In a recent legal document, Angelina Jolie claims Brad Pitt had a “history of physical abuse” even before their infamous 2016 plane incident.
CNN received the document, which claims Jolie attempted to sell her stake in the couple’s French winery, Miraval. However, negotiations fell when Pitt insisted on a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that would have prevented Jolie from discussing Pitt’s alleged mistreatment of her and their children.
The most recent development originates from Pitt’s 2022 lawsuit, in which he claimed that he and Jolie agreed not to sell their part in the winery without the other’s consent. Jolie asserts in her filing that Pitt’s history of physical abuse began well before the family’s September 2016 flight from France to Los Angeles, although she does not go into detail.
Angelina Jolie chose not to press charges against Brad Pitt regarding the 2016 incident
“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,” the filing reads.
Jolie claims she originally agreed to sign an NDA “limited to not disparaging Miraval’s wine business” as part of the contract to sell her ownership in the winery. However, Pitt eventually pushed for a broader NDA that would have prohibited Jolie from making “any derogatory remark about the other party” in a public place other than court.
“Mr Pitt refused to purchase Ms Jolie’s interest when she would not be silenced by his NDA. By refusing to buy her interest but then suing her, Mr Pitt put directly at issue why that NDA was so important to him and what he hoped it would bury: his abuse of Ms. Jolie and their family,” Paul Murphy, Jolie’s attorney, told CNN.
Jolie chose not to pursue charges against Pitt regarding the 2016 incident, opting instead for Pitt to acknowledge responsibility and assist the family in recovering from the resulting post-traumatic stress, according to the filing. However, ongoing legal actions and Pitt’s persistent efforts to control and penalize Jolie are said to be causing significant emotional and financial strain on her and their family. The former couple acquired the Miraval estate and winery in southern France in 2008, and legal proceedings regarding the property dispute are still ongoing.
Jolie never filed charges against Pitt about the 2016 incident, thinking that “the best course was for Pitt to accept responsibility and help the family recover from the post-traumatic stress he caused.”
However, the continuous court battles and “Pitt’s unyielding attempts to control and punish Jolie continue to take a huge emotional and financial toll on her and their family,” reads the statement.
The former couple purchased the Miraval estate and winery in the south of France in 2008, and proceedings over the property are still underway.