Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie issue joint statement resolving to work it out privately

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Last Friday, there was “breaking news” in the Brangelina custody war, only it didn’t seem to be new information. The Daily Mail ran the actual documents that Laura Wasser filed on behalf of Angelina Jolie, where Wasser claimed that Pitt was the one making “false accusations” against Jolie, and that Pitt keeps throwing legal hissy fits because he’s trying to protect his reputation, not their six kids. You can read more here.

There were also documents filed confirming the temporary custody arrangement, which is that Pitt has had one five-hour visit with the kids every week since October, and each visit has been supervised by a therapist. Again, the “frequency and duration” of the visits “have been determined by the minor children’s therapist,” NOT Angelina. Apparently, Pitt began requesting additional visits with the kids in November and Angelina offered to meet with Pitt – with their lawyers – to try to work it out privately, but Brad refused to withdraw his request from the court so that’s what triggered the situation they’re in now.

So what’s happening now? Late Monday evening, Angelina and Brad released a joint statement:

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have agreed to work together for the sake of their family. The actors released a joint statement Monday evening stating that they have reached an agreement to handle their divorce in a private forum and will keep future details of their divorce confidential by utilizing a private judge.

According to the statement obtained by PEOPLE, “The parties and their counsel have signed agreements to preserve the privacy rights of their children and family by keeping all court documents confidential and engaging a private judge to make any necessary legal decisions and to facilitate the expeditious resolution of any remaining issues.”

It concludes: “The parents are committed to act as a united front to effectuate recovery and reunification.”

[From People]

You know which side has more of my sympathy, but I do think that all of the filings and counter-filings and legal jabs were getting a bit tedious. At this point, I do wish either of them (or both of them) would just come out and say what’s going on and what happened. But that’s not going to happen, so at least now, maybe, we won’t have daily updates on their legal jabs at each other. I mean, I’m sure that both of them are going to be positioning themselves for the PR war, but hopefully the lawyers will stop with the filings. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Oh, and while Brad was a surprise presenter at Sunday’s Golden Globes, he apparently did not attend any of the after-parties. He apparently arrived late to the Globes, entering through the backstage door, and he left the Globes right after he presented the clips for Moonlight (which he executive produced).

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Photos courtesy of WENN/NBC, Fame/Flynet.

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297 Responses to “Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie issue joint statement resolving to work it out privately”

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  1. Talie says:

    They couldn’t have done this from the jump?!

    • QQ says:

      THIS! i also find it completely Laughable cause what are the chances they’ll stop stunt queening one another if you can practically smell how forced and Unfortunate it is that they had to issue this to keep one another in check?!

      • mia girl says:

        Yeah. Sigh…
        I know many say Jolie doesn’t care about Hollywood but I’ve got to wonder if all that effusive/obvious support clapping for Pitt at GG shook Wasser/Real OliviaPope a bit. I mean the world saw that and could sway public opinion. Maybe they advised that overall, but in particular the best PR move for Jolie at this point is to issue this joint statement about working together.

      • Jem says:

        I agree with Mia Girl. I think the enthusiastic support for Brad at the GG shook Angie up. She’s alienating herself within the industry. I think she believed she could “ruin” Brad…

      • Folly says:

        @miagirl, dats exactly wat came to my mind when I saw the statement they released dis morng,there is no doubt Hollywood love their golden boy and the news about the adulation was all over the Internet,I guess Olivia pope saw dat and decide to do the right thing

      • Jenny says:

        Exactly what I thought when I saw the headline, Jem and Mia Girl. Angelina got really scared when she watched the GGs. So pathetic this whole mess. Don’t have kids if you can’t put your egos aside and act like adults.

      • Talie says:

        I agree with you all…the GG appearance was a stroke of genius from a PR perspective.

      • Fa says:

        @MIA GIRL

        The agreement was done last week, they just filed on Monday is nothing to do with GG

      • Aiobhan Targaryen says:

        This line of thinking that she was trying to ruin him makes little to no sense. If she was, why has she not come out and said explicitly what happened on the plane that night? Why hasn’t she leaked other stories of bad behavior from him on other occasions during their time together?

        She has always kept it about the incident on the plane and responded to his nonsense with actual facts pertaining to his claim, nothing more. She does not and would not care about people clapping for him at the GG at all. She has kept it about her kids and making them better. Brad has just made the incident about Brad.

      • Esmom says:

        “If she was (trying to ruin him), why has she not come out and said explicitly what happened on the plane that night? Why hasn’t she leaked other stories of bad behavior from him on other occasions during their time together?”

        Maybe she doesn’t have anything all that damning? Who knows.

      • Ramona says:

        I dont think she CAN say what happened because in all likelihood it wouldnt change much on his PR end but would finish her. Like I keep saying, people will forgive him especially when its within legal parameters and he seems contrite and working on himself. There are other reasons too like being a good looking white guy and generally being seen as very likeable the years. She on the other hand….well, you know how she was perceived when she first started and then during the triangle. You also know that right now, in spite of the image overhaul, she is widely viewed as scheming to exclude the father from the family.

        In other words, her leaking it would lead to “thats nothing, those kids are spolt and he made a mistake, nobody is perfect” and “she leaked this in complete disregard for their kids to hurt an ex”. She must know that she is better off saying nothing and then reminding us that she is saying nothing. That way pur imaginations do all the work and she can avoid the “schemer” tag. I’m also quite sure Brad knows he would emerge just fine. There will be no boycotts, maybe a few think pieces on feminist sites but I really think thats it. But he would also suffer personal embarassment for his lowest moment aired out and I believe thats his motivation for wanting it kept quiet.

      • Aiobhan Targaryen says:

        @Esmom She thought it was important enough to leave him and then file divorce two days later. You don’t decide to leave someone and then file for divorce two days later over something that you don’t consider important enough to make a decision like that. She cared enough to start a family with him and marry him, even though she did not have to do so. She would not break up her family over something she felt was trivial.

        But this also does not really answer my question. If she wanted to ruin him, why not leak out several stories of bad behavior from him? Since many people claim that the court of public opinion matters she would not need actual proof, she just needs to put out her account of what happened that night or on several other occasions where he has behaved poorly. She hasn’t done this in the slightest. And let’s be honest, even if she did have proof, some people would still spin it to where Brad was the victim in the situation.

      • Esmom says:

        AT, I hear you. Clearly she felt she had a good reason to leave him suddenly but as Ramona said maybe her reasons aren’t something that would resonate with the public, which is why she’s not giving details.

      • Aiobhan Targaryen says:

        @Esmom Or maybe she really doesn’t care enough about public opinion to form her argument just right to win people over. She has always made it about the kids and only refuted his claims that she is alienated him from those kids. I would be hurt to if someone insinuated that I would do anything to hurt my kids- especially when I was not the one to cause the split in the first place. She hasn’t done much of anything to “destroy “him at all. Holding him accountable is not the same as trying to destroy him. And let’s be honest, even if she did have proof, some people would still spin it to where Brad was the victim in the situation. But I think you already know that.

        @ Ramona I don’t buy that she cannot say or leak any information. If she wanted to do it, she would do it. It would not be a fatal hit, but he would still be open to scrutiny for the ten minutes it would take before calls to forgive him would start. My point is to argue that she is not about destroying him in the press or even privately. She never has been about that, even though people keep saying she is. There is little to no proof of this argument in the facts of the case at all.

        She will never escape the schemer tag and you know it. You just mentioned in your own post what her history is in the press and who she represents to a lot of people. You are also assuming a lot with your response to if something was leaked. I could see your point if it was just them getting a divorce but there are kids involved which could make things more complicated for him. Kids and animals can change people’s perception of a person real quick if they (the majority) are considered in opposition to what they consider is in the best interest of the child. Right now they assume the best of him because her homewrecker status is blinding them. Who knows if things may change if she did give out more information?

      • almondmilk says:

        +100000 AIOBHAN
        *SLOW CLAP

      • Carmen says:

        @mia girl and the rest below her: that standing ovation put Brad in good company. They gave the same to Mel Brooks, Roman Polanski and Woody Allen.

        Nice try, anyway.

      • Lahdidahbaby says:

        As only you can do, QQ, you have summed up this dreadfully tragic (for the kids) situation PERFECTLY in a single tossed-off paragraph. That’s your brilliance. I’m certain there are the usual ponderous “novels” posted down-thread from your post, taking one side or the other with a vengeance that has no place in this situation, but I’ve decided to stop reading right here, with your post, because honestly I don’t need anything else. xxx

    • TyrantDestroyed says:

      Exactly! I hate when a two people tear themselves apart, especially when there are children involved. I hope they are able to find an agreement and work in keeping the inner peace of their kids.

      • almondmilk says:

        This is a bit of overkill eh @Tyrantdestroyed?

        uh, I think the “tearing the family apart” occurred on the plane and because of Brad’s anger/abuse issues.

        That’s at least, the incident that the whole family is getting therapy about now and that Brad’s getting his own therapy and drug and alcohol testing for.

        I know it keeps things all equal and fair and allows women to blame Angelina, but her filing for divorce from an alleged drunk raging Dad *for the health of her family* – is really NOT the bad thing that they’re recovering from.

        Also, @EsMom is that what you’re going with? Really? Angelina has nothing. That the investigations, the therapy, for Brad, the kids, the whole family, was nothing – that it was an Angelina scheme at worst and overreaction at best – that she has other more personal (woman scorned angry bitter hysterical lunatic craaazaay…you know Angelina!) for bolting…and well the older two kids reasons for being estranged don’t count because…heh..their adopted…and mom is poisoning them against perfect Dad Brad.

        If all that is true, and let’s face it….that is the dream for many haters on gossip boards…

        Why would Brad want her to have ‘joint’ custody? Why isn’t he out there talking about how crazy she is? Saying this was all blown out of proportion because she’s crazy.

        Why’s he signing therapeutic agreements, and going to therapy, counseling and getting tested and crying that he’s lonely and sad?

        Oh i remember. He’s just SUCH a nice guy.

      • Esmom says:

        almondmilk, it was just a thought. I really have no fracking idea what Angelina has or doesn’t have. But thanks for the dissertation. Peace.

      • Nicole says:

        We get it, you think Brad is a terrible human being. The walls of texts you write on every post to state so, show that.

      • TyrantDestroyed says:

        almondmilk, I am team nobody, especially when two adults cannot behave as such for their young kids. And just to be clear, during a divorce you fracture a family even as amicable as it could be and it is always shocking for the rest of the family involved.
        It will be refreshing if these two separate quietly and we stop having fans’ wars over their problems….PEACE.

      • bap says:

        You are correct.

      • geneva says:

        Agree with initial thread above that the support for Brad Pitt at the Golden Globes was a spontaneous response not so much against Jolie but one from the heart that to me affirms that Dads who have been cleared of any wrong doing should have access than five hours per week under supervision – to their kids. Also, yep, he did look like he needed some cheering up to be honest and maybe that is why they clapped. I don’t think it was a direct dig at Jolie. People are only human and he needed some support at that moment and it was spontaneous I believe. Doesn’t help when all the ski photos of Mom show her walking around in the freezing cold with kids who are not wearing hats, gloves or coats. No doubt the warm limo. was waiting within reach..but I still say the ski trip was a PR move.

