Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie settle their divorce, closing an 8-year legal dispute
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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have signed off on a divorce settlement. © Ethan Miller, Getty Images North America, AFP/ File picture
After more than eight years of legal battles, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have officially settled their divorce. According to a statement from Jolie’s legal team, both parties reached an agreement on December 30, officially closing this long-running dispute.
Jolie’s attorney, James Simon of Hersh Mannis, explained that the settlement marks the conclusion of one chapter in an ongoing process that began when Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt in 2016. Simon emphasized that the settlement, while significant, is just one step toward achieving peace and healing for their family, something Jolie has been working on since she left Pitt and their shared properties more than eight years ago. Simon also shared that Jolie is relieved, though exhausted, by the resolution of this part of the lengthy and complex legal battle.
The couple, once considered one of Hollywood’s most glamorous pairs, were together for about a decade. They married in 2014 after becoming parents to six children over the years. However, their relationship unraveled when Jolie filed for divorce in 2016. The lengthy divorce process was complicated by several factors, including a contentious custody dispute over their children, fallout from a 2016 incident aboard a private plane, and a legal battle over the sale of Jolie’s share in Château Miraval, the French winery they had co-owned and where they married.
The 2016 plane incident was a key turning point in the divorce. In August 2022, a heavily redacted FBI report revealed that Jolie had accused Pitt of physically assaulting her and verbally abusing their children during the flight. At the time, the family was traveling from France to the US. However, the FBI later stated that Pitt was never arrested or charged with any crimes related to the incident. This report shed new light on the tensions between the couple, and just days after the flight, Jolie filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
Jolie also requested sole physical custody of the couple’s children, who were between the ages of 8 and 15 at the time of the divorce filing. This included their older children Maddox, Pax, and Zahara, as well as the younger siblings Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne. Jolie sought joint legal custody for Pitt but with visitation rights. In 2019, the couple’s marriage was officially dissolved in status, although custody issues and other legal disputes lingered.
In an interview with Vogue India in 2020, Jolie reflected on her decision to separate from Pitt, explaining that it was made for the well-being of their children. She acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but expressed confidence that it was the right one for her family. Jolie highlighted the strength and bravery of their six children, continuing to focus on their healing and well-being as a family.
Meanwhile, the Château Miraval winery has remained at the center of a legal feud. In 2021, Jolie sold her stake in the property, a move that Pitt claims was unlawful. The dispute over the sale of the winery has added another layer of complexity to the couple’s separation, with ongoing legal proceedings related to the matter.
Throughout this prolonged divorce, the public has witnessed the painful unraveling of a high-profile marriage. Both Pitt and Jolie have made efforts to protect their children from the intense media scrutiny surrounding their divorce. The legal issues, which have spanned years, have centered on custody arrangements, allegations of abuse, and the division of their shared assets, including the vineyard.
The final settlement of their divorce comes after years of back-and-forth court proceedings, with both parties enduring significant emotional and legal stress. While their legal battles are far from over, particularly regarding the Château Miraval property, the conclusion of the divorce itself offers a sense of closure to this chapter of their lives. For Jolie, this settlement marks a step toward peace, as she has consistently prioritized the emotional well-being of her children. Although the legal disputes may continue, the end of the divorce proceedings provides some relief for both parties as they move forward in their personal lives.
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