Whew! If “just smile through the BS” were a person, it would be Halle Berry, no question. The award-winning had that written all over her face as she left court Thursday. TMZ caught the moment reporters swarmed her the second she stepped out of the courthouse, and instead of tossing them even a one-word answer, she offered a graceful, slightly awkward smile and never let it crack.
🚨💼 Halle Berry leaves court after Thursday’s custody ruling. https://t.co/RrpMKvWKL3— TMZ (@TMZ) October 29, 2026
The ruling gave her one win and one loss. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Shelley Kaufman dismissed Olivier Martinez’s request for a domestic violence restraining order, but temporarily denied Berry’s requests for 50/50 custody and overnight visits. In plain terms, the restraining order is gone, but the custody schedule she wanted is not coming back yet. Martinez keeps primary physical custody of their 13-year-old son, Maceo, for now.
Berry’s camp chose to focus on the part that went their way. Her attorney, Marina Beck, said, “We are extremely pleased that the Court has dissolved the TRO.” Beck added that Berry remains focused on the well-being of her family. Martinez’s side sees it differently. His attorney, Patrick Baghdaserians, confirmed that Martinez will keep primary physical custody after a contentious hearing.
As we previously reported, Martinez alleged in a court filing that Berry attacked their son in September, claiming she jumped on him and put her hands around his neck. Berry has denied the abuse allegations. She also objected that Martinez had “coached” Maceo before the boy gave a deposition, which tells you how heated this has gotten.
Berry also had family in her corner. Her 18-year-old daughter, Nahla Aubry, filed a declaration with the court backing her mother. Nahla wrote, “I have never witnessed her act violently toward anyone.” She also told the court she was shocked, very sad and very upset by Martinez’s claims.
Nahla described her mom’s discipline as the kind she grew up with, built on boundaries, consequences, limited screen time and time-outs. In her words, none of it was abusive.
This didn’t come out of nowhere, either. Berry and Martinez divorced in 2023 after an eight-year legal fight, agreeing to joint legal and physical custody of Maceo, with Martinez receiving $8,000 a month in child support. Before this month’s blowup, Berry had already been in court trying to change things. Earlier filings show she sought sole custody, accusing Martinez of violating court orders and interfering with their son’s best interests. Martinez disputed her claims. Years later, the same war is still being fought, just with higher stakes and more cameras.
The ruling isn’t final, either. The former couple will have to wait until their next court hearing in November to find out whether the custody arrangement changes. That means Berry’s camera-ready grin has to hold up for at least one more round.