Gabriel Aubry has released an exclusive statement, via his rep at Wilhelmina Models, to Access Hollywood about his custody fight with ex, Halle Berry, over their nearly 3-year-old daughter, Nahla.
“While Gabriel is disappointed in Halle’s decision to falsely malign him publicly and for her own purposes, he refuses to be pulled into her dispute over a canceled film production. Gabriel also refuses to air their issues in the press as he believes this may ultimately harm their daughter. The fact is that Gabriel is a caring father who shares custody of Nahla,” the statement read.
“Gabriel fully believes that a consistent and balanced living situation and two loving parents are crucial for their child even if Ms. Berry feels otherwise. He will always defend his rights as a father and will always consider Nahla’s best interest. Halle’s continuing allegations in the press are untrue and irresponsible.”
On Monday, Berry’s rep issued a statement revealing that the Oscar winner had dropped out of a movie (“New Year’s Eve”) to focus on “custody issues” related to Nahla. People first reported the news, adding that Berry would be replaced by Katherine Heigl on the production, for which filming begins this week.
“Halle Berry was forced to pull out of a film production in New York this week due to pending custody litigation involving her daughter. She has attempted to resolve these custody issues amicably with her daughter’s father, Gabriel Aubry, directly, but given his lack of cooperation, Halle has no choice but to seek swift judicial intervention,” the actress’ rep said in a statement also issued to Access Hollywood.
“Halle has serious concerns for her daughter’s well-being while in the care of her father for any extended period of time and is prepared to take all necessary steps to protect her,” the statement from Berry’s rep to Access continued. “Halle has always made the needs and safety of her daughter her first priority and, both while Halle and Gabriel were a couple and since their break-up, Halle has only acted in her daughter’s best interest.”
It was back in May 2010, that news first surfaced that a custody battle between the former couple was brewing. Radar Online reported then that Aubry was looking into his legal options regarding his daughter as Berry was preparing to head to South Africa to shoot a film.
Back in December, Aubry filed paperwork in Los Angeles Superior Court, asking the court to formally recognize him as the father of Nahla. People reported the filing in mid-January.
The model also reportedly asked the court to legally establish joint custody of the toddler between the former couple.
Berry and Aubry’s split was first revealed in May 2010. At the time, her rep told the press, the couple had “split some time ago.”
A few months later, Berry told Vogue that the two were “still friends” and remained a family of sorts.
“We were meant to bring this amazing little person into the world. And I think that’s why we came together. And because of that, we are going to be together forever,” she said at the time. “We are a family until we are not here anymore.”
The couple met and began dating following a Versace photo shoot in 2005.
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