Halle Berry Announces Engagement to Van Hunt on The Tonight Show
Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry has confirmed she is engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Grammy-winning musician Van Hunt. The 59-year-old star made the announcement during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday, showing off her unique engagement ring while discussing her upcoming fourth marriage.
The Catwoman actress revealed that Hunt proposed last June, though the couple has not yet set a wedding date. "Well, there's some confusion that he asked to marry me and I said no," Berry told Fallon. "No, that's not the case. I did not say no. We just don't have a date. But of course I said I would marry him! He did put a little ring on it."
A History of High-Profile Relationships
This engagement marks Berry's fourth trip down the aisle, following a series of high-profile relationships that have often ended in public divorce proceedings and bitter custody battles. The actress has been dating Hunt for five years after being introduced by his brother during the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020.
Berry's romantic history includes:
- David Justice (1993-1997): Her first marriage to former MLB player David Justice ended after four years. Berry later revealed the split led to depression and a suicide attempt, telling Parade magazine in 2007: "My sense of worth was so low. I had to reprogram myself to see the good in me."
- Eric Benét (2001-2005): Berry married singer Eric Benét in 2001 after two years of dating, but they separated in 2003 with their divorce finalized in 2005. Last year, Berry seemingly referenced Benét's claims of sex addiction on a podcast, stating: "I had one husband who said he was a sex addict. But I don't f***ing believe that s***."
- Olivier Martinez (2013-2016): Berry's marriage to French actor Olivier Martinez produced son Maceo Robert, now 12, but ended in a contentious divorce finalized in 2023. The split involved a bitter custody battle, with Berry filing for sole custody in 2024 and claiming she had spent over $200,000 in legal fees.
Costly Custody Battles and Public Feuds
Beyond her marriages, Berry's relationship with model Gabriel Aubry (2005-2010) resulted in daughter Nahla Ariela, now 17, and years of costly custody disputes. The Monster's Ball actress was originally ordered to pay Aubry $16,000 monthly in child support in 2014, a figure she later reduced to $8,000 monthly in 2021 with additional payments based on her income.
The custody battles reached their peak when Berry attempted to relocate to France with Nahla to live with Martinez, then her husband. This led to legal proceedings with Aubry that continued for years. Martinez was also involved in a physical altercation with Aubry in 2012 during a Thanksgiving visit, resulting in both men requiring hospital treatment and Aubry's arrest.
Looking Forward to a New Chapter
Despite her turbulent romantic past, Berry appears optimistic about her relationship with Hunt. "After my third divorce, people started to say, 'What's wrong with her? She's crazy. She can't keep a man,'" Berry recalled in a recent interview with The Cut. "I'm in the best relationship I have ever had."
The unique engagement ring features a center diamond surrounded by a square cut design on a substantial gold band. Hunt, 55, has an adult son named Drake from a previous relationship. The couple began texting and talking on the phone in April 2020 before having their first date four months later.
Berry's announcement comes after what she described as a decade of avoiding interviews to escape the "Poor Halle — Unlucky in Love Again" narrative. Now, as she prepares for her fourth marriage, the actress seems determined to rewrite her romantic story with the musician she calls her perfect match.
