30 Details About Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie’s High-Tension Family Split

Angelina filed for divorce on September 19, 2016. She cited irreconcilable differences in the documents and requested physical custody of their six children: Maddox, Pax, John (Shiloh), Zahara, Vivienne, and Knox. She did ask the judge to grant Brad visitation rights for all the children.

Angelina’s attorney, Robert Offer, told TMZ she made the decision “for the health of the family.”

The next day, Brad released a statement to People, saying, “I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well-being of our kids. I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.”

Brad and Angelina’s big family always seemed like the crown jewel of their relationship. However, it may have caused friction between them behind the scenes.

Us Weekly shared a source's account: "She did try to make it work, but her kids come first and she couldn't let them see mommy and daddy like this. The fighting got worse and they disagreed a lot about parenting and a lot of things."

There were rumors that Brad cheated on Angelina with his Allied costar Marion Cotillard. Around the time of Brad and Angelina's separation, Marion announced her pregnancy with partner Guillaume Canet. She also acknowledged the rumors around her and Brad during that time.

In September 2016, People revealed that Brad was under investigation for child abuse by the LA County Department of Children and Family Services following an anonymous report that he was “verbally abusive” and “physical” with one of his kids several days prior on a private plane that belonged to the couple.

Angelina and the other kids were reported to be present. Brad was reported to be drinking.

Because the alleged altercation took place on a plane from France to the United States, LA County officials did not have jurisdiction over the matter. After investigating the claims, the FBI cleared Brad's name in November 2016 and closed the investigation.

Angelina hired Judy Smith, famed crisis manager, to "consult with those working with Angelina on divorce negotiations," People reported.

"Judy and her firm have a long history of handling issues that have unfortunately garnered too much attention in the public eye, and she knows how to push towards resolutions that are swift and discreet."

After months apart, Brad was allowed to see the kids, but they were supervised by a therapist. The therapist was there to determine if he was suitable for unsupervised visitation.

It was revealed that Maddox was the child at the center of the plane altercation. In the aftermath, he wasn’t so keen on speaking to Brad again. Initially, he avoided contact, but they reunited a few weeks later.

Soon after the divorce was announced, the couple had their chateau prepared for sale. The estate was the location of their 2014 wedding.

In November 2015, Brad filed for joint physical custody of the kids. They would reach another temporary custody agreement a few days later, which saw Angelina continue to maintain sole physical custody.

Brad's legal team claimed that Angelina's attorneys compromised the privacy of the children in the process of the custody battle. They requested that the children's records in relation to the divorce be sealed.

A source told Us Weekly that Angelina made sure Brad was able to see the kids over the holidays. "Brad did see the kids at some point for a holiday gift exchange," they said.

"[Brad] gave them presents and it was cordial."

Angelina's lawyer responded to the request to seal the children's records. Angelina agreed, but her lawyer noted that Brad was likely afraid of damage to his own reputation that might result.

"There is little doubt that [Brad] would prefer to keep the entire case private, particularly given the detailed investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dept. of Children and Family Services into allegation of abuse," Laura Wasser noted.

Brad and Angelina shared a joint statement as the rumors continued around the sealing of the children's records.

"The parties and their counsel have signed agreements to preserve the privacy rights of their children and family by keeping all court documents confidential and engaging a private judge to make any necessary legal decisions and to facilitate the expeditious resolution of any remaining issues," the statement said, per Us Weekly.

"The parents are committed to act as a united front to effectuate recovery and reunification."

In February 2017, Angelina was asked about her divorce during an interview with the BBC.

"I don't want to say very much about that, except to say it was a very difficult time," Angelina said.

"We are a family and we will always be a family, and we will get through this time and hopefully be a stronger family for it. Many, many people find themselves in this situation.

"My whole, my family … we've all being through a difficult time. My focus is my children, our children … and my focus is finding this way through … I am coping with finding a way through to make sure that this somehow makes us stronger and closer. It's been a difficult few months.

"Right now, I'm going through a moment when just everybody's in my room. Two dogs, two hamsters and two children at the moment. It's wonderful. But, usually, I just wake up trying to figure out who's going to get [the] dog out, who's going to start the pancakes and did anybody brush their teeth."

Things reached a more amicable place for the former couple after some of the dust from the split settled.

