In our last article on Gabriel Aubry, we mentioned that an emergency hearing requested by Halle Berry for a “no contact” order between Aubry and their nearly four year-old daughter, Nahla, was denied. Aubry currently has supervised visits with Nahla, and it’s expected that those will continue for the time being. To recap: Aubry has been accused by a nanny of verbal abuse, of pushing her on two occasions, once with Nahla in her arms, and of grabbing Nahla from her. A bid by the nanny to get a restraining order against Aubry was also denied. (Radar has the PDF of the ruling denying the restraining order, and the boxes are checked for “does not show reasonable proof,” “fails to show that he or she will suffer great or irreparable harm,” and “fails to show threat of future harm.” It’s written below that in long hand that the petition is “Insufficient and speculative. If there are concerns they should be resolved in family court.”)

Aubry is currently being investigated for misdemeanor battery and child endangerment in conjunction with an altercation with the nanny on January 18. As part of that investigation, child and family services has interviewed both Berry and Aubry separately, as is reportedly standard in cases like this. Radar has the details of the interview with Aubry, and after getting the semi-official excuse from Aubry camp’s that “the nanny tripped” and wasn’t pushed, they’re also getting his very deep thoughts on having to speak to authorities. Poor pretty Gabe feels like “he is living in a police state.”

The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services has formally interviewed Halle Berry’s baby daddy, Gabriel Aubry, in connection with allegations that he pushed a nanny while she was holding the former couple’s three year old daughter, Nahla, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.

Aubry’s interview with social workers was thorough and exhaustive. “These are very serious allegations and Gabriel was obviously very nervous,” a source close to Aubrey tells RadarOnline.com. “Gabriel feels that he is living in a police state as far as his time with his daughter is concerned.

“He is a doting and loving father and extremely attentive to Nahla. His daughter wasn’t present when the interview took place. The investigation will remain open at this point, but it’s not uncommon at all for officials to keep an investigation open out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of the child.”

[From Radar]

As many of you mentioned in our last story, saying that a person “tripped” or fell is a classic abuser tactic. I’m not saying that Gabe is a nasty monster, or even that all these allegations ring true to me, but he’s not helping his case at all by leaking these ridiculous explanations and defensive quotes to the tabloids. It really does seem that he’s a devoted dad and that he loves Nahla, but if he has anger management issues he needs to have supervised visitation. It’s still hard to know which side to believe given Halle’s obvious tactics in the past to both smear Gabriel and to make sure she pushes him out of their daughter’s life. The truth is probably somewhere in between.

Yesterday we heard that Halle Berry’s ex, Gabriel Aubry, was being investigated for misdemeanor battery and child endangerment after an altercation with a nanny who works for both Halle and Gabriel. Apparently the nanny confronted Aubry over not bringing his nearly four year-old daughter, Nahla, to school. The argument then got heated, with the nanny telling police that Gabriel verbally abused her and then pushed her while she was holding Nahla. The nanny claims she almost fell and that she was slammed against the wall.

Opinions on this story were very polarized. Some people thought the nanny was on team Halle and was trying to malign Gabriel, which is supported by the nanny’s claims that Gabriel often called her a “spy” when she was at his house. Maybe she does have allegiances to Halle, but even if that’s the case it doesn’t rule out Aubry being abusive. Also, the nanny told the police the minor and unnecessary detail that Nahla had a rash that Gabriel refused to treat. Why would she tell them that unless she was throwing accusations out there trying to see what would stick? Plus, the nanny lost a restraining order bid she had against Gabriel. In the restraining order, she admits opening his apartment door with a key she had on January 18 just prior to the altercation and she makes no mention of knocking. On the other hand, we’ve heard for some time that Aubry has an explosive temper, and why would the nanny bother to take out a restraining order unless she was afraid of him? It’s not too farfetched to imagine him going off on an employee who overstepped her bounds and then pushing her out the door.

Well a new article in Radar has a “source” close to Gabriel who claims that he didn’t push the nanny and that she “tripped.”

However, Aubry is telling a very different version of events.

“Why in the world would Gabriel push the nanny causing her to fall while she was holding his daughter?” a source close to the situation asks. “Gabriel is fiercely protective of Nahla. The nanny tripped, and she fell while holding Nahla. Yes, Gabriel and the nanny were arguing, he felt like his parenting skills were under attack again. Gabriel can’t believe how out of control this situation has become. He is hopeful that criminal charges won’t be filed against him.”