    • Nicole says:

      They probably realize that they both look like asshats at this point. At first I was sympathetic but last week I wanted them to shut up.

    • YepIsaidIt says:

      No. Mia girl, Angelina’s team released a statement right after Brad had his lawyer attack her stating that she had already signed the agreement to seal the case. She signed it on the 21 or 22nd the same day his lawyer filed publicly to make her look bad- which is exactly what her team said.

      • almondmilk says:

        Thank you YesISaidIt…

        The women in this thread need to be reminded of facts and dates near constantly, lest possibly alcoholic/substance abuser Brad attacking his child and being investigated by 4 agencies, terrorizing and blowing up his family be reduced to….

        …the *both-ism* of ‘two asshats stuntqueening’ because they want a divorce.

        I mean, the latter, the Angelina haters love, both are to blame equally for this, and Angelina gets it worse because she said she was filling ‘for the health of her family.’

        Women don’t even want to hear that from her.

        They don’t want any her to have any GOOD excuses for filing (like Brad mistreating children due to his substance abuse culminating in the plane incident), oooh noooo… their hater DREAM scenario is that
        a) nothing happened on the plane
        b) Brad wanted to leave Angelina and the 1000 kids
        c) Brad must be cheating on her
        d) Angelina is is mad about that – you know, a corned woman and all like Jen
        e) as a result of course Angelina is seeking revenge and
        f) the very latest bit of misogyny- Angelina HAD to cow-tow to Brad today because she was skeered after his Globe appearance and the hooting by Jonah Hill and his movie’s cast tables…because after all, she really is like the rest of us and most women, *desperate and afraid!!*

        Thank you at @Fa for clarifying that this was signed and agreed to last week.

        You can tell the Angelina detractors were all set to turn this into ‘scared, recalcitrant actress and bad mom Angelina comes to heel after loud claps and hoots at Globes.’

        Oh well, I’m sure they’ll be trying other denunciations of HER behavior and how’s she handled her alleged scary drunk husband.

        Afterall, that IS the issue here: critiquing how *certain* women handle their bad behaving husbands who have blown their children’s world up. If she doesn’t execute perfectly and to their satisfaction, she WILL get dragged.

      • LadyT says:

        Where’s the evidence that this was signed and agreed to last week? I only see that the announcement was released late Monday. Not that I think the GGs had anything to do with the shift in dynamics- I just like to see where info comes from. Sorry if I missed it.

      • Mathilde says:

        Where, also, is the evidence on what happened on the plane? That it was so terrible that the children are traumatized by it?!? We know next to nothing, yet some are more than eager to choose sides. The divorce has probably been a long time coming and there is surely fault on both sides, which is why this should have been handled privately from the start without any “health of the family” statements directed more towards the public opinion than anything else. As for the rest of us, I understand that it is difficult to keep quiet when a lot of feelings are involved. But they seem to have finally come to their senses, so why not let them get on with it and stop trying to turn this into a team something issue. There is no need for that! I on my part am thankful that the cringeworthy bragging about their “rainbow family” has finally come to an end and that both have probably been brought down at least a peg or too. Throughout the years it was just too much!

      • O.o says:

        @Mathilde “Where, also, is the evidence on what happened on the plane? That it was so terrible that the children are traumatized by it?!? We know next to nothing, yet some are more than eager to choose sides. ”

        Maybe because some of us actually use logic? We read the documents filled at court and the lawyers correspondence and it provided us with enough evidence to know that whatever happened on the plane was traumatizing.

        How else can you explain that a father (who was praised for his parental skills by his wife several times in public and then during the investigation – Brad’s lawyer’s words) was recommended by DCFS therapists to have no more but one hour a week supervised visit with his children? ONE hour a week (with each child in groups of two) for a few months and then if there is some progress made, the meetings time might increase.
        How else can you explain that almost three months after the incident two of his six children still weren’t (and maybe till this day aren’t) willing to see their dad?
        How else can you explain that even now the therapists haven’t decided to give the father more than 5 hours a week visits?
        There’s no more proof needed to know the children were/are traumatized.

        And contrary to what some Brad’s apologists say that it is all Angelina’s doing (like manipulating, bewitching, Maleficent black magic, Lara Croft moves etc.), there was an investigation, all the kids and everyone else present on the plane were interviewed, the therapists were working with the kids from day one, and the most important part- Brad willingly signed the agreement which gave him such limited access to children. He also agreed to be drug and alcohol tested every week for a few months. If he was innocent of all the accusations and the children were fine, he would have never signed these papers. He would have to be nuts.

        And (regarding the argument I often read here) the therapists are professionals,there are 5 of them (so it’s not one person’s opinion) they know what they’re doing and have no agenda in this case, all they care about is the children’s well-being.

        So is there any other word for this than trauma?

      • Mathilde says:

        For logic to work you need most of the facts and we just do not have them. And at this point I cannot say that I much want them. For the sake of those children let this remain a private matter. It is none of our business!

      • Capella says:

        @Almondmilk … what are you talking about?! Haters? Team Angie/Brad? I think you are posting on the wrong blog … most here are viewing this with a little restraint because the sobering factor is the children who love both of their parents. We only know what has been released in the court documents which tells us almost next to nothing about their marriage and everything leading up to their divorce. Most will wait for more information before weighing in heavily even though it is tempting to weigh in with these two. Again, those children love both their mother and father, and your insinuation about either parent’s thoughts or actions regarding their “adopted” kids is only incriminating to you and how you are playing this out in your head. You do not know Angelina or Brad. Where have you read that Brad was mistreating his children which “culminated” on the plane ride? Yes, there was an incident on the plane and yes, we know substance abuse may have been involved but you can’t definitively say he has been mistreating his children before this tragic event. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t. The 4 agencies were required to be involved because the incident happened on a plane! Maybe they would have been involved anyway … we don’t fully know at this point. Most of your opinion is stated as fact. I also find it troubling that you continue to bring “women” into your argument as though “women” are to blame for your fictitious demise of Angelina. What is up with that?!?

      • sarah says:

        @almondmilk, my opinion, based on nothing, is that Brad had been acting badly for a while and Angelina had put up with it, but when someone from the plane reported it, she had no choice but to leave him and file for divorce. I doubt the first time he got crazed was on a plane with lots of others on it as well. She turned into a Momma Bear after the authorities were told. He suddenly became contrite and cleaned up his act. He looks 15 years younger at the GG than he has looked in recent years.

        I think that there are always two sides to every story, and these two spoiled brat Hollywood babies were using a wrecking ball on each other and the only ones hurt by this are the kids. I’ve taught for 25 years, and divorce is horrid for the kids 99% of the time, unless the parents are very purposefully keeping everything friendly and loving, even if they are seething at each other.

    • noway says:

      Yes they could have, but the thing about divorce is generally people are angry for a bit and sometimes longer. I thought they both would come to their senses at some point, as they seemed like a sensible couple, and this really is the best thing for the kids. I know people want their gossip and to know the real story, but it is better for everyone if it is private. Glad to see they finally got to the sanity part.

      • smcollins says:

        This, right here ^^^^
        It was obvious from the beginning that this was going to be ugly before they would finally reign it in. I’m glad they’ve reached an agreement, and also that they released a joint statement to show they are willing to work together, as opposed to against each other. I really hope that from here they can also work things out quickly (as possible, anyway) so that they & their family can move forward, leaving as much of this behind them as they can.

      • marmalazed says:

        Yes, I completely agree. It’s easy to point fingers and say they should be doing everything perfectly for the kids but it’s hard on the parents, too, and it can take time to get to that place. From where I’m sitting, I’m actually really impressed with how quickly they came to working together. I’ve got two young kids and throughout my divorce I did what I thought was in their best interest. Sometimes it looked ugly from the outside. It’s been a year though and I have a really good relationship with the ex, his new wife, and my kids are happy, healthy and have adjusted.

    • Libra girl says:

      Exactly. So over these two.

    • Josie says:

      Finally. The way this was handled was not the way to successfully co-parent, and now i wonder if the damage has already been done. It’s going to take a lot of work for both mend the bridge that one put gas on and one happily lit and threw the match and ran.

  2. Jack Daniels is my patronus says:

    It’s about damn time. They both lost so much of my respect through this nightmare.

  3. Becky says:

    Thank god. Should’ve been that way from the start.

    • Ramona says:

      Absolutely this. And I do believe that this is how most celebrity couples handle it. I can count how many celebrity divorce trials I have heard of in the last decade on one hand, precisely because they announce divorce AFTER disputes are resolved.

      • Lindsey says:

        To be fair they were having major disputes about custody. This isn’t just cash and property where there is a formula to keep it fair. Private judges want undisputed settlements not contentious custody issues that is for the practicing family court judges to try and hash out. Custody is messy and never fully settled until the kids turn 18.

      • Ramona says:

        I’m sure there have been just as many custody disputes among celebrities as there are among the general population. Perhaps even more because celebrities tend to be nomadic. I think especially with custody, they just figure it out quietly.

    • YepIsaidIt says:

      According to people magazine( when the divorce was announced) Angelina wanted to release a joint statement and Brad Pit refused.

      Just like he refused to sit down with Angelina, their counsel and a therapist to work out these issues. Laura wasser talked about this in her emails.

      • Sage says:

        I can’t figure out why Brad refused to release an initial joint statement in the beginning.

      • smcollins says:

        Denial is a powerful thing.

      • GoOnGirl says:

        @YepIsaidIt. Thank you for clarifying the issue of the “statement” which Brad refused to do. IMO, it made him look like the fool. And almond mike, keep preaching.

      • almondmilk says:

        @YepIsaidIt

        This right here is why I will loathe Brad if he continues in this vein.

        Having alcohol and substance abuse problems does not have to be a character ding. It’s a disease. Something that can creep up and destroy your life and all that you hold dear, literally. (it’s why the responsible custodial parent must put their children’s safety first when dealing with an alcoholic/substance abuser and then secondly work to insure the sick parent gets help)

        That’s why a statement to this effect, wouldn’t be life or career shattering for Brad. Heck, i don’t know a major movie icon who has not had problems with booze and drink. We just saw Affleck this past week walking with his AA counselor. We don’t need to go into Depp’s issues. Brad would recover quickly and not miss a step. Misogyny both overt and covert and especially that which has long been directed at Angelina would further be his cushion. She’s Maleficent. There are people who even IF Brad issues a mea culpa saying “it is all MY fault I’m a scary boozer and the roids made it worse,” would STILL ‘knee jerk automatically’ blame Angelina. We say it with Chelsea Handler.

        All she heard at that point was that they were split, Angelina had filed and her response was – ‘Brad is finally free of the lunatic and the 1000 kids.’ plus ‘if Brad had to choose between Mad fox and Pax and the China, he’d take the dishes.’
        You know because they’re the Asian adopted kids. She’s such a feminist. Girl power y’all. Not racist at all.

        Anyway, my point: Brad can do anything. He should know that himself by now. Haters have talked about it in detail, how he gets away with murder (or dating teens) and people look the other way. Even though I’ve rolled my eyes in the past because they *only hated him due to his being with Angelina,* I see it now too.

