Halle Berry 'using daughter as bait'

Halle Berry is reportedly using her daughter as "bait" against ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry.

The Oscar-winning actress - who announced yesterday (31.01.11) she was taking the 35-year-old model to court after expressing "serious concerns" about their two-year-old daughter Nahla while in his care - is allegedly using the impending custody battle to force Gabriel to give in to her demands.

A friend of the star explained: "The real trouble started last year when Gabriel started dating a high profile reality TV star. Halle totally lost it with Gabriel and gave him an ultimatum - to choose between dating this girl or having a relationship with his daughter.

"Gabriel was furious. Halle has absolutely no right to tell him who he can and can't date, especially when you consider she's already moved on herself and is dating Olivier Martinez, but even worse in his mind, was her willingness to dangle their daughter in front of him as bait to make him do what she demands."

However, according to the insider, it was Gabriel - who split from Halle last April after almost five years together - who initiated the custody proceedings, as he will "do anything" to keep his daughter in his life.

The source added to gossip website Radar Online: "The problem was that they had no legal custody agreement in place so he was pretty much at her mercy as to when he got to see their daughter. So, he did what she wanted - he broke it off with the girl - but then he started legal proceedings to set up his custody rights so Halle couldn't pull that c**p on him again.

"Gabriel will do anything and everything to keep his daughter in his life. He loves her more than life itself and he will move heaven and earth to ensure she's safe, balanced and happy."