The artists met on the set of the film *Dark Tide* in South Africa in 2010. Two years later, Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez announced their engagement, and on July 13, 2013, they tied the knot. Their relationship lasted only three years, but their divorce process dragged on until 2023. Even after officially finalizing their divorce, the stars continue to engage in fierce legal battles over custody of their 10-year-old son, Maceo.
Recently, Martinez was spotted on the streets of Los Angeles, and he was barely recognizable as the handsome Frenchman who once accompanied Berry on red carpets. He appeared significantly thinner, with short-cropped gray hair instead of his once-luxurious chestnut locks, and a scruffy beard. Dressed casually in a faded tie-dye t-shirt, an Adidas jacket, cargo pants in a protective color, and worn-out sneakers, he hid his eyes behind gold-framed aviator sunglasses.
Since his divorce from the Oscar-winning actress, Martinez’s acting career has not been particularly successful, though he has managed to secure a substantial settlement from his ex-wife, along with significant monthly alimony payments. Recently, Halle accused the actor of refusing to undergo co-parenting therapy for which she had paid $200,000. Furthermore, she claimed to have spent an additional $200,000 on legal fees and even covered his share of $80,000. According to Berry, Martinez lives off her payments, forcing her to work more.
Berry is now seeking sole custody of their son. “I’ve done everything in my power to amicably work with Olivier, communicate with him, and involve him in decisions regarding our son Maceo. Olivier has refused to communicate with me, focusing on the child, and has been oppositional and uncompromising on all major issues concerning Maceo,” she stated in legal documents.
The star of *Catwoman* also revealed emotional messages exchanged between the pair. She believes Martinez’s inflexible stance is linked to her new relationship with singer and producer Van Hunt. “I’m so sorry we’re not seeing eye-to-eye. I had high hopes for us. I always hoped we would do better for Maceo and work together like we did before Van. Since then, everything has fallen apart. We used to try to get along for Maceo, but now you don’t even try. I’ve tried, Olivier, but you just keep staying angry, and I don’t know why,” Berry wrote.
“The only way to work together is to work my way. That’s not working together, you’re playing dirty again, as always, not putting Maceo’s interests first. But karma’s coming, don’t worry,” Olivier responded, as reported by *The Physician* star.
Berry informed the court that the parents’ disagreements have affected their son’s performance in school, causing him to fall behind. Maceo has been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and mild dyslexia. However, according to Berry, Martinez either disregards these issues or ignores them, which, in her opinion, proves his unfitness for custody.
The former Bond girl claimed that Martinez is delaying the custody hearing to extract more money from her. Martinez, on the other hand, stated that Berry rejected his request for financial assistance with legal fees, even though “she admittedly earns several million dollars currently.”
