Halle Berry Opens Up About Her Clash on X2 Set

Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry is speaking honestly about one of the most talked-about moments from her career. In a recent interview, she looked back at a confrontation with director Bryan Singer during the filming of X2: X-Men United — and she did not hold back.

Berry shared the story while promoting her new movie Crime 101, revealing that standing up to Singer was one of the most powerful moments she experienced on set.

Halle Berry Says She Had to Speak Up

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Berry was asked if she ever had a moment in her career where she had to stand up for herself. She quickly replied that she absolutely had — and it happened during the production of X2.

According to Berry, the entire cast and crew were frustrated with Singer’s behavior. She explained that everyone was upset, but her co-stars encouraged her to be the one to confront him because they believed she would speak honestly and directly.

Berry described it as one of the most satisfying days of her career. She said she felt proud for defending the cast and crew when they felt mistreated. After the confrontation, she reportedly left the set and flew home still wearing her Storm costume.

What Happened on the X2 Set?

The situation was previously mentioned in actor Alan Cumming’s 2021 memoir Baggage: Tales of a Fully Packed Life. Cumming explained that several cast members, including:

• Hugh Jackman

• James Marsden

• Famke Janssen

• Patrick Stewart

held what he described as an “intervention” with Singer in his trailer.

Reports from that time claimed that Singer was often late to set, spoke harshly to crew members, and showed unstable behavior during production. When tensions reached a breaking point, Berry confronted him directly. According to accounts, she firmly told him she had heard enough.

Her Crime 101 co-star Mark Ruffalo reacted to the story by calling it one of the best he had ever heard. Berry added that she believed the confrontation was justified.

The Ongoing Tension Between Berry and Singer

Although Singer originally cast Berry as Storm in the first X-Men movie, their working relationship reportedly became strained during the franchise.

There were even concerns about whether Berry would return for X-Men: The Last Stand after her difficult experiences. At one point, director Matthew Vaughn was hired to direct the third film. However, Vaughn later revealed that 20th Century Fox had created a fake script that promised Berry a larger role in order to convince her to return. The studio allegedly planned to reduce her scenes after she signed on. Vaughn eventually stepped away from the project, but Berry did return as Storm.

Interestingly, Berry later reunited with Singer again for X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Bryan Singer’s Career Controversies

Singer’s career has been surrounded by controversy for many years. Multiple allegations of misconduct surfaced between 1997 and 2019. Reports also described on-set temper issues and sudden disappearances during productions such as:

• X2: X-Men United

• Superman Returns

• X-Men: Apocalypse

• Bohemian Rhapsody

In 2017, Singer was removed from Bohemian Rhapsody, and director Dexter Fletcher was brought in to complete the film. Singer’s last fully completed directing credit remains X-Men: Apocalypse.

Even Kevin Feige, who worked as an associate producer on the original X-Men, was reportedly sent to monitor the set to help maintain stability during production.

Why This Story Still Matters

Berry’s recent comments highlight an important issue in Hollywood: the power imbalance between cast, crew, and directors. Speaking out against difficult or harmful behavior on set is never easy — especially in major franchise productions.

By sharing her experience, Berry adds her voice to ongoing conversations about accountability and professionalism in the film industry. Her story shows that even major stars sometimes have to fight for respect on set.

Today, Berry continues to build her career, both in front of and behind the camera. Her willingness to talk openly about past experiences shows strength and confidence — qualities that fans have admired throughout her journey.

For many, her confrontation on the X2 set is not just gossip — it is a reminder that standing up for yourself can be one of the most powerful moments in any career.