We’ve all heard the story about the abuse Halle has gone through in a previous relationship, but now the Oscar-winning actress has decided to speak on the abuse that she saw her mother and older sister go through as a child.
Halle has never spoken publicly about the beatings her mother recieved by her father, Jerome Jesse Berry, who left her family in Cleveland, Ohio, when she was four. But she has said a boyfriend once hit her so hard she is still largely deaf in her left ear. The 43-year-old actress has been a low-key volunteer on the night shift at the Jenesse centre in Los Angeles for years but has only now chosen to reveal this part of her life, discussing for the first time how her father beat her mother and how she escaped her own abusive relationships.
According to timesonlinecom, Berry said she and her elder sister, Heidi, were still recovering from witnessing the violence inflicted on their mother, Judith, a retired nurse who was born in Liverpool:
“I saw my mother battered, and could not do anything to stop it,” she said. “My father was tyrannical, lashing out at her for no reason. I felt the effects that had on our family — I’ve experienced what these women have gone through.”
She said her mother was still working out why she took it for so many years. “That is a deep question, and I am not sure she will ever come up with one answer. I have one answer to anyone in a similar situation — get out.”
Berry never forgave her father, a hospital porter, even as he lay dying with Parkinson’s disease in 2003. He sold his account of their estrangement to a tabloid “for a pack of beer and cigarettes,” Berry said.
She wondered if her parents’ relationship had affected her past romances.
She said: “I never had to run to a shelter, but I did choose the wrong partners. Not always good men. Luckily, in recent years, I have been smart enough to hit the door when violence even becomes a possibility. That is something I will not tolerate.”
After two failed marriages, Halle is now settled with her boyfriend,Versace model Gabriel Aubry, and their 20-month-old baby girl, Nahla.
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Take a look at Halle below:
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at 10:20 am
As a few posters wrote, there are a lot of ignorant people on these threads. Halle Berry does not need to lie about her abuse to get publicity: her talent and beauty speak for themselves.
It would be different if she was a washed out, has-been actress or actor, living in obscurity for years and decided to write a memoir about her life. Even then, I would not be so quick to judge because many victims of abuse take a long time to step from the shadows and share their stories.
…And for those of you (like Ladyd121) who think that she lied about being abuse to justify being with a white man and having a child by him: where in the f*** is your head at? Seriously, if Halle wanted a baby solely by a white man, she would have done it a long time ago. This woman could have practically any many she wanted, so your theory has a lot of holes in it.
Ladyd121, you also said that you are glad that Eric Benet cheated on her…? Seriously? Are you so insecure with yourself that you are actually glad that a man cheated on some woman you don’t even really know (just know about) and who doesn’t even know you exist? Are you getting paid to be this mean-spirited? You sound very young and very ignorant to a lot of things, Ladyd121. Let me give you some advice: don’t ever again put yourself in the position of being so judgemental like you were in your last post. If you are lucky enough to have a long life ahead of you, that means more time and opportunity for you to make some mistakes that people will use against you and judge you for them. You better hope that people are more understanding to you than you are to others.
at 1:51 pm
Dam, this is so sad how people on here are so dam ignorant. If she’s with a white man so what let her be happy, love has no color people, and why is it that its always someone gotta be lying about there past??? I dont see what she would get out of lying about her past history of abuse, you stupid ass people need to cut it out and quit being so judgmental. I’m somalian and ethiopian and black females hate on me everyday day because my man is black (even though I consider myself to be black) its always a black female and no one else ??? i was born in chicago and I’ve always had people tell me I act black….um hello I was born and raised around black people so how is it an act??? All I’m saying is black people need to stop hatin on each other, misery loves company i’ve found that to be a proven fact !
at 4:49 am
wow some of yall are just ridiculous. If the woman wants to be with a white man don’t hate on her. He is finer than most of the brothers I know so I aint mad at her and if he treats her good on top of that the more power to her. Their baby is damn cute by the way!
at 1:29 am
ALL THESE HOES LOVE BEING ABUSED!!! BEING ABUSED IS THE COOL THING FOR WOMEN, JUST ASK AROUND.
at 1:21 am
yeah…i don’t think she hates black men. she was married to one…but let’s see…he cheated on her right? yeah. and she dated others…and now she’s met a man who makes her happy. good for her.
at 7:55 am
ABUSE IS A 2 WAY STREET…YAP, YAP, YAP, GIT YUH AZZ SMACKED……….. KINDA REMINDS ME.. WHAT U TELL A BROAD WITH 2 BLACK EYES?!……………I DUN ALREADY TOLD DA BIYTCH TWICE!!!
at 10:28 pm
shut up you black b***hes lmao your all ignorant talking s**t.. i’m kind of ignorant saying blacl b***hes but to prove my point saying a person is black or white back in the early 20’s century will get your ass beat. ask the old timers they’ll tell you how ignorant the new generation is. i was ignorant too and still going to be. i’m not going to be here trying to make u believe, you racist bastard of a polluted womb mother.
at 9:56 pm
Oh yeah that’s stupid as fuuuu.ck her no liking black men lol she is black… that’s just ignorant
at 9:52 pm
I had to stop reading post because my head shakes of disgust was overwhelming me. To see females speak on this matter as if she or any female deserve to be abused in any form at all, is pretty unbelievable. I am a woman of mixed cultures as well, my moms from maryland, shes black, my dads from Panama. I have been in a very serious case of abuse with a past relationship. It is not something you talk about for publicity reasons, and in this case really think about it, publicity for what? Band wagon hopping? Really, I doubt it. That is a grown ass woman spilling out secrets about her family…not a 20 year old something, like rhanna and Chris brown… she knows better, and she also knows how coming out on this subject can turn in the public’s eye. Before u condemn, ask yourself are u really talking truthfully about the situation, or are u just biased to the pretty face. Hating…I repeat HATING…can eat you alive and take away sound reasoning. I’m only 25, y’all should know this already. Love everyone.