As RadarOnline.com previously reported, the nanny says that last Wednesday she went to pick Nahla up at school and she wasn’t there, so she went to Gabriel’s home.

“Gabriel and the nanny got into an argument because no one alerted her that Nahla didn’t go to school,” a source told RadarOnline.com.

The source went on to claim that Aubry allegedly verbally abused the nanny, before things took a turn for the physical.

“She picked up Nahla to leave and Gabriel yelled at her and shoved her out the door so hard that she hit the wall — while she had Nahla in her arms!” the source alleges, adding that the nanny claims the abuse is ongoing. The nanny filed a police report and Aubrey is now being investigated for misdemeanor battery and child endangerment.

[From Radar]

When someone issues a denial that starts with a question, it’s suspect to me. “Why would I do that?” is not the same as categorically saying “I didn’t do that,” although the source later claims that the nanny “tripped.”

Yesterday there was a court hearing in which Halle asked for an emergency “no contact” order for Gabriel and their daughter until the investigation into this incident was completed. TMZ reports that the judge left the custody arrangement “as is” and put off a ruling until the judge who has been handling this case returns from vacation. Radar has more information that “The Los Angeles Department of Children & Family Services is expected to interview Berry, Aubry, and the nanny in the next several days.”

Let’s pretend that none of these people are famous and that we only know their situation and nothing else about them. You have a couple who went through an acrimonious divorce and who both love their daughter. The mother doesn’t want the father to have contact with his daughter at all and has actively worked to limit their contact. A nanny who works for the mother claims that the father yells a lot, is verbally abusive towards her and pushed her twice out the door, once with his daughter in her hands. Barring our feelings on whether the guy is abusive, and whether this is emotionally damaging to his child, is it enough to deny him all contact with his daughter? It’s a hard accusation to prove, so probably not. I could see supervised visitation continuing indefinitely, though.

Gabriel and Nahla are shown on 1-13, 1-9, 1-6 and 12-28. Credit: WENN.com

When Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry split, a lot of accusations were made both through the press and in court that Aubry was verbally abusive, that he screamed racial epithets at Halle, and that he may have been neglecting their daughter Nahla, now nearly four. There were only vague allegations of neglect in the press and the worst thing I think I read about Aubry was that he called Halle the N word and threw a chair against a wall. A lot of people questioned whether Halle was publicly maligning Aubry in order to make herself out to be the victim and bolster her custody case. Well a new story suggests that Aubry might have an explosive temper after all. A nanny has accused him of pushing her out the door and screaming at her – when she had Nahla in her arms.

Halle Berry’s baby daddy Gabriel Aubry is being investigated for criminal child endangerment and battery — over an incident involving his and Halle’s child … TMZ has learned.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, Gabriel allegedly pushed his nanny into a door while she held his daughter Nahla in her arms.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ … Gabriel was supposed to take 3-year-old Nahla to school Wednesday but decided to keep her home instead. The nanny — who worked for both Gabriel and Halle — went to the school to pick Nahla up and was told the child was a no-show.

According to the report, the nanny then went to Gabriel’s home, where she found Nahla. The nanny picked Nahla up and began to question Gabriel as to why he didn’t take the child to school.

According to the report, that’s when Gabriel allegedly flew into a rage — claiming, “You’re the f**king nanny. Who do you think you are? You are a nobody. You don’t need to f**king know anything.” The 6-foot-4 Gabriel then allegedly pushed the 5-foot-2 nanny out the door, Nahla in her arms.

The nanny filed a police report, claiming she was injured. Law enforcement sources tell us … police are investigating Gabriel for both misdemeanor child endangerment and misdemeanor battery.

The report lists the investigation as a battery, but law enforcement sources tell us they are “definitely investigating child endangerment.”

[From TMZ]

I read the police report (the PDF is here) and the blowup was over the nanny picking up Nahla, so that means that it’s Halle’s nanny too and there may be some history there. The accusations in the police report don’t sound as sordid as TMZ makes them out to be in their writeup (above) but that could just be due to the neutral way that police reports are written. They write “The susp(ect) [Aubry] then pushed the vict(im), who was still holding Nala [sic] in her arms and the vict fell against the wall, that was next to the susp[(ect's) front door. The vict stated that if the door was not there she would of [sic] fell to the ground with Nala in her arms.” I hope it wasn’t as bad as it sounds and that Nahla wasn’t traumatized by seeing her dad blow up at her nanny like that.