        Angelina is the one, who with HIS silence he is insuring the usual suspects continue their ravaging of her, and they will. Women desire comeuppance or ‘Karma’ for bad beautiful woman- she hasn’t had hers yet. Afterall, she chose this. This wasn’t done to her. They want something done to her. They’ll create it if it doesn’t happen (see Marion Cotilliard, see the Golden Globes, see when Brad completes his program and gets joint- they’ll imply she LOST and lie and pretend she was fighting for sole all along).

        So with Brad’s silence. His lack of accountability. That allows people to turn this into a tale of two selfish knuckleheads. A little kitchsy, campy and funny. Cue War of the Roses soundtrack.

        As a humanitarian with a legacy, a reputation as a diplomat, and symbol of UNHCR, fighting for women and girls education and against sexual violence in wartime. Her most admired and influential rankings that she gets year after year after year. The multicultural family that she made. Her power and her voice is needed in these scary times with a sick xenophobe in power (one that despises her) She’s an example and a leader not just for her own children (girls especially) but for everyone.

        That is who Brad is destroying with his mealy mouthed stupid silence and couched protective statement, the mother of his children and a great and admirable woman.

      • Carmen says:

        @ Sage: She was the one who wanted the divorce, he didn’t. He claimed he was blindsided.

  4. Aiobhan Targaryen says:

    I cannot wait to come back later on and read the comments in this thread.

    • Lady D says:

      Aiobhan is your name pronounced Avon? I’ve been trying to figure out how to pronounce your name since the first time I saw it.

  5. Esmom says:

    “The parents are committed to act as a united front to effectuate recovery and reunification.”

    Not exactly warm and fuzzy but it seems like progress. Keeping it private sounds good to me.

    • Who ARE These People? says:

      Interesting choice of words… recovery from what? Reunification how?

      • Esmom says:

        Yeah, each word does seem loaded and deliberate…but also cryptic enough to interpret different ways.

      • Ramona says:

        Given that the wording of joint statements is usually very meticulously negotiated, I would guess “recovery” was her insertion and “reunification” was his.

      • almondmilk says:

        Yes meticulously hashed out for sure.

        @Ramona

        My guess is both “recovery and reunification,” (those words go together) are Angelina’s team suggestion and hard stop, as in: when Brad ‘RECOVERS’ from his substance abuse through therapeutic means (ditto the children and their counseling) THEN he’ll (and kids) will be REUNIFIED.

        All of the “privacy” and “private” word usage (and I swear it’s mentioned 10x) is Brad’s team. Because that’s all he’s got…and he doesn’t even have that.

      • Lilian says:

        @almond milk. I’ve never posted on these threads before but you seem to know so much about this family. Like deep inside knowledge about whose team suggested what wording. That together with the Thesis that you write to most of the posters in these threads means that you must know Brad and Angelina personally. Girl how about hooking me up with some Autographs???

    • Sixer says:

      Family court proceedings are private/secret here in the UK. Judgements are public but anonymised (Child A, Child B, Mother, Father, etc).

      It has its serious downsides – I won’t bore you with details but one aspect is playing itself out here right now. But all this shiznit with this divorce has made me realise that there some very significant upsides including child protection and privacy when parents have gone rogue.

      • Lindsey says:

        I’d be interested to hear your thoughts. On the other hand this is an extreme case you have to be pretty invested to read through your neighbor’s divorce transcript. This only applies with celebrity parents fighting a contentious battle.

      • Christin says:

        Some (US) states require ‘children in the middle’ courses for parents, and may appoint a ‘guardian ad litem’ to determine what may be in the child’s best interests.

        I think this situation required some sort of ‘time out’ to understand what effect a divorce and custody war can have on innocent children.

      • Sixer says:

        It’s part of our Children Act (our main child protection legislation), Lindsey. Any child involved in family court proceedings has their identity protected. In order to do that, much of the other content is also private so that the children cannot be identified – obviously the parents identities but also social workers and expert witnesses. So the effect is that family court proceedings are basically entirely secret. If anything so serious has happened that criminal charges are brought, then the criminal cases is public as usual (with a very few cases where children’s identities are kept secret).

        There have been a few high profile cases involving, for example, domestic abuse, where the secrecy has had negative impacts greater than the child protection involved in retaining privacy, and the current head judge of the family courts, Sir James Munby, thinks it has gone too far. Government agrees and we’re expecting revisionary primary legislation for such cases soon.

  6. freebunny says:

    I guess they realized they both looked bad.

    • mia girl says:

      Pretty much. Plus maybe cooler heads now?

      This was the best step forward for all involved.

      • Christin says:

        Divorce and custody battles typically don’t bring out the best in people. Hopefully both finally realized they were digging side-by-side holes for themselves.

    • Annie says:

      Really? After Brad’s extremely warm reception at the GG’s (whooping even ensued) and by viewers tweets during and after that welcome, Brad Pitt is still very much beloved.

      • almondmilk says:

        You’re right Annie

        He could shoot someone in the middle of Times Square and not lose any votes.

      • Carmen says:

        @ almondmilk: Oh snap! ROFLMAO!!

      • Agapanthus says:

        Almond,
        Really? I think that’s extremely unlikely.
        If AJ shot someone in the middle of Times Square, would you still be such a super fan?
        Let’s keep this in perspective, please. Life is not black and white.

  7. Loo says:

    Thank goodness. All that nastiness was making both of them look awful.

    • almondmilk says:

      Really?

      Both of them look awful?

      One parent allegedly attacks their kid on a plane in a drunk rage and traumatizes him and the other children, the other files to divorce because of that, and gets all therapeutic help while putting her work on hold… saying she’s doing it ‘for the health of her family.’

      Yet they’re both the same, both equal, both crazy kids and knuckleheads –?

      You sure one wasn’t more awful than the other?

      See ladies, remember, this is your bar.

      A man can do the literal worst, and it’s you who’ll be villified.

  8. Lucy2 says:

    Good- should’ve been that way from the start.

  9. Adorable says:

    Meh….I feel the damage is done,won’t be able to look at Brad Pitt ever the same again…Anyway hope the kids are healing

    • Becky says:

      I was a fan of both of them, and my respect for both of them has been lost because of this debacle.

      • Friendof says:

        I was an angie fan for a long time, but she lost me with this broadside of the father of her children. What happened to “in sickness and in health”. She seems to want sole custody badly and will do ANYTHING to get it.

    • Jem says:

      The damage is done alright. But for me and many many others, it is Angelina’s career that won’t recover from this messiness. I have no intention of ever watching her in a movie again. But Brad? Sure. Why not?

      • Maya says:

        HE was the one who behaved badly with the children and SHE is the one being punished?

        We are in 2017 and it’s still a man’s world.

      • Sera says:

        Well bully for you. I will do just the opposite. Brad s pity party replicated his former ex. Angelina u s strong, smart and amazing and didn’t c a use DCFS to interfere in her life.

      • Kate says:

        Euh… OK. I hope Brad’s next movie is with Johnny Deep.

      • BJ says:

        I can’t wait to watch both of their next projects.

      • doofus says:

        I think Jolie’s career will be fine.

        think of all the things she been simply ACCUSED of, and still is doing OK in the biz.

      • Lady D says:

        There is a lot more to her work than just acting, and her career will be just fine. Leave the acting to the pretty boy.

      • lavins says:

        Angelina has become unlikeable for many, that’s a big problem for her.
        Where is the videotape of all the bad things Brad did that she was going to produce. Still waiting.

      • almondmilk says:

        @lavins

        You’re exhibit A of why Brad Pitt is weak. He was a succubus, coat tailing Angelina’s humanitarian cred and getting the children he wanted all the while letting misogynists and vile bitter hater usual suspect females, tear chunks off her.

        He will ramp up the latter, and posters like you will lead the charge.

        That said, if you’re implying Angelina ever said she had a videotape and would be releasing it, you’re spreading falsehoods.

      • Paige says:

        @lavins You’ll be waiting a long time because that story was fabricated by Us magazine. Some stories are created by rags to get clicks neither more. They aren’t leaked by Brad or Angelina. Both have leaked stuff but I don’t think you should give everything unnamed source so much credit.

  10. TheOtherOne says:

    Call me cynical, but does anyone think that Brad’s warm reception at the GG made Angelina realize that industry wise/business wise he’ll be fine and reaccepted and maybe cooperating could help them both in the long run. I am just calling this JOINT move strategic and let’s be honest she is the brains in the relationship.

    • Fa says:

      The agreement was done deal already, they just filed with the court on Monday

    • Zapp Brannigan says:

      I am sure she realized that as a man in Hollywood his reputation and work opportunities were never at risk. He was never at risk of being shunned, heck these people give Woody Allen and Roman Polanski standing ovations on the regular.

      • Fa says:

        Don’t underestimate angelina she survived all Hollywood calling her homewrecker, this is nothing, she has her kids for support now

      • supposedtobeworking says:

        yeah, his projects keep getting awards/nominations and are examples of diversity and minority members of society telling their story. Her last 3 projects have not been well-received and are labelled ‘vanity projects’ with a bit of snark. Brad’s going to be fine.

      • almondmilk says:

        Brad Pitt is great at executive producing, finding a brilliant project or work of art, letting those artists be the risk takers, do what they do and change the world…like a good EVP, he stays out of the way and reaps the credit.

        It’s what he did with Angelina.

        To @supposedtobeworking
        Angelina remains the only Oscar winning actor for acting in that family. Two sit on her mantle. She steps out of the box and directs films with complicated subject matter – she’s a risk taker. Neither In the Land of Blood & Honey, nor Unbroken were labeled a vanity project. She’s got her By the Seas, as Brad has his Allieds.

        No need for a pizzing match.

        We get it, some people are on Team ‘alleged drunk bad dad Brad’ who traumatized his kids and they very much like slurring icon Angelina and lighting incense and chanting that she’ll die broke and alone.

    • Adorable says:

      Right..but as some one said yesterday if Angelina Presented as well she also would’ve gotten a warm reception I feel she’s more respected for her humanitarian activities etc…From the doc’s filed she agreed late last year to this & in all honesty the facts of the issue at hand to anyone objective are in favor of Angelina & this whole privacy thing is just protecting Brad & in the long run Angie knows she may look bad not agreeing to this…not that she has anything to hide from this whole mess but to those who don’t like nor trust her she’s the one who wants this public…

      • Fa says:

        Because she knows she nothing to hide

      • Adorable says:

        @FA I agree with you,Angelina has nothing to hide as I said this whole privacy this is good for Brad & protecting his golden image…& a big LOL to the fake concern of Angelina’s career here…This is Angelina Jolie we’re talking about here!!!her just getting ice-cream with the kids was enough to keep her trending on social media for days,so yea she’ll survive this & when all is said & done she”ll come out better than ever

      • O.o says:

        Of course she’ll survive it and come of it stronger than ever. She’s been accused of worse things in the past. And the same people who clapped and cheered so heavily the other night at Brad, next time Angie appears in public will act just like they did two years ago at Critics Choice Award which she attended solo, because Brad, I guess, was scared of coming face to face with his ex. That night Angelina’s table was like check-in counter at LAX – everyone with guts came by to great her.

