Feb 3, 2011 11:35 GMT  ·  By
Sordid details of Gabriel Aubry and Halle Berry’s custody battle emerge in press
   Sordid details of Gabriel Aubry and Halle Berry’s custody battle emerge in press

As the custody battle between Halle Berry and ex Gabriel Aubry is getting nastier, more details on what caused it are starting to emerge in the media. Reports are now saying that the model was abusive to Halle, even using racial slurs when addressing her at least once.

It all began a month or so ago, when Aubry filed papers for joint custody. He and the Oscar-winning actress have been separated since early last year, and it was always believed the breakup had been amicable.

To Aubry’s move, Berry responded by issuing a statement to say that she would fight this because she believed their child, 2-year-old Nahla, was not safe with her father for longer periods of time.

Shortly after, Gabriel also issued a statement according to which Halle was being unreasonable in her (false) claims and unfair by making him to be the villain in the press.

Sources close to the former couple are now telling People that Halle has every reason to be so protective of Nahla since her experience with Gabriel post-breakup is none too happy.

“‘Once they broke up he became verbally threatening to Halle,’ Aubry’s former friend and business partner Stephane Bibeau tells People in this week’s cover story. ‘He is a vindictive guy.’ Bibeau and other sources close to Berry, 44, claim that Aubry, 35, has used a racial slur against her,” People writes.

Gabriel’s friends are, of course, denying all this, saying that he’s the most attentive father to Nahla possible, and was extremely respectful to Halle both before and after they split.

TMZ has a similar story about Aubry’s alleged violent tendencies: every time he met with her after she broke up with him, he would be threatening her and hurling insults at her.

Moreover, says the e-zine, he’s also left messages on her phone in which he does the same, which means that, if this ever comes up in court, Halle will have proof of it.

TMZ also says that Gabriel is also doing something to Nahla, since she’s terrified every time she comes back home after a visit to his place.

“We’re told two-year-old Nahla cannot communicate what scares her so, but Halle believes her daughter has made it clear – something happens when she’s in Gabriel’s care that upsets her to the extreme,” TMZ writes.

“Sources say Halle doesn’t know specifically what goes on when Nahla is with Gabriel but she’s convinced it’s unhealthy,” the report further reads.