TMZ has a follow-up story that Halle is seeking a no contact ruling in court so that Aubry can’t see his daughter at all until the investigation for child endangerment associated with this case is complete. The nanny allegedly told police that “Gabriel repeatedly yelled and cursed at her, often while Nahla was present,” and that “Gabriel often yelled at Nahla, causing the child to cower and cry.” Then they add that the nanny claimed that “when Nahla had a rash he refused to treat it.” That’s a strange minor detail to add, isn’t it? Whatever is going on, I just feel sorry for Nahla.

Gabriel and Nahla are shown outside her school on 1-9, 1-11, 1-12 and 1-13. They pretty much get papped every day

Something weird is happening. Over the past few days, we’ve gotten new photos of Gabriel Aubry and Nahla, out and about in LA, AND new photos of Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez, out and about in LA. Shock of all shocks, Halle and Olivier are still together and Halle let him out of his chains (seriously, where does he go when he’s not around?). I feel like these competing photo ops are a sign of future craziness in the year to come.

Over the past year, we were gifted with the motherlode of cray-cray from the ongoing custody battle for Nahla Aubry. Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry broke up more than a year ago, but it was in January and February of this year that everything got dialed up to BALLS-OUT CRAY-CRAY. There was a ton of back-and-forth in the media, with Radar acting as Team Aubry and TMZ acting as Team Berry. Gabriel Aubry was accused of racism, and being verbally abusive to Halle and Nahla, and Halle told the courts that Gabriel didn’t deserve to spend time with Nahla without some kind of third-party involvement. Gabriel’s side was basically saying that Halle is crazy, that she harassed him, and that she would do anything to get sole custody of Nahla. Oh, and Halle also let everyone know her feelings on race and the “one drop theory” – which was one of our biggest posts of the year.

So what will 2012 bring Gabriel, Halle and Nahla? I hope that Gabriel’s custodial rights as Nahla’s father are increased, and I hope that Halle brings the crazy once again whenever Olivier manages to get out of his chains and run for help. Seriously, how is Halle able to maintain the relationship with Olivier? Don’t say “she’s beautiful” or “crazy sex”. At some point, Olivier will get tired of that, and when it ends, it will be a hot mess.

Photos courtesy of Fame.

Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry’s war of attrition has not ended. It’s just gotten somewhat more low-key, although I’m of the opinion that Halle is still waging a PR campaign against Gabriel in the tabloids. One of the most recent items ended up in Star Magazine last month, in which a “witness” claimed that Gabriel had used racist slurs against Halle in the heat of an argument, and that Gabriel always denied that Nahla was anything other than white. Those arguments are consistent with what Halle’s team claimed in the heat of their custody dispute, and unfortunately for all involved (especially Nahla), it looks like some of the claims are sticking. Halle and Gabriel’s lawyers met once again in court on Monday to work out some kinks in the custody agreement. As the agreement stands now, Gabriel is not allowed to have unsupervised overnight custody of Nahla – and Gabriel’s lawyers wanted that changed. Gabriel’s lawyers did not win.

The custody battle between Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry over their beautiful daughter, Nahla, wages on with no visible end in sight.

Attorneys for the warring couple were back in court Monday in Los Angeles, and it was a sweet victory for the 45-year-old actress, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.

Aubry had requested an amendment to his visitation rights, which currently insist that the bulk of his time with his three-year-old daughter be supervised by a third party, but the judge ruled in favor of Berry, who was opposing any change.

Aubry is allowed three hours alone time with Nahla, where he can take her to the park or carry out an activity, but the order remains that the nanny must be present at all other times, especially during overnight stays.

A source close to the situation tells RadarOnline.com that Gabriel is furious over not being allowed to care for his daughter on his own and that he feels the nanny is encroaching on his relationship with Nahla, and supervising their every move.

Meanwhile, Gabriel is currently overseas in Majorca, caretaking Nahla while Berry works on her new movie, Cloud Atlas. As per the couple’s custody agreement, Berry must arrange accommodation for Aubry during these times and it must be of the same standard as she is being afforded — so if Halle is staying in a five star hotel, Gabriel must be given the same.

[From Radar]

TMZ’s report is similar, so I think this is what really went down. TMZ’s source also says that “Gabriel is pissed — and he feels the nanny is ruining his relationship with his daughter.” Here’s a question, and I mean this in all honesty, with no agenda: what does it say about Gabriel Aubry that the court won’t let him have unsupervised visits with Nahla? Is it just a simple technicality, like Nahla is so young, and that the status will change when she gets older? Or does it speak to some kind of truth in Halle’s claims? Look, I definitely think Halle is crazy. But it bothers me that the court system seems to be backing her up, and it makes me think there might be some shred of truth to her claims. Is that crazy?

