Angelina Jolie Addresses “Painful Events” Leading to Brad Pitt Divorce

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Angelina Jolie is looking back at what led her to break up with Brad Pitt.

During her ongoing legal dispute with her ex-husband regarding their former French winery, Château Miraval, Angelina Jolie revealed that she and their six children—Maddox, 24, Pax, 21, Zahara, 20, Shiloh, 19, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 17—haven’t been back to the property since she filed for divorce in 2016.

In a statement filed with a California court on October 9th, and obtained by TopMob News, Jolie described the period leading up to her divorce as emotionally challenging for her and their children. She explained that when she filed for divorce, she intentionally gave her ex-husband complete control of their homes in Los Angeles and at Miraval, without asking for anything in return, hoping it would ease tensions and lead to more peaceful interactions after a very difficult time.

Ever since the difficult events surrounding the divorce, my children and I have never returned to that property.

Jolie didn’t share specifics about what happened, but she filed for divorce in September 2016 after a flight with Pitt and their children. In court documents, she claimed Pitt verbally and physically abused her and one of their kids. Pitt has refuted these claims.

According to legal filings related to Miraval, Jolie stated that she and Pitt started talking, with periods of stopping and starting, in early 2017 about the possibility of him purchasing her ownership stake in the winery.

Jolie said those conversations were always hard because of her strong emotional connection to the family home and the way her relationship ended. Miraval was one of the first big things they bought together as a couple and became the center of their family life. They got married there, she spent part of her pregnancy there, and she brought their twins home from the hospital there.

Honestly, hearing her talk about leaving everything behind just *broke* my heart. It’s one thing for *me* to be obsessed with her, but imagining her actually uprooting her life, leaving all her memories… and then to think about the kids! It must have been so incredibly hard on them to have their whole world turned upside down like that. I just can’t even fathom how tough that must have been for her and her family. It genuinely hurts to think about.

Jolie stated that Pitt later offered to buy her ownership stake in their business, but only if she signed a more extensive non-disclosure agreement. Jolie claims this agreement was intended to prevent her from publicly discussing the reasons behind their divorce.

In a court filing, Jolie explained that she was deeply hurt by his request, especially considering her role as a mother and her work supporting victims of violence globally.

The actress, known for her role in *Eternals*, stated she refused to comply with what she felt was a forceful request and informed Brad Pitt and his lawyers that she intended to sell her part of their Miraval estate to someone else.

In 2021, Jolie completed an agreement with Tenute del Mondo, which is part of the Stoli Group. The next year, Pitt sued Jolie, claiming she sold her share of the business without his approval. Jolie has responded with her own lawsuit, and the legal proceedings are still underway.

In the legal case, Brad Pitt asked to review private messages sent by Angelina Jolie, claiming they prove she intentionally harmed him when she sold her stake in their wine business to Stoli Group. Jolie has refuted this claim.

Jolie told the court that her private messages should be kept confidential because they were part of a private conversation with her lawyer.

She stated that Brad has requested she provide emails and documents related to legal advice she received from her attorneys, as well as discussions about legal strategy. She explained that these communications were meant to be private and confidential.

TopMob News has contacted representatives for Pitt regarding Jolie’s recent court filing, but they haven’t received a response yet.

For a deeper look into Pitt and Jolie’s family, keep reading…

Angelina Jolie first visited Cambodia while filming the movie *Tomb Raider* in 2001 and fell in love with the country. She then traveled to Battambang, a town in the Cambodian countryside, hoping to adopt a child.

She didn’t feel an immediate connection with any of her other children, she later shared with *Vanity Fair*. But when she saw Maddox, born on August 5, 2001, lying in a box hanging from the ceiling, everything changed. She instantly felt a strong bond and said she cried with emotion.

She adopted her oldest son as a single parent. Later, when she began dating Brad Pitt, he stepped in to adopt him as well.

Maddox Jolie-Pitt became an executive producer on his mother Angelina Jolie’s 2017 film, *First They Killed My Father*, because of his interest in her work. The film is based on a book by Loung Ung, Jolie’s friend, detailing the Cambodian genocide under the Khmer Rouge. Maddox explained to *People* magazine that he wanted to contribute to the project in any way he could. He also described his mother as “fun, funny, and easy to work with,” adding that “She’s a wonder.”

Maddox studied biochemistry at Yonsei University in South Korea, much to his mother’s delight. In April 2023, he was a guest at a state dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.

Angelina Jolie described Pax’s early childhood, explaining that he spent the first three and a half years of his life in a Vietnamese orphanage near Ho Chi Minh City. She told MSN in 2007 that he lived in a single room with around 20 other children and had no control over his own life or freedom.

As a mom, I’ve seen firsthand how blending families can be. With Maddox and his sisters, Zahara and Shiloh, it was amazing to watch him adjust. He went from one life to suddenly having a whole new family, with brothers, sisters, and a mom and dad. It’s been beautiful seeing him learn English and really blossom. He’s got this incredible energy – wild and free because he’s finally experiencing that freedom. He’s a remarkably resilient little guy, and it’s been such a joy to watch him grow.

