Halle Berry's Ex Breaks His Silence

July 13, 2004 -- Eric Benet, estranged husband of Halle Berry, confirms that he was unfaithful to the Oscar-winning actress on more than one occasion — but denies he was a sex addict — in an exclusive interview with ABC News.

"I am not a sex addict," the musician told Primetime's Cynthia McFadden in an interview to be broadcast on Thursday night. "I am a person who … through a series of emotional events, troubles, challenges, made some really, really stupid, painful mistakes."

Benet, a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, said his indiscretions entailed "verbally inappropriate" behavior and "physical contact that was extremely inappropriate and wrong in a marriage" — but not intercourse.

A Clarification

Benet, 37, has not spoken to the media since the couple announced they were separating in October 2003, after three years of marriage. He said he agreed to McFadden's interview to clarify misconceptions about him and his relationship.

"The snowball [of misrepresentations] has gathered so much momentum that … I thought that for my daughter and for myself I'd be doing much more harm by not saying anything," he said. "Not to excuse any of the poor choices that I made, not to try to dodge any of the mistakes, but maybe to just add a different perspective."

Benet has a 12-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. Benet said his daughter has had a hard time dealing with the break-up, but he believes she has forgiven him.

He said he is not seeking any support from Berry for himself or for his daughter. "I called my attorney and said, 'Look, I won't fight anything at all. I'll sign whatever and I'll just walk away with nothing,' and that's what I did."

Losing His Identity

"Trying to make sense of how someone can love someone, but still manage to commit an act of extreme betrayal, is a real hard one to understand," Benet said.

While alluding to a less-than-ideal sexual relationship with Berry, Benet did not want to make excuses for his behavior. "I don't want to in the least bit try to use anything that wasn't happening at home as an excuse for some really stupid, bad choices that I made."

Benet said he doesn't feel the need to publicly apologize to Berry. "I don't think I need to publicly say anything to Halle. I've said a great many things to her privately... and will continue to, I hope."

Benet told McFadden that being known as "Mr. Halle Berry" was difficult. "I would be dishonest if I told you that that wasn't an ego blow... the feeling of losing whatever identity I had," he said. He said it was especially hard on the night she won her best actress Oscar. "It was hard for me to inhabit the skin of that man," he said. "Not just that night, but pretty much every day."

Still, he says, "that was not the reason why our marriage fell apart."

Benet is trying to move on, but his singing career has been put on hold for the moment — just like his personal life. A new CD, largely devoted to his love for Berry, and planned for release earlier this year, will be held until January and significantly altered.