In an emotional address against domestic violence, Halle Berry shared the harrowing story of witnessing her mother being abused during her childhood.
Speaking at the unite4:good’s unite4humanity event, the 48-year-old Oscar-winning actress recounted how she saw her father repeatedly assault her mother.
Berry was recognized at the event for her contributions to the Jenesse Center, Los Angeles’ oldest domestic violence intervention program.
Berry disclosed during her speech that she is a survivor of domestic violence. Although she was never abused by a spouse, her mother was a victim.
Berry has been associated with the Jenesse Center for 15 years and was only five when she first saw her father, Jerome Berry, mistreat her mother, Judith Hawkins, as reported by E! Online.
Berry described how she watched her mother being “kicked down stairs” and struck in the head with a wine bottle.
She expressed her heartbreak at witnessing her mother’s powerlessness to escape the abuse, despite wanting to show strength to her daughters.
The abuse continued throughout Berry’s childhood, causing lasting damage to her and her sister as children of domestic violence.
She emphasized the importance of the Jenesse Center’s work in changing lives and supporting women and children affected by domestic violence.
Over the years, Berry has spoken about her late father being a violent alcoholic who abused her mother in front of her and her sister.
In a 2009 interview, she revealed that she was unable to do anything to prevent the violence.
Berry has been embroiled in a custody dispute with her former boyfriend, Canadian model Gabriel Aubry, over their daughter Nahla since their split in 2010.
They share joint custody, but in November 2014, Berry accused Aubry of chemically altering their daughter’s hair and making racial slurs against her.
At the gala, Berry was presented with the Creative Conscience Award.
Other celebrities, including Amy Poehler, Pink, Ewan McGregor, Aaron Paul and his wife Lauren Parsekian, Christina Applegate, Josh Hutcherson, and Zendaya, were also acknowledged for their philanthropic efforts.