Pax had an early interest in filmmaking, following in his family’s footsteps. He voiced a character in Angelina Jolie’s 2016 animated film, *Kung Fu Panda 3*, and worked as a set photographer on *First They Killed My Father*. In 2018, he accompanied his mother to the Golden Globes.

He assisted with the design of Atelier Jolie, a fashion and tailoring space Angelina opened in New York City, and also worked as an assistant director on the set of her new movie, *Without Blood*, which was filmed in Italy.

Angelina explained to *People* magazine that working with her sons Pax and Maddox felt natural because a good film set often feels like a family.

When Angelina visited an orphanage in Hawassa, Ethiopia, she brought her then-3-year-old son, Maddox, and introduced him to her older daughter, Zahara, who was born on January 8, 2005. Angelina later told Anderson Cooper that Maddox quickly bonded with Zahara. Because Zahara was already seven months old when she came home, Maddox saw her a bit like a little sibling he could cuddle and watch.

Zahara, like her brothers and sisters, is fascinated by her mother’s career. She’s participated in events like red carpets, helped launch her own jewelry line, the Zahara Collection, with jeweler Robert Procop in 2019, and even joined her mother on trips to support Syrian refugees through the UNHCR.

In August 2022, Angelina Jolie became emotional as she dropped her daughter Zahara off at Spelman College in Atlanta, jokingly hoping to avoid tears in a video she shared on Instagram. She later returned to campus to participate in the Historically Black College and University’s homecoming celebration.

Zahara became a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at her school in 2023. She’s also traveled with the actress to Washington, D.C. several times, including when the actress gave an emotional speech in February 2022 urging the renewal of the Violence Against Women Act. A year later, Zahara was with her again as they spoke with legislators to support the Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2022.

Angelina and Brad welcomed their daughter, Shiloh, into the world on May 27, 2006, at a hospital in Swakopmund, Namibia. In an interview with MSN, Angelina described Shiloh as a bright, loving, and humorous baby, adding that she already saw a bit of her own mischievous personality in her little girl.

Shiloh first appeared on the red carpet at the premiere of *Unbroken* in 2014. Since then, she’s joined her family at events for films like *Maleficent: Mistress of Evil*, *The Breadwinner*, and *Dumbo*. She also attended the 2018 National Board of Review Awards Gala and the *Eternals* premiere in 2021, where she famously wore a gown previously worn by her mother.

Angelina Jolie loves seeing her kids borrow clothes from her closet. She told TopMob’s *Daily Pop* that she encourages them to wear things, even better than she does! She happily lets them have whatever they want, saying, ‘It’s your turn!’ and embraces being that kind of mom.

Shiloh not only admires Angelina’s charity work, but also appears to be exploring a career in entertainment, recently spending time at the Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles.

Turning 18 in 2024, Shiloh Jolie officially petitioned a Los Angeles court to legally drop the ‘Pitt’ from her last name, wanting to be known simply as Shiloh Nouvel Jolie. According to a source at TopMob News, Shiloh independently hired and paid for her own legal representation to handle the process.

Angelina Jolie first showed off her baby bump at the 2008 Independent Spirit Awards. Soon after, on July 12, 2008, she gave birth to twins, Knox and Vivienne, in Nice, France. The family settled into their home, Château Miraval. In an interview with *People* magazine, Angelina described life with the new babies as “chaotic but wonderful,” and shared that her daughters, Shiloh and Zahara, enjoyed helping to pick out clothes and care for the twins.

Angelina explained that her son, Brad, was named after his grandfather, Hal Knox Hillhouse, because they shared similar emotional and physical traits. This resemblance was clearly visible when Brad and his grandfather attended the 2015 British motorcycle Grand Prix.

Following in the footsteps of her older children, Pax, Zahara, and Shiloh, Knox had a small voice acting role as Ku Ku in the 2016 film *Kung Fu Panda 3*. According to Jolie, the kids were initially hesitant. “They don’t necessarily want to be actors,” she explained to *ET*, “but I didn’t want them to miss out on the experience, and they ended up having a lot of fun.”

Angelina described her twin brother, Knox, as being similar to their late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, in that he prefers to support others rather than seek the spotlight. She told TopMob News that he’s a thoughtful and dedicated person who takes theatre seriously and always strives to contribute his best work.

Despite a strong performance as a young Elle Fanning’s Aurora in the 2014 film *Maleficent* – Angelina Jolie was impressed with her precision on set – the actress has since focused on work that happens behind the camera.

Angelina shared that her daughter, Vivienne, inspired her to work on bringing the movie *The Outsiders* to Broadway. Vivienne then volunteered to help her mom, who was the producer, with the Tony-winning show.

Angelina said her daughter, Vivienne, keeps her on track. ‘She’ll tell me, ‘You didn’t read the memo! We need to do this and follow the plan,’” Jolie explained to *People*. “She’s a really dedicated and serious assistant.’

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2025-10-10 04:49