at 9:47 pm
shut da phuck up u dumb azz haters…why would she lie about abuse
at 7:14 pm
SirMoonlite2, thanks for the correction about who beat her (Chris Wms., and not Snipes). I just think she got sick of the nonsense and met a guy that she felt was “safe”. Nothing wrong with that. It doesn’t mean that she hates black men in general.
at 10:52 am
I heard it was Christopher Williams that punched her ear not Wesley. I don’t know and don’t care really. She is so fake to me and her daughter is not real cute in my opinion.The ONLY reason Halle had a white daughter because if she would have had her with a black man she would have been darker and she didn’t want that.Because to be biracial Halle is not that light complected.I think it all ties in to this abuse claim she and her mom were abused by black men so she wanted a baby with a white man. I am glad Eric Benet cheated I probly f**ked him too I can’t remember but he should have gotten her other ear too.
at 10:37 pm
Quick Point: @ Candyboxxx, Mr Snipes was never married to Halle Berry
Snipes marriages: {April Duboise (1985–1990) Nikki Park (2003–present)}
D. Strawberry used to knock the taste buds out her mouth(Crackhead/MLB player/ first husband)..
For her to bring this subject back up!!! Suspect!! It appears to be another anti-dark-guy production…hate the dark-guy, hate!!! Okay, keep going that way, I notice more and more White males entering membership here….More anti -dark guy personal messages post on Female site pages!!! Popular Trend?? or Phase Three of the Final Solution???
Notice…. who she is with now!!!
at 7:42 pm
Is this a trend now? For these female celebrities to suddenly reveal, without anyone asking for it, that they were abused?
at 11:44 am
YES BABY BABY. HER ABUSE HAS PASSED. LOL
at 11:19 am
I DO AGREE WITH YOU ON THIS SUBJECT…ITS BULL CRAP…LOL…$$$$$
Why don’t I believe Halle’s story? Because this is what’s known in Hollywood circles as “riding the publicity train”.
Is it just me, or has anyone noticed that the moment domestic abuse of any kind becomes the hot topic in the media, every celebrity suddenly comes out of the closet with their own story of abuse? First, one celebrity is in the news for an abuse issue, and then every other celebrity has their own story of having been abused some 20+ years ago that they never felt comfortable tallking about until just NOW.
This time, is the movie Precious that has been nominated for an Academy Award. And the movie is about what? Abuse. And once again, every celebrity is coming out like c**kroaches when the lights go off, with their own personal abuse stories. But they do it why? Because we seem to fall for it and eat it up every time.
THIS IS SO TRUE…FOR THESE PEOPLE….
at 10:06 am
How many times is she going to open up about her passed abuse.
at 7:38 pm
stop talking about rihanna & stop calling what happened a “situation” because if neither of them were famous none of you rihanna lovin Chris hatin jump-to-judgment bloggers would give a tooted out rats a s s.
Poor chris…
at 4:02 pm
Rhemawrd, Halle Berry may had been approached about doing a (recent) interview on her experience with domestic abuse in light of the Rihanna situation…probably because her history with her ex (Wesley Snipes) abusing her was already known and celebrities can help bring certain issues to light. I don’t think Halle Berry is riding any publicity train; I think that the media is using her story to gain viewership and readership.
at 11:24 am
Good for her for telling her story. I don’t believe that it’s just for PR purposes — she speaks with hundreds of battered women each year through her charity work. She recognizes that simply talking about the subject can help men and women across the country. They might hear her story, and say, “yeah, that sounds like me,” and then either get out of an abusive relationship, or simply not get into one in the first place.
For instance, there’s an author named Marala Scott (you know, the lady on Oprah.com right now) who came to Wayne State University last semester and talked about the ‘Indicators of an Abuser,’ which are guidelines for recognizing patterns that might suggest future violent actions. A good idea.
So, when Halle Berry talks about her own experience, describing her boyfriend’s actions, attitudes, etc., there is a lot that other people can learn by listening to her. Words are powerful.
at 10:12 am
Her dad sucked – I’m glad she let him die w/out showing any love. Eff that dum a*s n g g a – good riddance. And that she learned and doesn’t continue 2 put up w/that in her current life – whoever said they don’t believe it is sounding pretty dumb as this is actually old news and not a publicity train which Halle, btw, doesn’t even need. But I w/flippantly say this – if god lets me look as good as her at 43 I don’t even need my ear! lol! She’s right tho – anyone getting abused – run – get out or kill that muhfugga and THEN get out. B**chas*ez!
at 9:04 am
I know I’ll catch alot of flack for saying this, but I’m gonna say it anyway. Why don’t I believe Halle’s story? Because this is what’s known in Hollywood circles as “riding the publicity train”.
Is it just me, or has anyone noticed that the moment domestic abuse of any kind becomes the hot topic in the media, every celebrity suddenly comes out of the closet with their own story of abuse? First, one celebrity is in the news for an abuse issue, and then every other celebrity has their own story of having been abused some 20+ years ago that they never felt comfortable tallking about until just NOW.
This time, is the movie Precious that has been nominated for an Academy Award. And the movie is about what? Abuse. And once again, every celebrity is coming out like c**kroaches when the lights go off, with their own personal abuse stories. But they do it why? Because we seem to fall for it and eat it up every time.