Photos courtesy of Fame.

That title really doesn’t capture the alleged accusations against Gabriel Aubry in new custody papers unearthed by Star Magazine. The way Star phrases it, the accusations sound really sordid. The thing is, we’ve heard the exact same things about Halle, and we’ve also heard this about Gabriel before along with a lot of conflicting reports about how they were each terrible people so it’s hard to know what to believe. I would bet that their relationship is rocky and that they screamed and yelled before they called it quits, but it probably was in no way as one sided as this makes it sound at all. I also don’t buy Gabriel as this broody, emotionally distant person who forgets to bring presents for his daughter’s birthday and didn’t care about Halle’s pregnancy. Just the fact that he’s fought so hard for custody shows otherwise. Custody can get complicated and messy, and it’s obvious that both sides are slinging accusations. Here’s what Star claims, which I believe Halle could have definitely accused Gabriel of in the court papers. I doubt it went down like this at all.

Halle Berry’s ex Gabriel Aubry threw a chair against the wall and called [Halle] the N word during a violent confrontation last February, a Los Angeles court has been told.

Star has learned that new witnesses have made these and other explosive accusations against the Canadian-born male model in court documents as the couple’s custody battle over 3-year-old daughter Nahla continues. And these witnesses are shedding new light on the couple’s final blowout – a confrontation that sparked one of Hollywood’s most toxic conflicts.

Two months before their April 2010 split, Halle, 45, returned to Los Angeles after a trip to San Francisco, and sources say it was anything but a happy homecoming. “Gabriel was there, and Halle told him to leave or she would call the police,” a colleague of Halle’s, who has seen the court documents reveals.

“He screamed that she was a ‘ghetto n****r’ and threw a chair against the wall,” the source says. “Halle was shaken and sobbing.”

Sadly, such before was not uncommon for Gabriel during the couple’s nearly five-year relationship, the new witnesses claim. Gabriel allegedly insulted and attacked valets, waitresses, nannies, Halle – and even their daughter.

“Gabriel hated that Nahla was mixed race,” a colleague of Halle’s claims. “He never wanted her hair to be braided, and he always said that Nahla was white. Friends tried to get him to understand that being mixed was part of her and Halle’s heritage, but he wouldn’t hear it…”

“Approximately six months after they started seeing each other, their sex life dwindled,” the insider reveals. “They rarely had sex, but Gabriel loved to watch porn…”

“He didn’t show any enthusiasm about the pregnancy,” the insider explains. “He didn’t help pick out baby names, help Halle relax, anything. His whole life was about playing golf. And when Nahla was born, he wasn’t any help either.

At Nahla’s second birthday party [in March 2010] “Gabriel didn’t even bring a gift for Nahla, and he was rude and stand-offish to the guests…

“He brought Nahla to her room and made her take a nap so everyone would leave!”

[From Star Magazine, print edition, October 10, 2011]

This is in Star, which doesn’t mean it’s false although it definitely could be. I’m thinking that what happened was that one of Star’s court sources dug up some stuff from this case that’s from earlier this year, when all these claims were flying around in the press. I’m really hoping that these two have reached some sort of truce for Nayla’s sake, but I think that the last we heard they were still duking it out in court, with Halle winning some sort of judgment to bring Nahla with her on set. So the accusations could be new for all we know, even if this happened back in February.

Here’s Halle out in Majorca on 9/12/11 with her boyfriend, Oliver Martinez, and Nahla. She recently broke her foot while filming there. Oliver was spotted out with a cane too. I wonder what’s going on there. Gabriel and Nahla are shown out on 8/10/11 and 8/17/11.

Credit: Kadena Press/WENN.com

In yesterday’s Jennifer Lopez story, I mentioned that I was looking forward to her new post-Marc Anthony phase, the part where she gets involved with someone big and scandalous. I mentioned Ben Affleck, because there have already been rumors, and because I would genuinely think it was funny if there was a revival of Bennifer 1.0. I get that the idea of Affleck and Lopez upsets people, but seriously, I will never understand the urge to treat Jennifer Garner solo – or Bennifer 2.0 – with kid gloves. They’re just like every other celebrity couple – perhaps with even more quiet scandals than most. Anyway, the tabloids are ignoring the Ben Affleck thing this week, probably because there are new photos of Jennifer Lopez working on the Atlanta set of What To Expect When You’re Expecting, where she’s working with Rodrigo Santoro, also known as “that hot dude from 300 and Love, Actually”. You can see a photo here – that was enough for several stories about how Rodrigo is helping Jennifer “move on”.