        Personally, I can’t wait for the divorce to be over. Hope, they’ll work things out between them, so they can co-parent, but other than that, I’m done with ‘ forever-the-victim’ Brad.

      • Friendof says:

        She was more respected for her humanitarian efforts but can she sustain her popularity when she goes rogue on her own family?

      • Noelle says:

        How exactly did she “go rogue on her own family”?

      • dotdotdot says:

        Noelle, don´t you know that buying your kids ice cream is just the worst?! ROGUE ALL THE WAY!

      • Lady D says:

        Damn woman needs a man to keep her in line, amiright?/s

    • noway says:

      Maybe but I thought Angelina wasn’t giving up her movie career several times now.

    • perplexed says:

      When it comes to PR and business-savvy, I think he’s smarter than she is.

      Her interests are more intellectual and humanitarian, which uses a different kind of intelligence,, but business-wise I think he has a track record of making smarter decisions.

      • Sage says:

        I agree, Brad is not some dumbass stoner simpleton.

      • Lady D says:

        Yes, malignant maneuvering does takes some brains.

      • Mathilde says:

        I have never much cared for Brad as an actor, and never found him attractive. Not my type! But I respect a person who sticks with his chosen profession and keeps getting better. He has much more actual talent than I was aware of and definitely deserved the applause at the Globes. Talent in itself is not enough, you need longevity and perseverance!

    • GoOnGirl says:

      You have got to be kidding? Pity’s warm reception at the Golden Globe? Don’t fool yourself. If Angie herself were to walk out on that stage, she’d get the same reaction. Hollywood, after all, is full of fools. Pity’s reception has nothing to do with the divorce. And Angie would never have made her filings public if Pity would have stuck to the original agreement. But he’s Pity, and what Pity wants, Pity gets.

    • Kri says:

      This..all the way.AJ to note of that.

  11. Katherine says:

    Nothing Jolie did in this divorce couldn’t have been handled better. She devalued any upper hand she had from Brad actually doing something wrong and made her own share of bad decisions.

    • TheOtherOne says:

      +1

    • Adorable says:

      Reading from the summarized version of events above…genuinely what do you feel she should’ve done?sit back & let him tell lies?

      • Ramona says:

        Heres what I think should have happened.
        1) end the marriage mentally and emotionally but dont issue a statement or file for divorce yet. Because if you file for divorce and you throw in your sole physical custody claim, you trigger all kinds of public responses not just to yourselves but to your kids.
        2) go into joint therapy and a private process to resolve legal disputes
        3) let the investigations play out in silence. Just let DCFS know that you are on the celebrity path to divorce, the private judge can help with that
        4) Only if absolutely necessary do you issue a statement on intention to divorce but if that happens, it must be a joint statement containing the usual lines about irreconcilable differences and mutual love.
        5) If you should fail to agree at the private mechanism then proceed to actual court but seal it. No court documents should be floating around in the public space
        6) Hopefully, you figure out how to forgive and co-parent without slamming each other in the press.

      • Jellybean says:

        This agreement and statement should have been in place before filing for divorce. It is how most celebrities do it. She would still have got temporary custody because of the call to child services. Page6 had an interesting piece of few days where they asked various lawyers if Laura Wasser’s reputation had been damaged by Depp and Angelina. They all agreed Wasser would have told them both to lay low and stay out of the press. They do point out that we don’t know what Wasser succeeded in stopping, but felt that her inability to control her clients has been damaging to them and possibly to her too. One named LA divorce lawyer said that,” in her own experience, a celebrity client who won’t listen and who won’t immediately agree to sealing a divorce file, as Pitt has requested, is animated by revenge.” But it is in place now and that is a very good thing.

      • Junebug says:

        @Ramona Amen! I really believe things were not done with a calm head (for whatever reason, we don’t know, but let’s say the incident on the plane) and once the damage was done, they were both in the gutter clamouring to get the upper hand and look better.

        I like them both as actors and they seem like ok people, but this was all handled so badly, and will hurt them all in the end.

      • someone says:

        Ramona – exactly!! This is my complaint about how Angelina handled it from the start.

      • MAP says:

        I’m with you @Ramona. I feel that Angelina went out of her way to embarrass Brad by her very public filing and the statement she released at or about the same time. If he is struggling with addiction issues (and I’m pretty sure we all know people who are), it felt like a public shaming to me.

      • BJ says:

        Brad’s behavior is the reason we even know about this.. He has had limited contact with his kids because of his actions.TMZ would have found out about DCFS just like they found out about Adam Levine investigation.Brad signed these agreements to use therapist.So he is just as responsible how this was handled.His side leaked info.
        So stop with the Poor, Sobbing,addicted Brad Pity Party.

      • doofus says:

        Ramona, I agree with your post.

        I think a lot of folks have forgotten how this entire thing started…with her filing VERY publicly, on a Monday…if you want to keep your sh*t quiet, you file on a Friday (like most celebs do – news cycle for the week is over and you keep it out of the news cycle until the following week) and you don’t have your rep make an announcement that it “was for the health of the family”. if you make a public announcement, it’s the standard “irreconcilable differences/still respect each other/privacy” etc.

        From the time of that first announcement, the tit-for-tat just got worse.

      • almondmilk says:

        @Ramona

        If life were a math problem, and Angelina was a calculator (and many haters believe she is) your litany of steps would make sense.

        The litany of steps would also work better when your spouse is not an alleged out of control alcohol/substance abuser who needs help BUT WILL NOT GET IT.

        If that is the equation we are dealing with, Angelina’s hands were tied, the plane incident was the straw and the divorce and custody the means by which Brad has finally decided to buckle down and clean up. His drastically different and less bloated and less be-sunglassed appearance are clues.

        If Angelina is a flesh and blood human being, who loves and hurts and hopes, your step by step process all goes out the window, and the incident tragically becomes the leverage to get him help and to get those kids help (who are the priority).

        ..and @doofus

        Angelina has never been a liar. If she wasn’t planning to divorce, if Brad’s descent to a bad place and the incident with his kid took her by surprise and damaged the family – why should she lie and pretend they were heading for divorce or irreconciably opposed in the midst of Brad being activated by 4 agencies.

        That makes her look weak and stupid.

        As if she was okay with him terrorizing or traumatizing the kids and it wasn’t a big deal, but she’s disappointed so she’s splitting while he gets investigated…

        I mean come on.

        This isn’t tit for tat.

        This is a man behaving badly and blowing up his family.

        The sooner people stop kicking mom in the head and recognize that, the less misogynistic this kind of behavior will be.

      • O.o says:

        It’s so easy to sit in the comfort of one’s chair and say what should have been done. You are not in Angelina’s shoes, you have no idea what she felt when they were welcomed by the DCFS officials at the airport, how Brad behaved afterwards (was he showing remorse or was blaming everyone but himself) and in what condition the children were. Angie didn’t have much time to think, she had to act. She did what she thought was the best way to protect her kids at whatever the cost. And judging from the DCFS recommendations which led to the strict visitation rules, the fact that the two oldest boys weren’t ( and maybe still aren’t) willing to even see their father, she had serious reasons to act as she did. What should she do first? Find a manual how to deal with such situation? ( What a pity, you haven’t made your list earlier, she might have searched it online – LOL)
        The investigation would have been made public anyway and the divorce filling actually took the attention away from the incident. Look where we are now, almost no one remembers why Angie took the kids away from Brad in the first place, what they remember is Angie – the mean witch is limiting Brad’s access to the children with no reason because he was cleared of any wrong doing. She bewitched the therapists and doesn’t care about her children well-being because she’s made the whole thing public. It would be hilarious if it weren’t so tragic.
        Brad should actually thank Angie because he is the victim and it’s all her fault. Listening to some of you, it was all in her hands to make it a fairy tale.
        As I said, it’s easy to tell from a distance, what would be the best way to handle the whole situation, but you have to actually go through something at least similar, to know how YOU would act.

      • almondmilk says:

        @O.o

        This post was fire. +1,000000

        Says it all.

      • Noelle says:

        @O.o

        Thank you.

  12. Loo says:

    I won’t be able to look at either of them the same way again. I was never stannng for them as a couple in the first place so their break breakup didn’t devastate me at all but I did think that they would have enough class and not go about a break up the way they have been until now. I mean, I never believed their perfect couple, perfect family PR tour but I guess even I bought into some of it unconsciously.

    • Christin says:

      ^^^ This describes my take on both their coupling and uncoupling.

      • GoOnGirl says:

        That makes no damn sense. Angie’s gonna file for divorce, then inform DCFS that she is on “the celebrity divorce” path and oh, by the way, I want you to hold off investigating Pity because of this? Angie did nothing to be blamed for this except file to insure she kept custody of her children. You know, the children Pity claims to love so much.

      • Christin says:

        Not sure if your reply is in the right place, and I don’t know who Pity is. I guess that’s a reference to Brad?

        I have no ‘pity’ for either adult, really, but I do believe they both added to the drama of this very public split. May cooler heads prevail at last.

      • Mathilde says:

        @GoOnGirl You’re just holding on to the drama going by the constant “Pity”. Let it go. Relax, release and let go!

  13. Pix says:

    I wonder what caused the change of heart. Moonlight winning best picture was a big deal for Brad as Exec. Prod. and I wonder if she reached out to him or vice versa and they finally communicated. You can’t deny there has been a thaw. Interesting.

    • Agapanthus says:

      I know, I wondered what changed. Maybe they realised no-one was winning the PR battle and the kids were being retraumatised by all the leaks and conflict.

      • Lucy2 says:

        I have to think someone got through to each of them and said “look, you aren’t doing yourself any favors with this and it’s hurting everyone”.
        For the kids’ sake, I hope it works. It’s unfortunate it came to this point.

      • LadyT says:

        This type of shutdown is Wasser’s usual MO. I think she finally put her foot down if Angie wanted her representation.

      • sage says:

        Brad won the PR battle.

      • Paige says:

        Don’t fool yourself. Laura loved how public this was and same with her Johnny Depp divorce.

      • almondmilk says:

        @LadyT

        Wasser had to “finally put her foot down,” eh?
        With Angelina. Because Angelina was outta control. Angelina was messing up. Angelina was the problem.

        Natch.

        ..and then “IF Angelina wanted her representation,” you say?

        Ooooooh. Angelina outta control vengeful bad mom who’s messed up y’all was called to heel by Wasser, or else Wasser was walking! Angelina got so told y’all. Did you hear that from LadyT.

        Angelina has been B*slapped by Brad and Wasser and Hollywood…

        That’s ladyT’s version of events anyway.

        But really, it’s what Angelina deserves for being drunk and attacking her child and traumatizing the kids…

        Oh, wait.

      • LadyT says:

        My opinion was influenced by a Page Six article from Jan.8. Neither my comment nor the article are quite as colorfully exaggerated as your response though.

    • Luca76 says:

      Ugh if you read People’s statements this was already a done deal on Friday.IF anything GG was a victory lap of sorts for Brad. Maybe he felt since thing would be settled he could emerge publicly.

      • sage says:

        Brad knew what he was doing when he showed up for the GG’s…

      • Dani says:

        He was presenting for a movie he busted his ass on, that’s what he was doing. Why does EVERYTHING either of them does have to be related to the divorce? He was a producer and actor before this whole thing went down. He was part of an amazing telling film and he deserves his right to be there and be proud of it publicly.

