Halle Berry has leaned heavily on fiancé Van Hunt throughout her ongoing Halle Berry custody battle with ex-husband Olivier Martinez, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The insider described Hunt as a steadying force for the Oscar-winning actress, saying he has remained close by during both the custody dispute and the restraining order proceedings. Berry has faced what the source called an extremely trying and pressure-filled period, and Hunt’s presence has helped keep her grounded.
“He’s been incredibly supportive through everything,” the source said, adding that having Hunt to rely on has made a meaningful difference for Berry.
A public appearance after a court ruling
Berry and Hunt were photographed together in West Hollywood days after a judge rejected Martinez’s bid for a permanent domestic violence restraining order against her. The two were seen arriving for lunch at The Bird Streets Club, with Berry dressed in a relaxed black button-down shirt, loose blue jeans and black flats. She finished the look with a cream fedora and dark sunglasses, her shoulder-length hair styled in loose waves.
Hunt, 56, opted for a graphic T-shirt, cropped black trousers, sunglasses and a brown bag.
The outing came after a turbulent stretch in the legal fight. Martinez had accused Berry of choking their son during an alleged incident at her home on Sept. 26. A judge initially granted Martinez a temporary domestic violence restraining order, which gave him primary custody of Maceo and limited Berry’s time with the boy while the case moved forward.
Berry has denied the allegation through her attorney, Marina Beck, who has called Martinez’s claims meritless and misleading.
Testimony and a partial win
Hunt has done more than offer emotional backing. He testified during closed-door proceedings in Los Angeles Superior Court last month, according to prior reporting. Berry’s 18-year-old daughter, Nahla, whom she shares with ex Gabriel Aubry, also testified in support of her mother.
In court filings ahead of the hearing, Berry’s legal team accused Martinez of disrupting their son’s education and therapeutic care and of drawing the teenager into the couple’s legal disputes.
On Oct. 29, a judge dissolved the temporary domestic violence restraining order against Berry and declined Martinez’s request to make it permanent. The ruling was a partial victory for Berry, who had sought to have the order dismissed and to return to the former couple’s earlier shared custody setup.
Still, Martinez kept primary physical custody of Maceo, and Berry’s parenting time remained restricted to daytime visits without overnight stays.
Berry has asked the court to dismiss Martinez’s restraining order request and to lift the temporary limits on her contact with Maceo. She is also pursuing sole legal custody, which would give her more authority over decisions about their son’s education, medical care and mental health, along with a restoration of the previous 50-50 physical custody arrangement.
Beck welcomed the judge’s decision, saying Berry remained focused on her family’s well-being.
Background on the relationship
Berry, 60, and Martinez married in 2013 and announced their split in 2015. Their divorce was finalized in 2023 after a lengthy legal battle. Berry has been linked to Hunt since 2020, and the couple have since become engaged.
A representative for Berry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