Jennifer Lopez was seen talking “intensely” to a tall, dark-haired man in a dimly lit parking lot. He put his arm against the SUV, leaning closer to her, “so close that if she’d moved her head a few inches, their lips would’ve met in a kiss.”

It’s hotter than ever in Atlanta, Ga., now that Jennifer Lopez and Rodrigo Santoro have begun shooting scenes for their new movie, What To Expect When You’re Expecting. An on-set source says sexy 35-year-old Rodrigo is making her forget all about her ex, Marc Anthony.

“There is amazing chemistry between them,” the source tells Life & Style. “Jennifer can’t get over how hot Rodrigo is.”

And is it any wonder why J. Lo is drawn to Rodrigo? He’s the complete opposite of her controlling ex Marc!

“Where Marc was always trying to hang around J. Lo and manage and manipulate and swing deals, Rodrigo is easygoing and not threatened by her,” the source divulges. “He’s a good guy — he reads a lot, is very smart and just oozes sexuality.”

A source says Jennifer and Rodrigo “were shooting a scene where they were on a date, and the whole time it was impossible to tell what was part of the scene and what wasn’t.”

Besides giving each other “love taps” between scenes, J. Lo and Rodrigo have also been spotted hanging out alone in her trailer! And a friend of J. Lo tells the mag she wouldn’t be surprised if the single songstress decides to take things to the next level with Rodrigo.

“Jennifer doesn’t like to be alone,” a friend tells the mag. “She likes to have a man around, and Rodrigo is exactly her type!”

[From Jezebel’s Midweek Madness & Hollywood Life]

Us Weekly, meanwhile, says that Jennifer and Rodrigo have been “bonding” while Jennifer “is reveling in her newfound independence.” But it could be a ploy, and if it is, it’s working: “Marc is suspicious of anyone, especially a hot guy she is working with. It drives him crazy.” Another source says, “He can’t let go. His mood shifts from blaming her to begging her to take him back to telling her she is destroying his life. He’ll call her to apologize and then get mad and call her names.” Sources close to Jennifer “insist” that Jennifer was never unfaithful to Marc, but they also say that the littlest thing Jennifer would do would set Marc off: “Marc was paranoid she was having an affair.”

Jennifer can and has done worse than Rodrigo, who is absolutely gorgeous and reportedly a really nice guy. But I just don’t think he’s “big enough” for J. Lo. She needs to go big, and I mean fame-wise, money-wise, etc. I hope she doesn’t go for some backup dancer-type. She has before. In any case, Jennifer’s rep denied the Rodrigo story to Gossip Cop.

Oh, and In Touch must not have gotten the memo about Rodrigo, because they have her trying to get with Gabriel Aubry. ZOMG! Halle Berry will try to eat J.Lo’s face if that ever happened. Now I really want Gabriel and Jennifer to happen. It would be so amazing!

Photos courtesy of WENN.

OMG, ABUSIVE. Right? These are some lovely photos of Gabriel Aubry out with his little girl on Friday in LA. As you can see, little Nahla looks absolutely terrified of her horrible father. That must be why she and her daddy seem so happy together and why he’s swinging her around, one-handed. Jesus, he’s sexy. Usually, I’m pretty “meh” on Gabriel, seeing as how he’s very, very pretty and not a scruffy, mooby, dirty Englishman or Scotsman or Irishman. But in these pics, Gabriel is giving me a fever. He looks like Josh Holloway, and I LOVE Josh Holloway.

Thus far, we haven’t heard much from Halle or Gabriel since Halle went back to court in late June, claiming that Gabriel had violated their existing custody agreement. At the time, Halle’s lawyer submitted a “lengthy court document claiming Gabriel has put Nahla at risk.” Sources told TMZ that Halle is concerned for Nahla’s welfare when Nahla is with her dad, but there are still no public, specific accusations. Rumors abound that the document Halle’s lawyer submitted included past incidents when Gabriel allegedly “neglected” Nahla during an overseas trip. Halle’s lawyer asked that Gabriel be found in violation of the custody agreement, but as of yet, the only thing the judge has done is set a date for a hearing.