      • doofus says:

        Dani, agree with what you say. if it had been a “victory lap” for him, he would have walked the red carpet, sat for dinner with a table of his colleagues, and stayed for the show. instead, from what I’ve read, he didn’t walk the RC and only stayed long enough to do the award thing. he was likely scheduled for this for a while and did the minimum to fulfill his obligation.

      • Paige says:

        @Dani Thank you!!!
        Why do the people on here think other celebrities care about Brad’s perdsonal life so much they gave him a standing ovation? It’s basically disrespectful to him as an artist to think they would cheer for him like that because of a divorce and not all his hard work

    • BJ says:

      So I guess they are psychic since the agreement was made Friday days before GG

      • LadyT says:

        Sealing the files has been in discussion for a while. That’s not what people are talking about as a “change of heart.” They’re referring to the new info released on Monday night… about the two of them finally making their first joint statement about respecting confidentiality and using a private judge.

  14. Krakken says:

    A father deserves more than 5 hrs
    A week with their kids. In no reality is that a good scenario.

    • SilverUnicorn says:

      Generic statement with no depth, given we know nil about the situation.
      My father didn’t deserve a minute in the last 25 years. How about that.
      Each situation is different and cannot be evaluated by outsiders.

    • Goldie says:

      I don’t even think he was getting 5 hours initially. If I recall correctly, he was only seeing the kids for one hour long session, and then he asked for his visitation to be increased to 5 hours a week. Initially, Angelina seemed reluctant, but agreed to increase it this month.

      I’m glad that they both agreed to keep things private.

      • Aiobhan Targaryen says:

        It would not matter if Angelina was reluctant or not she does not have control over his visitation with the kids . If the therapist felt it was ok for more time, Angelina would have had no choice but to go along with it. Angelina has never had a problem with him eventually seeing the kids, just not before the kids and the therapist felt the kids were ready to see him. I am not sure how many times this needs to be typed for people to believe it.

        @Krakken A good father deserves more than 5 hours with his kids, not just any father. We need to make a distinction between the two. Not all fathers are the same and should not be treated as such. If he is working on fixing his issues, fantastic, but things should not be pushed under the rug to keep appearances up.

      • Goldie says:

        @aiobhan The therapists makes recommendations, but if both parents agree to modify the custody order, I’m pretty sure they can do so. I don’t blame Angelina for following the therapist’s recommendations. I was just pointing out that the 5 hour per week visitations are a fairly new development. Prior to this month his visitation was even more limited.

      • Aiobhan Targaryen says:

        Not before the therapist has made his recommendations. There is still a process that needs to be followed and Brad was trying to speed things up for his sake, not the kids’.

    • Kate says:

      Actually, some fathers don’t deserve 5 minutes.

    • Snowflake says:

      Guys, how do we know he’s not a good father? He was not found guilty of anything. Angie has always spoken of him with high regard. He always looked involved and loving towards ALL his kids. I loved them as a couple, and respect both of them. I’m not ready to throw either of them under the bus, sometimes people break up and that’s that. I wish them both the best. It has to be so hard for the kids to see their parents fighting. And I feel for Brad, that is enough time to see your kids when you are used to having them around you constantly.

      • Aiobhan Targaryen says:

        For me, my general answer was in response to her generalization that fathers deseve more than five hours of time with their kids. I apologize for adding any confusion to the mix with my reply. I am sorry but the whole “he was not charged with anything” means little to nothing when the threshold for abuse is very high for charges to be brought on parents. Just look at some of the stories that have come out in the last decade concerning DCFS, some of them are down right horrifying. Their jobs are to keep families together not what is in the best interest of the kids.

        The only proof that I have that he is not a terrible father is the fact that Angelina still wants to raise those kids with him. She would have bolted if she thought he was not good enough to be around Maddox let alone have and not more with him. I do think that he is an irresponsible and selfish asshole who fucked up and continues to not take responsibility for the situation that he put his family in. These are not the same things to me. He comes off as the fun time dad who loves to play with the kids like he is on their level and not act like an adult. The pity stories that have been leaked kind of allude to this along with his own words in interviews.

      • Mathilde says:

        Are not Angelina’s own words proof enough for you? A wonderful father, wasn’t that what she said?

    • Lady D says:

      I lived with my dad for 17 years. We had 2 one-minute conversations in those 17 years. Funny part is I don’t remember what the second conversation was about, but I know we had 2.

  15. Sam says:

    Angelina saw the warm welcome Brad got at the Globes and realized that no matter how much crap she tries to put out there, Hollywood will always have Brad’s back. He’s their golden boy. It was a losing battle. And on his part…well he had no leverage so this statement just covers both of their behinds.

    • Aiobhan Targaryen says:

      What other crap is she putting out there?

    • Clare says:

      Except for the fact that they agreed on this arrangement BEFORE the Globes?

      • LadyT says:

        How do we know when this agreement was hashed out? All I know is that it was filed late yesterday. Just a question, I have no opinion about the Golden Globes reception.

      • Aiobhan Targaryen says:

        It has been mentioned in articles on this site in the past. It was mentioned in the article posted by Kaiser on January 4 and buried in articles that were published on this site around Christmas time.

        It was also mentioned in this Vanity Fair article:

        http://www.vanityfair.com/style/2016/12/brad-pitt-angelina-jolie-divorce-children-custody

      • LadyT says:

        Thank you for the reply. Apparently we’re referring to two different things. I’m aware that they had been working to come to an agreement about sealing the file, hearing scheduled for Jan 17. I was asking about their first joint statement that was issued Monday night where they are both agreeing to confidentiality and a private judge. That’s what’s new today. When was that statement hashed out?

    • Paige says:

      So Angelina hurried and got a private judge and everything because she saw Brad’s warm reception at the GG? Lol More than likely they had come to an agreement before the Globes. Sunday was also their eldest daughter’s birthday.

  16. Slowsnow says:

    This sound you hear?

    The champagne.

    Hurray, for the sake of the kids. What a mess this has been. I don’t know these people but they seemed not too crazy (hollyweed standards) and it all went to nutcrackers suddenly.

  17. Agapanthus says:

    This is the first positive move I have heard since the whole drama started. I really hope they can start to let the kids heal now with the help of the therapists and parenting experts.

  18. Who ARE These People? says:

    Is a private judge the best way to keep things away from leaks? If so, good.

  19. Dolphin7 says:

    I’m glad this came out for their kids’ sake. Did anyone else see the report on Page Six about Laura Wasser’s reputation on the line? It was last week.

    • MichLynn says:

      Yep I saw that too. Interesting timing. I wondered how long Wasser was going to let this go on, her reputation could be hurt with this mess too.

      • Ramona says:

        I’m going to look for the article but isnt Lauras reputation to have a public drag out fight that forces the other side into settling? As I recall, her relationship with Harvey Levin has been extremely useful in forcing settlements. She will do anything to avoid trial and for good reason apparently, shes not great in court.

      • LadyT says:

        The link is below at 22. Her reputation is to manage just the opposite, to the point of having it all nailed down before the divorce is even announced. Wouldn’t that have been nice?

      • Agapanthus says:

        Yes, I read in one of the broadsheet interviews she did earlier in the Depp divorce fiasco that her MO was conciliation, which the page 6 article re-iterates. Having read the Wasser Spiegel emails that got published, her style was much more conciliatory than his, which was very aggressive. If I was being really cynical that could have been because she knew they might be made public, but who knows?

        The page 6 article is quite negative about Jolie but makes an interesting point: a lawyer can only advise a client, and if you’ve got a controlling abuser like Depp as a client they may not agree. It must be quite stressful even if you get paid mega bucks.

        Where are our super CB lawyers? What can you do if your client doesn’t take advice? Would someone like Wasser really step away from someone like Depp if they thought they were harming their image, despite the mega bucks?

    • Clare says:

      eh, wouldn’t worry about Laura Wasser’s reputation – the woman survived Heather Mills and came out on top.

  20. Lili says:

    They are heading for reconciliation. Just wait and see

    • Jayna says:

      It will never happen.

    • Shijel says:

      I hope not. I think they should divorce and stay divorced. Less fighting this way, and less anguish for the Jolie-Pitt brood.

    • Ramona says:

      Oh honey….

    • sage says:

      Nope.
      Brad got what he wanted.

    • Maya says:

      I sincerely hope not because Brad has proven that his image is more important that his children and wife.

      If they do get back together then that will be the first time I will be disappointed in Angelina.

    • MrsBPitt says:

      No way…not after all the crap that has gone down…

    • Snowflake says:

      I wish…Sigh.

    • jwoolman says:

      I think he will need to reconcile with his oldest son first. But reconciliation can and does happen, once people decide they have something worth saving. That happened to a friend even though her husband had been a serial cheater and she even had a revenge affair herself. They were required to have pre-divorce counseling and actually started talking with each other. She says it took a long time to rebuild trust, but it stuck. With kids in the picture, that scenario would be nice for them.

      I still think they are relying too much on the recommendations of a therapist, who might have blinders on. The younger kids don’t seem to have a problem with him and limiting contact with their father seems rather cruel. He will need to deal with his relationship with his oldest in a very different way, since that one is in his mid-teens and has a more complicated relationship with his parents and the world in general. Best to approach him as the nearly-adult that he is.

  21. Shijel says:

    ABOUT TIME. Get your shit together, you two.

  22. LadyT says:

    There’s an article in the New York Post from January 8 titled ” Will Hollywood’s go-to divorce lawyer survive Jolie and Depp going rogue?” Sorry I can’t link but it is very interesting.
    In it Wasser’s usual lockdown methods are listed and sound like what are now in place— two days later.

  23. Ain'tNoTelling says:

    Unfortunately, Brad’s drinking and substance abuse issues, as well as his behavior due to those issues, forced Angelina’s hand. That is my opinion.

    He looked healthy and sober during the GG presentation. Hopefully he remains well.

    • Snowflake says:

      What drinking and substance abuse issues? He has passed all the drug tests the court has ordered.

      • Lady D says:

        Why were they ordered in the first place? Why for only him? Why did that testing come with supervised visitation with his kids?

      • Dippit says:

        Neither the Court nor DCFS ordered drug and alcohol testing. BP agreed to that voluntarily and has passed every one including his first test taken a mere few days after the plane incident.

      • Lady D says:

        Why was it ever brought up in the first place?

  24. Kate says:

    About time. It’s absolutely shameful that this wasn’t the first and only statement they both made.

    I hope they both protect the kids more now. No more photo shoots, no more bringing them along to interviews, no more oversharing. I’ve seen so many creepy fans writing whole big stories about what happened and how the kids reacted and how they feel based on the fact they think they know what they’re like. I’m creeped out by how much I know about these kids and I always did my best to avoid reading all the personal info their parents shared. It leaves them so much more unprotected than celebrity kids who are shielded from fame.

    • Mathilde says:

      I think any normal human being would cringe with shame if they spewed such rubbish and then actually came face to face with those children. Just proof that it’s a fantasy world. This is the reason the Donald Trumps of this world can just take over. Most of us would be better off doing something productive.

