ɪn ɐ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈoːɹ ˈɑːɹɾɪkəl, bˈɛɹi ɹᵻflˈɛktᵻd ˌɔn hɜːɹ əpbɹɪŋɪŋ ænd hɜː mˈʌðɚz ɐbjˈuːsɪvnəs wˈɛn ʃiː wʌz "ɪn wˈʌn ʌv hɜː fɹˈaɪʔn̩ɪŋ stˈeɪdʒᵻz ʌv dɹˈʌŋkənnəs."
In a 1994 article, Berry reflected on her upbringing and her mother's abusiveness when she was "in one of her frightening stages of drunkenness."