Since then, in the past two weeks or so, Nahla has been getting lots of time with both of her parents in public. Both Gabriel and Halle have been doing separate candid photo ops with her, and simply judging them by the body language seen in the photos, I’d say that Nahla is perfectly comfortable and happy with both of her parents. She is a well-loved and well-cared for little girl, so whatever is going on between Halle and Gabriel, I hope they manage to keep it away from Nahla.

Photos courtesy of Fame.

Halle Berry did an interview with Extra to help publicize her work with the Jenesse center for abused and battered women and children. (Video above and here.) Halle looked really hot in a lot cut fuschia dress that she wore to a fundraiser for the center over the weekend. Her face was impossibly smooth and glowing. If I could get some injectables, laser resurfacing and Botox and look as supernaturally perfect as Halle I would do it in a heartbeat. I’d probably get the dermatologist who ended up making me look like Jill Zarin, though. Maybe it’s genetics plus injectables though, like some people look more normal after getting work done.

Halle told Terri Seymour about how she helped set up a special room with clothing, art and educational materials at the shelter called “Nahla’s world.” She said that there’s a stigma associated with staying at a shelter but that she wanted to create something aspirational for the women there. Terri asked about Halle’s boyfriend, Oliver Martinez, who went to the fundraising event to support her. Halle got kind of excited and said “he is really proud and you know, he’s inspired. He’s got his own ideas of how he can get involved in the center and help the boys… be sort of a male figure.”

Terri said it’s been a year since she saw Halle at the last fundraiser and asked her what her year has been like. She answered. “It’s been a year full of challenges, but every year seems challenging in one way or another.” As for whether custody is going well she said “It is, and you know what, that’s a relief. When there’s a child involved, it’s a relief when you can resolve things in a good way. Our issues were never about fighting for her, you know? We know that a child needs both parents but I think what I want to say about it is that sometimes as a couple you reach an impasse. We need a court and a judge to help us work out some of the delicate issues, and I’m so happy we’ve arrived at that place… because for her sake, this is the best way. So we’re good… It’s a huge relief, because we both love her more than life.”

Halle talks a good game and you could tell she was being careful about how she phrased things. Extra! reports that this is the first time she’s spoken publicly about her custody battle, and I could have sworn that wasn’t the case. Only Halle has just leaked stories to the press in the past to try and make Gabriel out to be the bad guy. When she finally deigns to talk publicly, she couches everything in vague concepts like she was just an average mom getting a divorce who didn’t exploit her daughter’s normal emotions about her parents splitting up in order to try and malign her ex. She probably feels like she handled it all normally too, because the end result is that she’s reached a peaceful agreement with Gabriel. Rumor has it that he had some real dirt on her and that’s why she was so willing to play nice.

Over the past week, Halle Berry has been getting pap’d constantly. It was getting to the point where I was wondering if there was another big build-up in access to her in exchange for various media outlets getting strategic “leaks” about Gabriel Aubry’s alleged abuse and racism. Well… that still might happen, but for now I’m cautiously optimistic. TMZ reports that Halle and Gabriel were in court yesterday, and that they are close to finalizing their custodial agreement for Nahla.

Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry just left the L.A. County Courthouse, after trying to finalize a custody settlement with the judge.

TMZ was in the courtroom when Judge Mark Juhas said to Gabriel and his lawyers, “We’re making huge progress. We need to stick with it.”

Halle and her lawyers, Neal Hersh and Judy Bogen, went into chambers to talk with the judge. Before that, Gabriel and his lawyers, Gary Fishbein and Kristina Royce, went into chambers to jawbone with hizzoner.

We’re told it’s all part of a settlement conference over Nahla’s custody and visitation. The major stumbling block has been Halle’s acting schedule, which takes her out of town from time to time.

From what happened this AM, it looks like Halle and Gabriel are on the verge of an agreement — and a truce.

[From TMZ]

Am I the only one peeved by this news? I mean, I appreciate that Halle and Gabe are both FINALLY acting like adults and keeping their personal dramas quiet, but on the other side, I remember all the crap Halle said about Gabriel, and it bothers me that no one else is bringing it up. If Gabe was such a horrible, abusive, neglectful racist, why is are the final custodial discussions going so smoothly? Shouldn’t Halle be fighting harder? Unless she was just making that stuff up completely, right? So… why isn’t that being addressed? Is it because everybody’s just happy that Halle’s Crazy is subdued for now? What happens when it rears up again?

Photos courtesy of Fame & WENN.