*In an escalating custody dispute, actress Halle Berry is fighting for sole legal custody of her 10-year-old son, Maceo, and has submitted contentious text messages exchanged with her ex-husband, Olivier Martinez, as evidence to the court. Exclusive information obtained by In Touch reveals that Berry, 58, seeks to strip Martinez, also 58, of decision-making powers regarding Maceo’s education and medical needs.
According to In Touch, the screenshots provided by Berry reveal acrimonious exchanges between the former couple. Berry has her ex listed as “Oli” in her phone contacts, accompanied by a worm emoji as his profile picture. In her court motion, Berry accuses Martinez of “ignoring, interfering with and/or withholding consent for essential educational and psychoeducational services and other interventions necessary for Maceo’s development.”
The dispute originated in April when Maceo’s school recommended an evaluation for him. Despite Berry’s repeated requests and a follow-up email to which Martinez was copied, Berry claims Martinez did not respond until legal involvement became necessary. “Olivier told me he would discuss this with his lawyers and get back to me; he never did. Months later, his lawyers further delayed the matter,” Berry explained in her motion.
Berry has been attempting to engage in co-parenting therapy to resolve these ongoing issues but alleges that Martinez’s unilateral decision to suspend these sessions over the summer has further stalled progress. As the 2024/2025 school year approaches, the actress describes the situation as “frustrating” and time-sensitive.
The submitted text messages illustrate the tension and communication breakdown between the ex-spouses. In one exchange, Berry inquired if Martinez saw an email concerning their child’s evaluation. When he failed to respond, Berry highlighted how his lack of cooperation contradicted court orders.
Martinez’s texts suggest he did not consent to certain educational decisions without new evaluations and expressed resistance towards Berry’s proposals. “Well have to discuss that at the court cause I’m not letting u get Maceo out of school so the first thing I’m going [to do is] ask for a new test of Maceo with somebody different to be sure that what is said is confirmed then we’ll see,” he responded.
Berry’s frustration is palpable in her replies, noting that she had already prepared all necessary materials for their son’s schooling. “I already have the books, Olivier … ready to go! Now can you please answer my question above? That would be quite helpful,” she texted, only to receive a delayed response focused on consulting his lawyer.
The emotional strain of the dispute is evident in Berry’s comments. She pointed to potential inherited learning challenges at one point, referencing Martinez’s academic struggles. “Question…have you ever thought that maybe you have (or your dad had) ADHD or dyslexia? They say it’s inherited. Maybe that’s why you dropped out of high school?” Berry wrote, suggesting a deeper understanding of their child’s needs could be linked to familial history.
Despite their marital history, which included a wedding in 2013 followed by a divorce filing in 2015 and a drawn-out settlement finalized in 2023, the co-parenting gap appears to have widened. Berry’s plea for emergency orders over missed co-parenting sessions was previously denied, adding another layer to the ongoing custody battle.
Martinez’s legal team has responded sharply to Berry’s claims. “[Halle] is constantly attempting to harass and strong-arm [Olivier] by forcing him into ‘submission’ using her wealth, and the legal professionals at her disposal,” Martinez’s lawyer countered in court.
As the battle for Maceo’s custody continues, the court has yet to respond to Berry’s recent request for sole legal custody, leaving both parties and their legal teams awaiting the next steps in this high-stakes family dispute.
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