The ongoing legal battle between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie over their French winery has taken a dramatic turn with Jolie’s latest court filing. The actress has accused Pitt of physical abuse during a 2016 plane incident, adding another layer of complexity to the dispute.
The former power couple purchased Château Miraval, a sprawling estate in the south of France, in 2008, intending to use it as both a family home and a business venture. However, their fairytale romance soured, leading to a highly publicized divorce in 2016.
The winery, once a symbol of their love, became a point of contention during their separation. Jolie eventually sold her share to the Stoli Group, a move that ignited Pitt’s fury. He claimed that he had a contractual right of first refusal and sued Jolie for allegedly selling her stake without his consent.
Jolie’s countersuit sheds light on her decision to sell. She alleges that Pitt’s alleged alcohol abuse and a pattern of domestic violence made the idea of co-owning a winery with him untenable. The heart of her countersuit revolves around a private plane incident in 2016, where she alleges Pitt physically assaulted her and their children.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at the 2014 Oscars.
The FBI investigated the incident, but no criminal charges were filed due to Jolie’s decision not to cooperate with the prosecution. However, the details of the alleged altercation, as described in Jolie’s court filing, paint a disturbing picture. She claims that Pitt grabbed her by the head, shook her, and choked her. She also alleges that he choked one of their children and struck another while they tried to defend her.
Jolie’s legal team argues that the alleged plane incident was a contributing factor in the breakdown of negotiations to sell her half of the winery to Pitt. They claim that the experience left her deeply shaken and unwilling to continue any form of business partnership with him.
The case highlights the complexities of domestic violence allegations, particularly in high-profile cases where power dynamics, public image, and financial interests are at play. Jolie’s decision to include the abuse allegations in her countersuit, despite the lack of criminal charges, speaks to the often unspoken and unaddressed trauma of domestic violence.
Pitt’s legal team has denied the allegations, calling them “completely untrue.” They argue that Jolie’s accusations are a calculated attempt to tarnish his reputation and gain leverage in the winery dispute.
The legal battle, playing out in multiple jurisdictions, is shaping up to be a bitter and protracted fight. At stake is not just the ownership of a valuable asset but also the legacy of a once-celebrated Hollywood couple whose fairytale romance has dissolved into accusations and recriminations.
This latest development adds fuel to the already intense media scrutiny surrounding the former couple. The world watches as two of Hollywood’s biggest stars engage in a legal battle that exposes the dark underbelly of their failed marriage and raises important questions about power, abuse, and the long-lasting impact of trauma.
