Angelina Jolie details Brad Pitt abuse claims in court filing

Actress alleges that in 2016, Pitt grabbed her by the head and shook her, and attacked their children

Brad Pitt allegedly hit one of his children in the face and choked another during a fight with Angelina Jolie on a private plane, according to court papers filed by his ex-wife. Getty Images / AFP

Brad Pitt has accused his ex-wife Angelina Jolie of seeking to inflict harm on him by selling her stake in their French vineyard to a Russian oligarch. Getty Images / AFP

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Jolie being presented with the Insignia of an Honorary Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. PA

Jolie comforts a young victim of the Kramatorsk railway station missile strike in Lviv children's hospital, in western Ukraine. EPA

Jolie waves as she evacuates during her visit to Lviv, amid air raid sirens during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Reuters

Jolie walks inside the main railway station during her visit to Lviv. Reuters

Jolie poses for a picture with Ukrainian children. Reuters

Jolie visits a young patient from Ukraine at the Bambino Gesu Paediatric Hospital in Rome, Italy. Reuters

Jolie attends an event to celebrate the reauthorisation of the Violence Against Women Act at the White House. AP

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The actress arrived in Yemen to meet people who have been displaced by the country's seven-year conflict. AP

Her visit came before the annual UN pledging meeting for Yemen. AFP

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Jolie inside a camp for people displaced by war in Lahej, Yemen. Reuters

The UN special envoy shakes hands with a woman displaced by war. Reuters

Jolie visits with displaced people in Yemen. Reuters

Jolie gestures as she leaves a camp for displaced people. Reuters

US actress Angelina Jolie claims that on a 2016 flight, her then-husband Brad Pitt grabbed her by the head and shook her, then choked one of their children and struck another when they tried to defend her, a court filing shows.

The descriptions of abuse on the private flight came in a cross-complaint Jolie filed in their dispute over a French home and winery they co-owned, which is separate from their ongoing divorce.

A representative for Pitt strongly denied Jolie’s allegations, calling them “another rehash that only harms the family”.

The allegations of abuse became public shortly after the flight, but details were kept sealed in divorce documents and investigations by the FBI and Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.

Both agencies found that no action against Pitt was necessary.

A judge gave the actor 50-50 custody of the children after a closed-door trial in which the allegations were aired.

But an appeals court disqualified the private judge for not disclosing possible conflicts of interest after a motion from Jolie, nullifying the decision.

More details of the allegations were revealed this year when a lawsuit Jolie filed against the FBI over a Freedom of Information Act request was made public.

The New York Times first reported the filing.

It says that on September 14, 2016, Jolie, Pitt and their six children were travelling from the winery, Chateau Miraval, south of France, to Los Angeles, California.

“Pitt’s aggressive behaviour started even before the family got to the airport, with Pitt having a confrontation with one of the children,” the filing says.

“After the flight took off, Jolie approached Pitt and asked him what was wrong. Pitt accused her of being too deferential to the children and verbally attacked her.”

The filing says that later, “he pulled her into the bathroom and began yelling at her.

“Pitt grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her, and then grabbed her shoulders and shook her again before pushing her into the bathroom wall.”

One of the children, who were between 8 and 15 years old at the time, verbally defended Jolie, the countersuit says, and Pitt lashed out.

“Pitt lunged at his own child and Jolie grabbed him from behind to stop him,” it said.

“To get Jolie off his back, Pitt threw himself backwards into the airplane’s seats, injuring Jolie’s back and elbow.

“The children rushed in and all bravely tried to protect each other. Before it was over, Pitt choked one of the children and struck another in the face.”

The document says he later poured beer on Jolie, and beer and red wine on the children.