Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were a Hollywood power couple until they shocked the world with news of their separation in 2016 after twelve years together—just two of those married. But what has ensued for Brangelina in the near-decade since their split has been a quiet legal war over their shared winery, Château Miraval.
Though some explosive details from their ongoing divorce settlement have gripped headlines here and there over the past eight years, given the legalities of the divorce, both Pitt, 60, and Jolie, 49, have remained relatively tight-lipped.
But now, in a highly public statement, Jolie’s legal team is asking her estranged ex to “end the fighting”.
In a bold statement issued to Page Six by Jolie’s lawyer, Paul Murphy, the actress reportedly wants to move on from the lawsuit filed by Pitt in 2021. As Murphy explained, the Babylon actor allegedly “has control of all the properties the couple shared as well as control of the business, but still, he demands more and is suing Angelina for $67 million plus punitive damages.”
“In doing so, Pitt placed squarely at issue why he tried to punish and control Angelina by demanding a newly expanded NDA to cover his personal misconduct and abuse,” continued the statement. “Those actions are central to these proceedings. We are not at all surprised Mr Pitt is afraid to turn over the documents demonstrating these facts.”
As her team stressed, Jolie is eager to move on from these legal woes to focus on her family, but Murphy’s statement alluded to potential further litigation should Pitt not act.
“While Angelina again asks Mr Pitt to end the fighting and finally put their family on a clear path toward healing, unless Mr Pitt withdraws his lawsuit, Angelina has no choice but to obtain the evidence necessary to prove his allegations wrong,” Murphy concluded.
Located in the South of France, Château Miraval is the winery at the centre of the former couple’s legal embroilment. Before parting ways, Pitt and Jolie had signed on for a long-term lease on the expansive property before purchasing it for an estimated $60 million USD in 2012.
Six years after separating, Jolie sold her shares of the winery for $67 million USD, which spurred Pitt to file a lawsuit against his former wife. From there, the legal accusations get a little murky, but in an alleged attempt to legitimise his claim to the winery, Pitt launched a grape-infused skincare line called La Domaine.
During their time together, Jolie and Pitt shared six children—Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax, Knox, and Vivienne. Though Pitt initially sought a 50/50 custody arrangement, Jolie ended up with primary physical custody, with Pitt entitled to visitation.