  25. ash says:

    Ramona says:
    January 10, 2017 at 8:38 am
    Heres what I think should have happened.
    1) end the marriage mentally and emotionally but dont issue a statement or file for divorce yet. Because if you file for divorce and you throw in your sole physical custody claim, you trigger all kinds of public responses not just to yourselves but to your kids.
    2) go into joint therapy and a private process to resolve legal disputes
    3) let the investigations play out in silence. Just let DCFS know that you are on the celebrity path to divorce, the private judge can help with that
    4) Only if absolutely necessary do you issue a statement on intention to divorce but if that happens, it must be a joint statement containing the usual lines about irreconcilable differences and mutual love.
    5) If you should fail to agree at the private mechanism then proceed to actual court but seal it. No court documents should be floating around in the public space
    6) Hopefully, you figure out how to forgive and co-parent without slamming each other in the press.

    HONK for RAMONA…. the absolute VOICE OF REASON in deez comments 🙂

  26. giulia says:

    Good, glad to hear it. But what is a “private judge”? Does this mean mediation instead of going through the court? Curious

  27. Maya says:

    Man did the crime and the woman & children are doing the time.

    It’s pathetic that we still live in a man’s world where it doesn’t matter what they do – they will survive.

    It’s the woman who cannot do anything, say anything or are allowed to defend themselves. They are supposed to be the only one compromising and yet the man has to do nothing.

    Here is hoping that Angelina continues to soar in Hollywood and humanitarian causes. She has helped so many women and children for over a decade and her good karma will show the world the truth one day.

    • Lady D says:

      “She has helped so many women and children for over a decade and her good karma will show the world the truth one day.”
      That’s what gets me. All these massive Brad fans don’t give 2 sh@&s about all the women and children she has helped, the good she has done. Doesn’t matter what she did because she’s trying to hurt the golden boy. How do they justify ignoring what she does? Do they just ignore the fact that she is doing incredible good, pretend that it doesn’t happen because Brad? The golden boy weeping apparently cancels out everything worthwhile about her.

      • almondmilk says:

        @LadyD and @Maya
        Bravo +1000000
        Thank you. I said this a lot less eloquently with many more typos (auto correct hell) up top.

        You would think Brad would want to preserve his kids mother’s legacy at all cost, which spans several continents.

        You’d think he’d play the piece of shite even if he wasn’t the piece of shite (he was though) Afterall, he’d recover quick enough especially if he took some accountability.

        That’s one of the reasons he was drawn to her at the outset- her humanitarianism and influence. He was just sitting around his renovated mansions ‘being bored and smoking weed doing nothing – being a damned doughnut’ (isn’t that the quote that set Aniston off?) – yet he’s ok with her near constant barrage of hate garbage and dragging she gets.

        He can forget about ever reconciling with the older kids and even the younger more aware ones like Shiloh and Zahara (I’m sure all of them are bright) if he trashes their mother further with silence.

  28. Kate says:

    Hopefully, people would stop blaming Maddox.

  29. NYCgal says:

    Finally. Someone got through to both of them and made them realize that both were losing by being spiteful at each other. Or Laura Wasser clashed with Olivia Pope and threatened to drop Jolie as a client if she didn’t listen to her advise. This is progress.

  30. Adorable says:

    @Ramona..sure I hear ya,but this Is the divorce of Brangelina so I feel which ever way you look at it it was bound to go public & as for the “slamming each other part”…I’ve only seen accusations being made by the Brad team-Angelina keeping the kids away from him amongst others…& Angelina has been transparent throughout as again she has nothing to hide..so again I feel the facts of how everything went down make Brad look bad(as his behaviour)…& he didn’t like that the public knew the events leading to the divorce

    • NYCgal says:

      How is putting out in the media that Brad is terrified of what the public will find out happened, not a slam on her part?

      • LadyT says:

        It was a slam. That last little dig was totally unnessarily included when she finally agreed to seal the files.

    • YepIsaidIt says:

      Yep, she’s only come out against him after his team puts a hit piece out on her. For the first time like ever she’s felt the need to defend herself- sadly it’s against her estranged husband and his Pr team.

      As Laura wasser said in one of her emails- Angelina can’t deny every lie Brad Pitt plants against her.

  31. Clare says:

    Eh, all the GG appearance showed was that Hollywood will support men regardless of what they do (Depp, Gibson, Pitt, not to mention the other monsters like Woody Allen.). Angelia can’t have been surprised by this, and I doubt very much that it would have changed her mind pertaining to the welfare of her kids. Especially given that she has built a career on being a contrarian in Hollywood( vials of blood, brotherly kisses, homewrecker) and appears to get plenty of work if/when she has wants it…

    I mean if 10 years of Jennifer Aniston’s tears didn’t spook her, I doubt one clappy awards ceremony supporting her ex would lead to such a drastic change in strategy.

    And y’know, the little fact that they agreed to this BEFORE the awards show.

    As for the assertion that she wanted to ruin his career – she would have been papped weeping and looking sad on a retreat with her kids/girlfriends. Come on.

    But let’s stick with the narrative. She is a woman, she must be an evil witch. He is a gorgeous man, he mustn’t be at fault.

    • GB says:

      Gibson had to wait 10 years before directing “Hacksaw Ridge” so it isn’t the best exemple that Hollywood is going to support men at any cost.

      • almondmilk says:

        @GB

        Gibson has directed other films in the interim between his anti Semitic /sexist/racial slurs and now, they just haven’t been good and haven’t starred Andrew Garfield, who’s a critically acclaimed actor.

        He was sitting front and center at the Globes and with Jodie Foster not that long after the sugart*ts incident and attacking the other young brunette big lipped Russian kinda Angie lookalike and his child

        So yea @Clare’s point remains.

    • YepIsaidIt says:

      Yes, why hasn’t she been on a pity party parade the way he has?? Where are the cover stories about how difficult being a single mother dealing with an abusive ex ? All of the covers are poor Brad stories. Pathetic.

      It seems he is the one who wants to ruin her and would even go as far as to ruin her humanitarian work simply for his own image and career.

      As I’ve pointed out Angelina signed this agreement before Christmas. Brad was dragging his feet and refused to meet with her and their counsel to deal with things privately. Per wasser emails. I honestly believe it’s because she is soooooo over him and he’s angry. She has put everything on hold for 4 months now- by now she would have been on at least 2 humanitarian trips and many other charity events that she had to skip.

      Plus, she’s been trapped in Los Angeles for MONTHS. she needs this divorce to hurry up and that’s exactly what her new statement implies. Time to move on and hope her children forgive his sorry ass the way Hollywood has. Lmao

  32. molly says:

    People seem to be forgetting this wasn’t a normal divorce. What divorce do you know personally that involved the FBI & child services? Could they have handled it better? Yes. But they were in a situation neither had been before. When you fear your children could be taken away? I forgive her for not thinking rationally. I think until you are faced with all this & been in their position ,i don’t think it’s fair to harshly judge them.

    • marmalazed says:

      I second that.

    • almondmilk says:

      @Molly
      +1

      ‘People aren’t forgetting,’ so much as they’re deliberately refusing to acknowledge. It makes Brad look better if you paint this as a regular split and Angelina the meany keeping the kids away.

      They become a bit enraged when you remind them of the 4 agencies investigating Brad.

  33. YepIsaidIt says:

    Funny how everyone forgets this happened right before Christmas.

    “A source with knowledge of the situation tells Vanity Fair, however, “Yesterday’s filing was a clear press move and makes no legal sense. We find it surprising that Mr. Pitt’s legal team filed anything with the court because he had already filed the same request with the court weeks ago, and Ms. Jolie had already signed an agreement to seal the court file.
    “The agreement not only protects the children, but at Mr. Pitt’s legal team’s request, it also protects information about Mr. Pitt,” says the source. “The accusation that the mother isn’t protecting the privacy of her children is clearly false. . . . If Ms. Jolie had wanted to, she could have detailed what had happened on the plane a long time ago. Not one piece of information about what actually happened to the children is public. No facts or details have been released, and the mother has kept absolutely silent.
    A court hearing is said to be scheduled for January, at which time the sealing of the documents will be addressed.
    In the meantime, the same source tells Vanity Fair that the children’s holiday plans are dependent on a therapist’s recommendation about what is in their best interest.”

    Which his team denied just like they denied the original stipulation saying he had to have therapy and drug tests.

    In further filings from wasser it shows Angelina signed the agreement the same day Brad Pitt had his lawyer file the hit piece against Jolie. They had already came to an agreement and he was still trashing her.

    • KB says:

      He never denied any of that.

      • YepIsaidit says:

        Actually he did. He denied it to us weekly. His “sources” said his lawyer wouldn’t have filed that if she signed an agreement to seal. And yes his “sources” denied the original stipulation too- but that was likely so that he wouldn’t look completely creepy while he flew around the world promoting his flop and then took a vacation. It turns out it was all legit and we only knew about it because she filed it to enforce the agreement and now the statement proves she signed to seal.

        Angelina Jolie has no reason to lie. Her Reps have consistently told the truth and the proof to back it up always eventually comes out…

        Now let’s hope she made him sign something saying he would stop planting lies about her and her kids in the tabloids… Stop the pity party.

        Hollywood weirdos may have accepted him with open arms (they accept woody Allen and Roman Polanski as well) but the public said Hell no to his last movie. Allied is still bombing across the globe 😂

    • Adorable says:

      👏👏You are on fire girl

  34. yuck says:

    Is “private judge” just another term for gag order or under seal? Cuz I’ve never heard of this in the U.S. before.

  35. lavins says:

    Angelina lost the pr war. Wasser could see it. Brad is liked just not by Hollywood, he is liked by much of the public. I have always been a fan of Angelina from her Gia days long before Brad, but the way the first divorce statement was released, putting the kids in the press, Angelina turned me OFF and for me longtime fan, that was a hard thing to do. She started the scorched earth WAY this divorce was perceived in the public by fronting the kids. It could have been done quietly, but SHE wanted to go scorched earth and still what proof has she presented. He’s been cleared through FBI investigations, etc. I hope the scorched earth stops now, because it has not worked for Angelina. I agree with whomever said , she thought her tactics would ruin him, but they didn’t. Her lawyer saw that.
    If anyone was – is a Hollywood insider it’s Angelina. She was BORN into it, both father and mother actors. Brad is a person who came to Hollywood with no connections and made his way from his last year at University , to LA working in a chicken suit giving out flyers on a corner in LA. Angelina went to Beverly Hills H.S. and has Hollywood parents. If anything she’s the insider, she is admired greatly but there was no reason for going scorched earth. IMO She did that from the start.

    • Adorable says:

      The “tactic”was never to “ruin”him..if she wanted to the exact truth would be out there by now…& I disagree with the “pr loss”if anything she’s cleared her name against the negative stories Brad had planted…Angelina has been transparent throughout not her fault Brad acted like a nut

      • lavins says:

        Yeah ok.
        She went scorched earth from the jump and it eventually backfired on her. I was a deep, deep Angelina fan, but this left a bad taste for me, from that first divorce announcement statement putting the kids front and center, through her lawyers initiating scorched earth tactics.

