There are some blurbs about Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry in this week’s tabloids. Although it looks like they’ve called a truce in their custody battle for now, they may not be behaving like mature adults who want to coparent without conflict. According to In Touch (yes, I know) they were each planning to spoil their daughter Nahla, with expensive gifts for her third birthday, which was Wednesday. (Happy Birthday Nahla!)
According to a friend, Halle and ex Gabriel Aubry spent a fortune trying to outdo each other for the tot’s March 16 birthday. On March 4, Gabriel ordered a $ 500 birthday cake from Sweet Lady Jane, while Halle spent $ 4,000 on toys and stuffed animals as birthday presents for the little girl. “It’s almost like they’re fighting for Nahla’s love,” a friend says. They’re both spoiling her more than ever. The exes are in New York so Gabriel can be with his little girl while Halle films New Year’s Eve in the city. “They have to cooperate on some things, even though they hate it,” says the insider. “So far, this adorable child seems unaware of this tension between them.”
[From In Touch, print edition, March 28, 2011]
This could be crap, but I buy that they’re both trying to show how much they care through presents. That happens when parents get divorced. At least for Nahla’s sake Gabriel wants to be in her life and is a devoted father, as much as Halle seems to wish he was out of the picture.
The National Enquirer has another story about how Halle is justifying her anger and outbursts on the tapes Gabriel allegedly has of her (Oksana style) over the phone. She thinks it’s normal to get spitting mad and screamy, that Gabriel deserved it and there’s no reason to take it out of context and vilify her for it:
Halle Berry, who allegedly possesses a volatile temper, desperately does not want fans to hear her raging rants in phone calls recorded by baby daddy Gabriel Aubry – which will leak if their custofy battle over daughter Nahla goes to court. Barry has admitted to her legal team: “I did yet at him because I thought he deserved it, but I realize to some people I might sound like I am out of control – I do sound that way when I’m angry, even though it’s not who I truly am.”
[From The National Enquirer, print edition, Mike Walker's column, March 28, 2011]
Walker goes on to point out that this is pretty much what Mel Gibson said too. We just don’t get it, they were driven to do it, and it’s justified – only it isn’t, it’s abusive and uncalled for. Halle could be playing nice with Gabe because she knows he’s got the dirt on her and there’s no way to justify the way she acted. She’s keeping it in check for the sake of her image.
Halle is shown on the back of Oliver Martinez’ motorcycle on 3/5/11 and at the NAACP image awards on 3/4/11. Credit: WENN.com. Gabriel is shown out with Nahla on 2/17/11. Credit: Fame.