Halle Berry is accusing the father of her six-year-old daughter of trying to make her look more white.
The mixed race Oscar-winning actress took White ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry to court claiming Aubry straightened their daughter Nahla’s curly hair and lightened it in a bid to make her look less African-American. Court documents accuse Aubry of inflicting “potential psychological and physical damage” to the child that could cause her to wonder “why her natural appearance is not good enough”.
Aubry attended Monday’s court appearance, while Berry, who married French actor Olivier Martinez in 2013 after her split from Aubry in 2010, was represented by her lawyer. Berry stated in the court documents: “I want both Gabriel and I to make decisions together that affect our daughter, her growth, her development and her general welfare.
“I continue to hope that Gabriel and I can find a way to work together to be successful co-parents. It was with regret that I concluded that I had to seek the court’s intervention on these issues, but until Gabriel recognises the meaning of joint legal custody and how it is implemented, it appears that the court will be my only resort to safeguard Nahla’s best interests.”
In a magazine interview in 2011, Berry said she perceives her daughter as Black, but wants her to make up her own mind, as she [Berry] had to.
“I think, largely, that will be based on how the world identifies her. That’s how I identified myself,” she told Ebony, adding: “But I feel like she’s black. I’m black and I’m her mother, and I believe in the one-drop theory.”
A judge ruled that neither parents could change Nahla’s look from its natural state.
The case is the latest in a list of acrimonious actions Berry and Aubry have brought against each other. Aubry went through the courts last year to prevent Berry from moving with Nahla and her new husband to France and currently receives $16,000 child support from the Monster’s Ball actress, even though they share custody 50/50. Berry is seeking to decrease the child support she gives to Aubry, to $3,800 per month, claiming that the male model uses the money to finance his personal fitness, clothing, electronics, car and health insurance.
Berry and husband Martinez welcomed a son, Maceo, in October 2013.
