoted parent. She can be strict when necessary and expects her children to follow rules and be respectful. At the same time, she is warm, supportive, and deeply involved in our lives.
“I never observed anything abusive about her parenting.”
The 18-year-old said she was “shocked, very sad, and very upset” when she learned of Martinez’s allegations against Berry.
Nahla added that she was “heartbroken” for her younger brother, whom she described as “funny, smart, and full of personality.”
Nahla also pushed back on another allegation Martinez made against Berry, saying she had never heard her mother make “racially insensitive or racially charged comments.”
“My mom is biracial, I am biracial, and Maceo is biracial,” she wrote. “Throughout my life, my mom taught both of us to embrace who we are, appreciate our differences, and respect people from all backgrounds.”
Nahla said she last spoke with Maceo on Sept. 29, when Berry was driving him to school. She said they spoke on speakerphone about her college experience and that Maceo “sounded happy for me and didn’t seem upset about anything.”
“I want very much to speak with my brother and check on him. I want him to know that I love him,” she stated, adding that she has refrained from reaching out because she is uncertain what is permitted under Martinez’s court filings.
The declaration comes after Martinez, 60, accused Berry of choking Maceo during an alleged Sept. 26 altercation at her home in a restraining order request.
Martinez claimed in court documents that Berry grabbed their son by the neck and choked him during an argument that began while Maceo was playing a virtual reality game.
He also alleged that Berry had physically wrestled with Maceo on previous occasions and made racially charged remarks to their son.
Martinez subsequently sought sole custody of Maceo, and a judge temporarily granted him primary custody while restricting Berry to court-ordered visitation to two days a week and every other weekend until their next hearing on Oct. 16.
Berry has vehemently denied the allegations through her attorney, Marina Beck.
“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, said in a statement to Page Six on Oct. 1.
In her response to Martinez’s filing, she requested the court to reinstate their 50/50 custody agreement.
She claimed Martinez causes Maceo to be “angry and combative” at her due to his “continued attempts to align Maceo with him and against me in many areas of our child’s life and activities.”
Berry was seen in Los Angeles with her son days after the restraining order filing.
Berry and Martinez, married in 2013 and split in 2016.
The post Halle Berry’s daughter Nahla, 18, speaks out over mom’s abuse claims in rare statement: docs appeared first on Page Six.
