Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” | Image: Screengrab from Binge Society/YouTube
Angelina Jolie accused her ex-husband Brad Pitt of having a “history of physical abuse” against the actress and their children, according to new court documents that surfaced as their legal battle over their French winery Château Miraval continues.
On Thursday, April 4, the actress’s legal team filed a new motion in the Los Angeles Superior Court, making this claim: “While Pitt’s history of physical abuse of Jolie started well before the family’s September 2016 plane trip from France to Los Angeles, this flight marked the first time he turned his physical abuse on the children as well. Jolie then immediately left him.”
This new filing is seeking to release communications that will allegedly prove that Pitt wouldn’t allow his ex-wife to sell her share her of Chateau Miraval unless the actress agreed to sign an “expansive” and “more onerous” non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
The expansive NDA would, according to Jolie’s lawyers, prohibit her from speaking outside of court about “Pitt’s physical and emotional abuse of her and their children.”
In 2016, the “Girl Interrupted” actress first accused Pitt of physical and mental abuse when they were on board a private plane with their six children. As reported by the FBI at the time, Jolie alleged that Pitt “grabbed her by her head and shoulders,” shook and pushed her into the bathroom wall, screaming the words, “‘You’re f**king up this family.’”
The same year, the FBI dropped the case, and the “Meet Joe Black” actor was not arrested or charged for the incident.
“In response to allegations made following a flight within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States which landed in Los Angeles carrying Mr. Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI has conducted a review of the circumstances and will not pursue further investigation. No charges have been filed in this matter,” FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said in a statement to CNN at the time.
Pitt and Jolie first met while doing their spy thriller “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” At the time, Pitt was still married to “Friends” actress Jennifer Aniston.
In 2005, Pitt and Aniston announced their separation after five years of marriage, with most reports claiming that Jolie was the reason for the split.
After a year, Pitt and Jolie announced that they were expecting their first baby together, three months after the actor’s divorce from Aniston was finalized.
In 2016, Jolie filed for divorce from the “Fight Club” actor after a 12-year relationship.