Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are embroiled in a legal battle over the French winery they once owned together, with new legal documents alleging a history of physical abuse by Pitt towards Jolie. Jolie filed a motion claiming she tried to sell her stake in the winery to Pitt, but negotiations broke down after Pitt insisted on an NDA that would prevent Jolie from speaking about his abuse. Pitt had also previously filed a lawsuit alleging that Jolie’s sale of her stake in the winery was vindictive after an adverse custody ruling.
Jolie claims in her filing that Pitt’s history of abuse began before their 2016 plane trip from France to Los Angeles, but does not provide further details. She agreed to sign a limited NDA not to disparage the winery’s business as part of the initial deal to sell her stake to Pitt. Pitt refused to purchase Jolie’s stake when she would not agree to the NDA, leading to the current legal dispute. Jolie’s attorney stated that Pitt’s insistence on the NDA raises questions about what he hoped to bury, namely his abuse of Jolie and their family.
Jolie never pressed charges against Pitt for the 2016 altercation because she believed the best course was for him to accept responsibility and help the family heal from the trauma. Pitt was not arrested or charged in connection with the incident, according to the FBI investigation, and his representative disputed Jolie’s account of the events. In October 2021, Jolie sold her half of the winery to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of Stoli Group controlled by Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler.
The ongoing legal proceedings and Pitt’s attempts to control and punish Jolie continue to have a significant emotional and financial toll on her and their family. Jolie hopes for healing for their family and wishes Pitt would want the same. The couple filed for divorce in 2016, were declared legally single in 2019, and established a joint custody arrangement in 2021. Legal proceedings related to the Miraval dispute, including the former couple’s purchase of the estate in 2008, are still ongoing.
The new allegations in the legal filing by Jolie regarding Pitt’s abuse have brought their long-standing conflicts back into focus. The dispute over the winery has become a symbol of their troubled relationship and unresolved issues. The legal battle continues to play out in the courts, with both parties seeking to protect their interests and reputations. The allegations of abuse and attempts to control the narrative through legal means have added a new layer of complexity to the already contentious divorce proceedings.
