By C. J. De Mel, Jadetimes News
In the July 2005 issue of W Magazine, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie graced a 60 page photo spread titled “Domestic Bliss,” depicting an idyllic, make believe family life. Nearly 19 years later, this fantasy would foreshadow a reality of six children and a relationship marked by both professional successes and personal challenges. Once Hollywood's most glamorous couple, Pitt and Jolie, known as Brangelina, have been embroiled in complex legal proceedings since their split in 2016. The divorce remains unresolved, and their family is deeply fractured.
The Ongoing Divorce
A source close to Pitt shared that the actor "loves his family" and desires the best for them, hence his silence regarding their children despite the emotional toll. The protracted divorce involves a contentious custody battle, the fallout from a 2016 plane incident, and a dispute over Jolie's sale of her stake in Château Miraval, the French winery they co owned and where they married in 2014. According to a source close to Jolie, she seeks peace for her family and hopes Pitt will eventually share that goal.
The 2016 Plane Incident
The couple's dramatic end began on a private plane in September 2016. Details of this incident emerged in August 2022, revealing that Jolie accused Pitt of physical assault and verbal abuse during the flight. The FBI investigated but did not arrest or charge Pitt. Jolie alleged that Pitt grabbed and shook her, pushed her into the plane's bathroom wall, and verbally abused their children. Further, in an October 2022 countersuit related to their winery, Jolie claimed Pitt choked and struck one of their children during the incident. Pitt has acknowledged some wrongdoing but denies other accusations.
Filing for Divorce
Days after the plane incident, Jolie filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. She sought sole physical custody of their six children, then aged 8 to 15, with visitation rights for Pitt, who would retain joint legal custody. Jolie later stated in a 2020 interview that she separated from Pitt for her family's well being.
The Custody Battle
Four of the couple's six children have turned 18 during the divorce proceedings, leaving custody issues primarily concerning their twins, Vivienne and Knox, now 15. Initially, Jolie was granted physical custody with Pitt receiving therapeutic visitation and random drug and alcohol testing. By 2018, a court order allowed Pitt unrestricted phone access to the children and mandated Jolie inform them that they were safe with their father.
In May 2021, after a private custody trial, Pitt was awarded temporary joint custody. Jolie appealed, citing a conflict of interest with the presiding judge, and won. Jolie retains primary custody, and recent developments indicate a growing distance between Pitt and his children, such as Shiloh's petition to drop "Pitt" from her last name.
Legal Separation and Single Status
Despite ongoing divorce proceedings, Pitt and Jolie were declared legally single in 2019 through a bifurcated judgment, which allows a couple to be legally divorced while other issues remain unresolved. This unique aspect of California law can prolong proceedings by removing incentives for resolution.
The Château Miraval Dispute
A significant part of their legal battles centers on Château Miraval, their French estate. Pitt sued Jolie in February 2022 over the "unlawful" sale of her stake in the winery, alleging they had agreed not to sell without mutual consent. Jolie countered that no such agreement existed and that she had attempted to sell her share to Pitt, but negotiations fell apart over a nondisclosure agreement. Jolie ultimately sold her stake to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of Stoli Group, in October 2021. The sale, according to Pitt, was vindictive, while Jolie emphasized her desire to dissociate from an alcohol related business due to its negative impact on their family.
Ongoing Legal Developments
The Miraval case continues to evolve, with Pitt recently requesting Jolie produce year’s worth of nondisclosure agreements. These documents, central to the dispute, could unearth sealed details from their divorce, potentially prolonging the legal drama.
As legal battles persist, the resolution of Jolie and Pitt's split remains uncertain. Their story, once a picture of Hollywood perfection, now unfolds as a complex legal and personal saga, with more chapters likely to come before they find their peace, domestic or otherwise.