Singer Eric Benet has broken his silence about his ex-wife Halle Berry's custody fight for her daughter Nahla, insisting he is praying for the little girl.

Benet, who was married to Berry from 2001 to 2005, refused to answer questions about his former partner's troubles at a recent Christmas tree lighting ceremony in New York, but now he's opening up a little.

He tells In Touch magazine, "I am hoping for the best, praying for the best for Nahla."

Benet's comments come just two weeks after Berry's fiance Olivier Martinez and her ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, the father of young Nahla, were involved in a fight at the actress' Hollywood home on Thanksgiving Day (22Nov12).

The altercation was reportedly sparked by Martinez after he criticised the former model for wrecking Berry's plans to move to France with her fiance and her four-year-old.

Meanwhile, Benet reveals that his ex has no contact with his daughter - her former stepdaughter - India.

He adds, "She doesn't have a relationship with Halle. That kind of ended."