      • L says:

        👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼+1000000

      • lissanne says:

        Adorable: There’s no way to know whether there is some “exact truth” that Angelina has withheld. Making statements that you are withholding something is not proof of anything and is the furthest thing from being “transparent.” It’s pure spin.

        And no, I’m not a Brad fan, just see what I see. Team kids all the way.

    • Jem says:

      +100000000

    • Clare says:

      If her intention was to ‘ruin’ him she would have been doing weepy pap strolls and leaking stories about how very hard it is to be a single mother of 6, screaming at the ocean, blah blah. Not appearing in photos with her kids with all of them looking perfectly happy on holiday.

      • LadyT says:

        I could NEVER see Jolie playing the victim. She is just entirely too powerful of a woman to stoop to that. I picture her in the driver’s seat in all ways- good and bad.

    • YepIsaidit says:

      “Scorched earth” that’s about has ridiculous as brad Pitt saying that to TMZ. He went scorched earth on that airplane and she said bye Felicia!!! If that’s scorched earth good for her. A lot of mothers choose the father over their kids and I can only imagine the bullsh-t people would be throwing at her had she chose to stay with Brad Pitt during the multiple investigations.

      He’s been dragging his feet and trashing her every chance he gets- then his “sources” come out and try to reverse it on her. She’s not the one throwing the pity party and using the tabloids to abuse him. He continued the abuse by attacking her in the press.

      He is behaving like a scorned woman (trying to make this harder for Angelina and her kids) and that makes me believe that Angelina is 100%% done with him and he’s not too happy about that. I think that’s why it’s taken him this long to get a private judge- he didn’t think she was serious about divorce. SURPRISE!!!

    • wyatt says:

      Sometime the earth needs scorching,she is the only one that knows him and not afraid to keep his feet close to the fire,and he knows it.

    • Carmen says:

      If she had wanted to go scorched earth on him, she would have told everybody what went down on that plane and left out no details.

  36. Pansy says:

    This is a complete example of people assuming you’re a great person based on looks. Had this gone on with people not so beautiful, like a couple from your local neighborhood, people wouldn’t be so sympathetic.

  37. NYCgal says:

    People say her reputation survived the homewrecker accusations. True but she had Brad by her side. They were able to parlay him divorcing his wife into doing so for the great love of his life who finally gave him children. If Brad and Angie broke up within 1-2 years of getting together and had no children, no way Angelina would have achieved the status she did with him and the brand they built together.

    • Menlisa says:

      +1000

    • L says:

      Ummm…She also did really well for herself before Brad..despite her reputation in Hollywood at the time so there’s that.

      • lavins says:

        Before Brad, Her image was that of a trailblazer, a beauty, a talented woman, a goth, but also shooting-up heroin, cutting herself, crazy as a box of rocks, and a homewrecker . She was either Loved or greatly disliked , admired or hated,always strong feelings about her.

      • NYCgal says:

        L- no doubt but I meant in terms of powerful actor who was given first or at least second choice in scripts. Before she signed on to Mr. & Mrs. Smith (after Kidman dropped out) she was coming off a string of bombs (Beyond Borders, Life or smth like it, Alexander though that was more Colin Farrel, that movie with Ethan Hawke). She was certainly not getting anything substantial compared to her peers. So that changed after she got together with Brad. My point, the brand they built benefited both massively, enough to more than offset the homewrecker accusations. Look what that did to Sienna Miller’s career. It took her years to get it back somewhat on track. Jolie would have been the same, if it wasn’t for the fact that their relationship had legs. Until it didn’t but thats another matter.

      • Artemis says:

        90s Jolie has an impressive filmography to be honest. She was definitely more ambitious, passionate and had a better picker for scripts. I enjoy her early work much more than her post-2001 work. There is a sense of earnestness throughout her career however (except for the Tourist!).

        She wasn’t a box office lead until Lara Croft although she outshone Winona Ryder earlier which is a feat and could hold her own against certified A-listers like Denzel Washington and Nicolas Cage so she was potential in bloom.

        After Lara Croft and discovering humanitarianism her filmography is a bore at best and trashy at worst. I can understand the kids’ films (for her children) and lame yet entertaining action movies (to pay the bills) but Beyond Borders for example was beyond tacky in it transparency to romanticize humanitarianism and using poverty as a background for the romantic plot. And she gave it her all + she published that UNHRC diary around the same time so you know she actually thought she was making something deep there.
        She shines very rarely in her serious roles now.

        Jolie when working with Pitt was still a B+ actress with a A+ name recognition/reputation and beauty despite getting lead roles. There is a reason why she was not first in line for MAMS. Nobody still classes her as a top rate actress after being in the business for most of her adult life. Any other face in combination with a dull personal life would have been left in obscurity after the duds post-Lara Croft.

        Brad Pitt is a lot of things but he was able to go from mediocre to good enough actor and elevated his pretty face into a solid career going from strength to strength save from a few duds. He would be a good character if not for his face. The only reason why Jolie is more interesting than Pitt is because she’s a woman with a wild past. She’s captivating. Pitt isn’t but he has a good career which counts for more once old age kicks in.

    • Fa says:

      You forget that since they got together it was all about her not him he was most of the time on the shadow, even comedian mocked him said to him that he was in his wife shadow when he was promoted Fury

  38. robyn says:

    It concludes: “The parents are committed to act as a united front to effectuate recovery and reunification.”

    I wonder if the “reunification” word gives their fans hope they will actually reunite as a couple.

    • Lady D says:

      LOL See above.

    • Mia4S says:

      It’s an odd choice of words. I just can’t get over how cold…no, FRIGID, the statement is. Not even a hint of the standard, mutual respect….blah, blah, blah, language.

      Someday someone is going to write a book on this and it will be mind boggling, and I think more than a little sad.

      • NYCgal says:

        I think anything warm and fuzzy after all thats been said by both would have been a bit hypocritical and forced no? Maybe this is forced too, but forced and cordial is better than forced and fake warm.

  39. Sera says:

    I think they will both move on quickly. Just a note of interest that in all th e years they have been together, Brad has never acknowledged Angelina on stage, as she has, and they have never presented together. I think that they have both realized that they have very different goals. He wants to be Mr Hollywood and she is mainly a humanitarian. I wish the kids well and Angelina and Brad happiness.

    • Fa says:

      It is sad, she always praised him even acknowledged him on stage but he never done that, but normal Brad don’t talk that much

    • pwal says:

      @Sera…

      Errr… when exactly could Brad thankk Angelina in an acceptance speech when he never won? For 12YAS, he handed the mic to Steve McQueen, as he should have. He may have gotten something for Jessie. James (Venice?), but I think he collected the award a year after he won it and frankly, who wants to hear a speech a year after the fact?

  40. Tallia says:

    I’m not going to speculate all I am going to say is – It’s about time. I hope there is a peaceful, civil resolution for the sake of the children.

  41. Kori says:

    I’m still a fan of both of them and think much of what’s out there is tabloid nonsense that’s hurting both of them with the public (you can see some of that here) and definitely can’t be good for the kids. So this is good news–keeping it private from now on. Hopefully they will be able to move on and be a united family (if not one that lives together) from here on out. Six children is definitely a lifelong bond and they need to be able to co-exist. And sometimes it’s just ugly when separations first happen and then later things are more peaceful.

  42. Tasz says:

    “recovery and reunification” is actually a program in several states. It deals with RECOVERY for the parent with drug/alcohol addiction issues & REUNIFICATION with their children.

    To all these AJ haters – from the beginning, AJ said this had to do with BP’s anger & alcohol/drug issues. Nothing the gossip rags or comment section hags have written has changed that fact. This joint statement is another example that BP – as wonderful as he may be – has a problem. Problems don’t make him evil. It means he’s human. Hopefully BP gets the help he needs.

    • Luca76 says:

      Thank you!!! I agree with you completely.

    • dotdotdot says:

      Interesting.

      Agreed, addicts are not necessarily evil, but they are troubled people who need to take responsibility for themselves and their actions. Recovery doesn´t just happen, it is hard and painful work process.

    • Fa says:

      Amazing people here don’t acknowledge that Brad has problem, if the woman want to play the PR game and stay in a broken marriage because of PR she will have choose him not matter how the kids feel, but she wanted to get out of the marriage and give their kids a healthy family that’s why he is doing all these therapy and drug test she wants him to clean before he get the joint custody if she haven’t done all these thing Brad would easier to go back drinking and one day he mess up with his kids again and is too late to put together a family after the father mess up again, so she doesn’t want a repeat she want an healthy family for her family, a clean up Brad and an healthy kids

    • lissanne says:

      The use of the term “recovery and reunification” in the joint statement is about the family; it is not saying anything about Brad’s alleged addiction. (The whole point of making everything private is about – making everything private!) The “recovery” refers to dealing with the emotional issues that go along with family separation and divorce. That could mean individual or joint counseling for Angelina and Brad, participation in support groups for divorcing parents (not likely in this case due to their fame, of course) family counseling, individual counseling for the kids. The focus would be about moving forward. The “reunification” part would be about reestablishing the family (without the marriage), reuniting the children with their father, and dealing with issues that arise from that.

      • Tasz says:

        @Lissanne. I must respectfully disagree with part of what you propose. There are RECOVERY and REUNIFICATION programs in various states. Those programs deal with parental addiction issues and reunifying those parents with their kids. Recovery and reunification can also be about programs that deal with reintegrating kidnapped children with their families BUT kidnapping is NOT the case here.

        Thank you for your eloquent reply to my post. However, I don’t think you are correct. Recovery in this case is definitely about addiction.

        Isn’t it wonderful that none of us are required to agree? Happy opinions to you!

  43. HK9 says:

    You know, I really think people going through divorce (especially public figures) need to take a page for Kelly Rutherford’s ex where this is concerned. Keep your mouth shut (no matter how much you feel like you need to speak because that’s what your therapist is for) and keep all public communication focused on the betterment of the children remembering that the kids will read EVERYTHING. In situations such as this, always play the long game.

  44. Fa says:

    Imagine if she stay when DCFS and FBI were investigated people here will quick to say why she’s staying with him if the allege accusations were true, and say she should leave him and take the kids (I’m not included after he was cleared), this prove women in general never win with the public, whether she takes the kids and felt the situation was not good for the kids or she stay with the father while 2 agencies are investigating the father. I think in this situation angelina choose her kids, let not forget there are lot of women who stay with allege abuser or cheater because they scare how the public will judge them, and is true we judge other people without knowing the fact.
    I’m not saying Brad is abuser but I think angelina felt their kids health was important than their marriage, and any mother will do that for their kids

  45. K says:

    I really will never understand people’s reaction to these two. I swear people act like they are members of their family and they get personally involved. This is none of our business and really for those kids we should leave it alone. (although I think they love the attention and will use it regardless of what it does to the kids.)

    Personal opinion both suck. But this idea that Hollywood is team Brad because he is a man, seems short sited they know them and based on the Sony leak Angelina isn’t well liked because of her.

    Again both suck IMO but I think maligning Hollywood for clapping is a bit much. I hope that whatever happened the kids are ok, like I hope all children in the world are ok. Outside that they both are fame hungry image obsessed and not worth getting so heated about.

  46. Anti-Vogue says:

    Jolies PR Team needs to push the reset button hard. But she has the money to pay off people to “invest” in her again. But you cant buy sympathies and genuine support.

