The Unseen Battle: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Ongoing Family and Legal Struggles

 

Father’s Day for Brad Pitt is a stark reminder of the growing chasm between him and his six children, shared with ex-wife Angelina Jolie. The couple’s highly publicized split in 2016 has spiraled into an intense legal and personal battle, leaving Pitt increasingly alienated from his kids. While the Oscar-winning actor has secured several legal victories, Jolie seems to be winning the emotional war, as their children slowly distance themselves from him.

The Roots of the Rift

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s relationship was once the epitome of Hollywood glamour. Their union, however, began to unravel in 2016 during an infamous flight from Nice to the U.S. Jolie alleged that Pitt’s behavior on the plane was abusive, claiming he grabbed her by the head, shook her, and choked one of their children. She also accused him of pouring alcohol on both her and their children. Despite these serious accusations, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services cleared Pitt, and he faced no charges.

In the aftermath of the flight incident, Jolie filed for divorce, and the custody battle began. Initially, Pitt lost a 50-50 custody agreement, which was sealed for privacy in 2021. This loss marked the beginning of a protracted and bitter fight over their children and assets, including their French vineyard, Château Miraval.

The Children’s Choices

As the years have passed, the Jolie-Pitt children have made their stances clear. Their oldest son, Maddox, 22, has had no relationship with Pitt since 2021, choosing to drop ‘Pitt’ from his surname and simply go by ‘Jolie.’ Daughter Zahara, 19, also prefers to be known as Zahara Marley Jolie. Shiloh, who turned 18 recently, legally applied to remove ‘Pitt’ from her surname, signing legal documents as Shiloh Jolie. Reports indicate she hired and paid for her own lawyer for this purpose, raising questions about who might have influenced her decision.

Pax, 20, expressed his disdain publicly in an Instagram post on Father’s Day 2020, referring to Pitt as a “world-class a**hole” and accusing him of being a terrible and despicable person. The twins, Knox and Vivienne, are the only minors still subject to visitation agreements with their father. However, even they seem to be distancing themselves, with Vivienne being listed as Vivian Jolie in the playbill for the Broadway musical The Outsiders.

Legal Battles and Business Disputes

The couple’s contentious relationship extends beyond their children to their business interests. One significant point of contention has been Château Miraval, the vineyard they co-owned. In 2021, Jolie sold her $62 million stake to Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler, allegedly without offering Pitt the right of first refusal, as per their agreement. Pitt has challenged this sale, arguing that it went against their prior agreement and Jolie’s actions have been seen as another move to undermine him.

Adding to the complexity, Jolie has been ordered by an LA Superior Court judge to produce every Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) she signed with third parties from 2014 to 2022. These NDAs have become a critical issue in their ongoing dispute over Miraval, with Jolie claiming she backed out of their agreement because Pitt asked her to sign one as part of their business deal. Jolie is currently challenging the judge’s decision on the NDAs, further entangling their legal battle.

Personal Struggles and Public Perception

Pitt has been open about his struggles post-split, admitting to quitting smoking and drinking. In a 2017 interview with GQ, he acknowledged his past issues with alcohol, stating, “I don’t have that ability to do just one or two drinks a day… I’m all in, and I’m going to drive into the ground.” Despite these admissions and efforts to improve himself, an industry source who knows Jolie noted that Pitt has never actually apologized for what happened on the flight, a point of contention that continues to haunt him.

The actor’s current personal life sees him filming an untitled movie about Formula 1 and residing in Los Angeles with his jeweler girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. Jolie, on the other hand, appears triumphant, recently supporting her daughter Vivienne at the opening night of the musical Reefer Madness.

Looking Forward

Despite the ongoing legal and personal battles, Pitt remains hopeful about his future relationship with his children. He has consistently refrained from making negative public statements about Jolie, focusing instead on maintaining a semblance of privacy and dignity. His friends encourage him to believe that as his children grow older and lead lives of their own, there might be a chance for reconciliation and rebuilding their relationship.

In conclusion, the saga of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie is a cautionary tale of how deeply personal conflicts can spill into the public domain, affecting not just the individuals involved but also their children. While legal battles may eventually find resolution, the emotional wounds and familial estrangements often take much longer to heal, if they ever do.