What's behind Halle Berry's divorce from Olivier Martinez?

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Halle Berry is gearing up for divorce number three, as news breaks she's splitting from husband Olivier Martinez -- but here's hoping there isn't another intense custody battle in her future!

The actress, who is mom to daughter Nahla and son Maceo, is calling it quits on her third marriage after just two years. Nahla, now 7, was born during her relationship with model Gabriel Aubry, while the star and soon-to-be-ex Olivier welcomed their son two years ago.

Filing for divorce on Tuesday, Halle and Olivier released a joint statement which reads, "It is with a heavy heart that we have come to the decision to divorce. We move forward with love and respect for one another and the shared focus of what is best for our son."

It can't be easy for Halle Berry to go public with news of her split. After publicly swearing she wouldn't marry in 2004, and again in 2007, the beauty accepted Olivier's proposal in 2012 and they wed in 2013. She was first married to baseball player David Justice from 1993 to 1997, and then later to musician Eric Benét from 2001 to 2005.

While going back on her promise to never again wed and then having it not work out might feel like eating a slice of humble pie, the real concern is how Halle will raise her son with Olivier. She and Gabriel, who dated from 2005 to 2010, ended up in an ugly custody battle that included restraining orders and hospital visits.

On the subject of Halle's split from Olivier, a gossiper told E! News, "They fell madly in love with one another, but at times it did feel like everything was against them. As a couple they constantly had a lot thrown at them."

Seeming to refer to Halle's custody battle over Nahla (because of which she was prevented from moving to France as she and Olivier desired), the supposed insider added:

"The stresses they were dealing with were way more than what a normal newly married couple would have to handle. While at times the problems brought them closer together and made them determined to beat the odds...with time, these things can take their toll."

This isn't the only source I saw point a finger at the custody battle as for what's to blame for this recent split.

It's certainly no secret that kids put stress on a marriage, and I can only imagine an intense, long-lasting custody battle would only make things worse. Still, I hate to see Maceo's parents split and Nahla once again be a bystander in a divorce.

My own husband and I feel the stress our kids add to our dynamic pretty intensely at times. We're darn good at being just the two of us, but with the near-constant needs of two little ones in the mix we sometimes wear thin. It'd be a lie to say we weren't looking forward to being empty-nesters in a decade or so.

But funnily enough, one of the couples we're friends with feel the opposite way. They struggle more just the two of them, and feel most on the same team when their son and daughter are around. Interesting how it's different for everyone!

How much stress would you say your kids add to your marriage?

Weigh in by commenting below!

Photo: PR Photos