    • almondmilk says:

      @anti-vogue

      There’s something fairly sickening about these kinds of comments. Jolie needs to do that, Jolie needs to do this, what will Jolie do now, Jolie’s career, Jolie’s reputation…

      Why you’d almost think she was the one who traumatized the kids, has an alcohol/substance abuse problem, is drug testing, can’t see her kids unsupervised and doesn’t have custody….

      But yet, SHE needs to set the ‘re-set button.’

      If you think she does, what exactly does that say about you?!

      Lastly, she’s an actress. She doesn’t need sympathies or support. Especially if she plays villains. You think Chelsea Handler calling her an evil demon helped or hindered the Maleficent box office and her 20 mil plus backend pay day? Cha-ching! Thanks Chelsea.

      So maybe she’ll play Lizzie Borden on the big screen and take in more $ and more Oscars.

      Point is, did Elizabeth Taylor have your sympathy and support? Did Marilyn Monroe or Bergman? These weren’t women who were necessarily beloved while in their prime.

      As for her humanitarian work and working to fight war time sexual violence and educate women and girls – she just needs to be effective and hard working.

      Unlike Brad, that’s who she is.

      Hell be fine back on the couch with his doughnuts and a joint and someone not nearly as amazing as his wife.

      • Zut alors! says:

        Hey Almondmilk, question for you. Do you remember the Soulie Jolie website? I know its no longer around but wondered if you knew who owned the name? I’d be willing to put up the capital to get it going again. It was such a great place for Angelina fans and had a ton of info about her.

      • almondmilk says:

        Hey Zut!

        Oh i remember that site – it was a great one!

        I don’t know who owned the name.

        You might want to check Justjareds, and the Angelina/Brad threads over there and ask if anyone knows – lot of long-timers are there.

        Good luck! 🙂

      • Zut alors! says:

        Thanks for the recommendation Almondmilk. Just Jared is a no go for me. I can’t deal with those posters, 3 in particular.

      • almondmilk says:

        Bahaha! @Zut alors!

        Now I’m going to be wondering who. 😂

    • Carmen says:

      @Zut: those people on JJ are batsh*t crazy. They hijack all the Brangelina threads and delete all the comments posted by anyone they don’t like, and Jared lets them get away with it.

  47. FuriousFury says:

    just don’t know what to do if brad and angie don’t reunite. the were the most amazing role models to me and I looked up to them more than anyone in my life there is no way I can cope if they truly divorce, don’t even know what to do. like my life is over

  48. bap says:

    Angelina is a Great Lady that loves her children. Angelina is not worried about her career only her children are her main priority. Angelina is a strong and powerful woman and will not stay in relationship that is destructive to her children like some women would.

    Perhaps some women hate her because she will Not stay in relationship for appearance sake.

  49. bap says:

    Angelina does not Whine or beg the public to like her. Angelina was knighted by the Queen and met the Pope. Some Hollywood women are jealous of Angelina.

  50. woot says:

    The sad thing about this is that they actually love each other but at a time of discord, Brad let fear overcome him and he looked out for himself. Whatever happened, she couldn’t forgive but it’s his behavior afterward that she won’t forget. Brad was the closet thing to Angelina and if he couldn’t understand how in crisis, no stoned will go unturned, he grossly underestimated the woman he loves. As long as Angelina has her humanitarian work, her close friends, her brother and her children….that all she ever had and still has, she’s good. She has proved to her kids that through thick and thin, she will always be about them.

    • Mathilde says:

      Sorry, do not want to make fun of you, but “no stoned will go unturned” indeed 😀

    • O.o says:

      @woot Exactly, the first Angie’s statement about health of the family (so criticised by some here) actually left the door open for future reconciliation. Also LW words in one of her mails (that the end goal (after half a year or a year) is the healing of the whole family, suggested that Angie wasn’t opposed to staying married to Brad. But now, I bet, she can’t wait to have it all behind her. Angelina is aware Brad’s team was feeding the rags with crap about her (LW words again) and I don’t think she’ll be able to get past it.
      She was truthful to her words ‘kids first’ ‘ first mum (to my children), then woman to Brad’.
      Brad’s ‘family first’ went down the tubes.

  51. crazydaisy says:

    Did anyone listen carefully to Brad’s speech at the Golden Globes? I think he was sending a message to Angelina, a message of regret, acceptance and contrition. I feel like after all this time, it’s sunk in that he has lost her forever–“mistake, misstep, misdeed.” I think Brad knows he blew it, and can only hope for forgiveness. The warm reception by his peers showed that Brad Pitt is a beloved actor who will continue to work in the industry, but he is painfully aware that he’s lost his intact family, and can only blame himself. That’s the sense I had…

    Here is what he said: “Moonlight is a film born of Barry Jenkins’ and Terrill McRaney’s courage to look back, to embrace their past, and insist that their “now” is not separate from their “then”. It is born of the courage of a group of actors willing to strip to their souls and express the humanism inside mistake, and misstep and misdeed. It is Barry Jenkins profound belief that we all stand at the threshold of change and forgiveness, would we only grant acceptance and love to ourselves.”

    • Who ARE These People? says:

      He probably meant ‘humanity’ instead of ‘humanism’ but…whatever. Nice little speech.

    • almondmilk says:

      That’s a nice interpretation @crazydaisy

      It would be nice if words on the teleprompter held a special hidden message for Brad himself.

      Problem with that is, we’ll never know.

      His team was too busy dragging Angelina and talking ‘self regulating mechanisms,’ and disingenuously making it seem like she was thwarting his visitation and requests for sealing court docs, when he knew she had agreed to just that.

      That’s why it’s always good to be honest, forthright, transparent, speak out, speak up and communicate as Angelina does and is known for. There’s redemption for all. There’s no getting a great woman back once you have shown her your chickensh* true colors and need to put your children last.

      Angelina knows what that looks like (see Jon Voight) i believe she thought Brad had way more integrity. It’s sad she’s been let down by someone she thought was her life partner. I’m not talking the disease of addiction and the episode on the plane. That was jarring and awful I’m sure.

      It’s what he did after that.

      Nothing.

      Just like he’s let her get beat up by public opinion of some over his first bitter divorce.

      • bap says:

        I am in total agreement with you. He is a Coward.

      • Noelle says:

        The kids will one day be able to read the “no self regulation mechanism” direct personal attack on their mother and the whole “BP is crying all alone bc Angie doesn’t let him see the kids” lies in the press as opposed to AJ’s transparent statements and openness to sit down and talk (through her lawyer) and will draw their own conclusions on how their dad had the family’s “best interests” in mind after messing it all up. They know first hand and will probably be horrified at the realization of the scale of the misrepresentation of their mother’s personality and actions.

      • FiddleDeeDee says:

        This is my 1st ever comment on a board about this kind of thing. I’ve always been a huge fan of Angelina and her strength as it mirrors a lot of my own, including what happens when unwilling (and *unable* even) to let injustices pass. She has her weaknesses, too; we all do. I don’t know what happened, exactly, as I wasn’t on the plane, but she’s not a mama bear…she’s a lioness defending her cubs. It’s as plain as the noses on their faces if people would just look.

        I can only imagine how deeply it hurt and enraged her given her background with her own father in addition to all the horrific things she’s seen in her humanitarian work. What I hope now is for reason and logic to find their way to the forefront. I 100% believe she’s always had the children’s best interests in her heart and always will, but I would like to know that the need to rage against him takes 2nd place to strategy and logic. I also truly hope she has the support she needs in those she holds dear. It’s not easy being a strong person who speaks up and lives your life according to your own creed and it tends to alienate many who constantly conform to the dictates of society.

        In other words…a reconciliation? Nope. While the deeply hidden romantic in me would hope he could make amends as he lost everything truly important, stoner boy blew his chance. With someone like Angelina, you only get one.

      • loislane says:

        Yes. Seems like he doesn’t have It to be with à woman like her.
        She could have handled this better but what about him? The whole leaking to rags was so bad, so so wrong and unexpected from him.
        You Know Angie will go on with her life no matter her image and with or without Hw.
        Brad i feel will regret this. He had such a Dreamy family. Cute Kids from all around the world, a strong wife and he blew It for what exactly?

    • K2 says:

      Pretty sure that speech will have been very carefully crafted by the movie publicists, and his own. I don’t think we can read anything personal into it. It’ll be a PR creation.

    • Fa says:

      I think he will talk next time he is promoting his movie, he wouldn’t talk too much and he will say his regrets and what was it these regrets

  52. K2 says:

    I hope they do shut up now. I am no fan of Kate Winslet, but I remember her saying when she got divorced the first time, and had a baby, that she didn’t want her child growing up and going to the library and reading all this awful stuff her parents had thrown at one another. She did that in a pre-internet (it existed, but not as it does now – no social media other than Live Journal type stuff) age, and she stuck to it with her later divorce as well. People with kids need to try to understand: when they attack the other parent, they attack half of their child. And when they do it in the modern media, they hand every school mate of their children a googlable cache of weaponry.

  53. woot says:

    Everyone knows something went down, details we will never know but his family knows what happened and one parent had to do all she had to do to mobilize forces, file for divorce and leave. At that point no matter what, he should have first acknowledged that things went too far and his actions have led to this situation and he will fight to mend his family as a couple or not. In that moment, Angelina needed to see a man she loves who wronged them act with integrity. Time heals a lot of pain. She is angry but mostly hurt by him…for her yes but for their children. For them, he could have done better about this whole debacle.

    • Noelle says:

      Integrity has been seriously lacking, yes. I can’t imagine how it must feel. What a disappointment, what a betrayal. Especially after the example of her father in her younger years.

  54. bap says:

    Angelina is Global ICON. In China she is number 3 among foreign celebrities.

  55. neil says:

    So this well covered dude who seems to share a similar jawline as Pitts was sharing a chairlift with Pax and a friend during the recent Colorado trip. https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lRH1LD5iE9o/WHQFOte2aKI/AAAAAAABto8/I8a4vKkXdkIPa4HcXnlyrsrbpyKb1-QAwCLcB/s640/chair%2Bcrop.jpg
    And by the way the same Judge that married Angie and Brad is the same judge that will be presiding over these upcoming “private” proceedings. Interesting, no?

    • almondmilk says:

      You mean the dude that’s completely covered on the left? Who knows. Size wise that could be Brad since he’s lost weight or it could be Maddox.

      Guy in red is not Brad.

      It is interesting about the judge. He’s got his work cut out if reconciliation is what he’s thinking. I know judges don’t like to lose couples they married. But I’m sure it’s like revolving doors for him. Maybe he can work magic but i doubt it.

      • bap says:

        Why does he let Angelina and Maddox be attacked by the media for something he did on the plane?

  56. katie2you says:

  57. B says:

    LOL to those who bitched about conscious uncoupling

  58. artistsnow says:

    I think it was classy the way Brad handled the Globes.

    And I think it is none of our business what happened on that plane.

    In other words: neither Pitt or Jolie owe us details of anything about The Event, or the therapist or the children. It is their life. And this family more than many other celebrity families, has been very private in the past. Or as private as possible for the most famous sought after movie couple with kids. More power to them.