"They are in a place where they can put anger or hurt aside to focus on their children and how they plan to coparent," a source told Us Weekly.

"It's been a difficult time for Angelina, and both are now willing to move forward and begin the next chapters of their lives. They are only speaking about the kids, but have agreed that the kids’ best interest comes first and that they will be civil to one another."

In the interview, Brad got candid about the divorce. He noted how they approached talking to the kids.

"Well, there's a lot to tell them because there's understanding the future, there's understanding the immediate moment and why we're at this point, and then it brings up a lot of issues from the past that we haven't talked about. So our focus is that everyone comes out stronger and better people — there is no other outcome," he told GQ.

While chatting with Vanity Fair, Angelina talked about the divorce.

"Things got bad," she said.

"I didn't want to use that word … Things became 'difficult,'" she corrected herself.

"[Our lifestyle] was not in any way a negative. That was not the problem. That is and will remain one of the wonderful opportunities we are able to give our children … They're six very strong-minded, thoughtful, worldly individuals. I'm very proud of them."

In August 2017, there had been no moves made in the divorce in a while. A source told Us Weekly it might not happen after all and said there were second thoughts.

"They haven't done anything to move it forward in several months and no one thinks they are ever going to," the source said.

A court filing in August 2018 revealed that Angelina said Brad wasn't holding up his end of things where child support was concerned.

"The aim of Angelina's routine court filing is to provide closure to the marriage in a way that clears a path toward the next stage of their lives and allows her and Brad to recommit as devoted co-parents to their children," Mindy Nyby, Angelina's spokesperson, said in a statement, per Entertainment Tonight.

"Respondent has previously loaned Petitioner $8.0 million to assist her in purchasing her current residence and has paid over $1.3 million in bills for the benefit of Petitioner and the minor children," court documents revealed, per People.

Angelina's attorney noted the term "loaned," saying, "for which he is charging her interest on a payment plan."

Despite fighting for 50/50 custody, Brad settled for something less than 50%. "Angelina’s actions have also definitely been affected by how she’s been portrayed in the media — she’s acutely aware that she’s being painted as the bad guy, and despite her pretense at being nonchalant, she actually really does care how she’s perceived," a source told Hollywood Life.

"Brad ended up getting more custody time than Angelina wanted him to, but then, if she had her way totally he would have had zero court-ordered time with the children. It would have all been at her discretion."

By law, Brad and Angelina are considered single despite the fact that their divorce continues to play out. The details of their divorce settlement continue to be hashed out by their legal teams.

Angelina's attorneys asked for the dismissal of John W. Ouderkirk, their private judge. Her team found reason to believe that the judge may have had a previous relationship with Brad and have bias. Her request was ultimately rejected.

"Maddox has already given testimony as [an] adult in the ongoing custody dispute and it wasn’t very flattering toward Brad," a source told Us Weekly.

"He doesn't use Pitt as his last name on documents that aren't legal and instead uses Jolie. Maddox wants to legally change his last name to Jolie, which Angelina has said she doesn't support."

Brad submitted 21 witnesses to Angelina's seven, which included both of them. Among those on the list were several former staff members who worked for Angelina alone and also for the couple, Angelina's Girl, Interrupted costar Jillian Armenante, a domestic violence expert, a security expert, and medical professionals.

In an interview with British Vogue in March 2021, Angelina was asked if she's happy at this stage of her life.

"I don't know. The past few years have been pretty hard. I've been focusing on healing our family. It's slowly coming back, like the ice melting and the blood returning to my body," she said.

"But I'm not there. I'm not there yet. But I hope to be. I'm planning on it. I do like being older. I feel much more comfortable in my forties than I did when I was younger. Maybe because … I don't know … maybe because my mom didn't live very long, so there's something about age that feels like a victory instead of a sadness for me."

Court filings from March 12, 2021, say that Angelina has proof of Brad's abuse. The filings also said that "minor children" could also testify to the abuse. The minor children currently consist of all children but Maddox, but Pax will turn 18 this November. Angelina has also given her permission for the children to testify if it comes down to it, though they would also need Brad's permission to be able to speak.

One of Angelina's attorneys, Priya Sopori, filed a "Notice of Withdrawal of Attorney of Record" with the Los Angeles Superior Court on October 9. Her reason is unknown, but it's caused another holdup in the case.