Allegations of Physical Abuse
The ongoing feud between Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt over their former French winery has taken a dramatic turn, with fresh legal filings now alleging a “history of physical abuse” by Pitt towards Jolie before their high-profile plane incident in 2016.
According to Jolie’s claims in the documents, she attempted to sell the Miraval winery but negotiations faltered when Pitt purportedly coerced her into signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) preventing her from discussing his alleged abuse, except in a courtroom setting.
The latest legal filing is a response to Brad Pitt’s lawsuit from 2022, where he asserted that both he and Angelina had agreed not to sell their shares in the winery without mutual consent.
Pitt’s accusations in June 2023 characterized Jolie’s sale of her stake in the winery as “vindictive,” following an unfavorable court ruling.
Escalating Legal Battle: Winery Dispute
According to CNN, the documents filed by The Maleficent actress on Thursday allege that Pitt’s history of physical abuse predates the well-known 2016 plane incident from France to Los Angeles.
The recent filing asserts, “At trial, Jolie will prove through testimony, emails, photographs, and other evidence why Pitt was so concerned about his own misconduct that he blew up his own deal to purchase Jolie’s interest in Miraval because she refused to agree to his new, expansive NDA.”
Brad Pitt has consistently denied all allegations of physical abuse and was not charged by the FBI, which investigated the 2016 incident. As of now, Pitt has not responded to the latest filings.
Angelina Jolie’s attorney, Paul Murphy, commented about Pitt’s “unrelenting efforts to control and financially drain” her, along with “attempting to hide his history of abuse, control, and cover-up.”
Murphy further emphasized that Pitt’s actions in initiating a lawsuit brought into question the significance of the NDA and its potential implications regarding Pitt’s alleged abuse towards Jolie and their family.
He emphasized the necessity for Pitt to produce evidence in court after months of delays. The controversy around the winery sale:
Allegations and Counterclaims: Jolie and Pitt
Angelina lodged a motion with the Los Angeles Superior Court, revealing details of her attempt to sell her share in the Miraval winery to Brad Pitt.
The 48-year-old American Actress contends that Pitt’s alleged history of physical abuse towards her predates the highly publicized plane trip in September 2016, although she refrains from elaborating on these previous incidents.
Moreover, Jolie asserts that she initially agreed to sign an NDA limited to not disparaging Miraval’s wine business as part of their negotiations over the sale of her stake in the winery.
However, Pitt’s insistence on a broader NDA prompted Angelina to propose an alternative agreement that restricted derogatory remarks about each other in public forums, excluding court proceedings or testimonies.
Following the 2016 incident, Pitt was neither arrested nor charged once the FBI concluded its investigation.
A spokesperson for Pitt refuted Jolie’s portrayal of the incident in an October 2022 filing. In October 2021, Jolie sold her share of the winery to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of the Stoli Group, under the ownership of Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler.
The Tussle between the Exes
The ongoing legal disputes and Pitt’s persistent efforts to exert control over and penalize Jolie are described in the filing as continuing to exact a significant emotional and financial toll on her and their family.
The document expressed Jolie’s desire for their family to heal and for their children to be shielded from further anguish and trauma, expressing hope that Pitt would share the same sentiment.
Jolie initiated divorce proceedings against Pitt in 2016, with the couple being legally declared single in 2019.
A joint custody agreement was formalized in 2021, although legal proceedings regarding the Miraval dispute persist. The former pair acquired the country estate and winery in the south of France back in 2008.
