Brad Pitt’s side insists that he never wanted the divorce, he ‘still loves’ Jolie

jolie people

This morning, TMZ released the bombshell: Brad Pitt is being investigated for child abuse by the LAPD and California child services – you can read my story here. What’s interesting about this from a media standpoint is that TMZ just kneecapped every other media outlet, especially those – like People Magazine – who had been working non-stop to do up-to-the-minute reporting on the Brangelina Split.

New York Magazine has been running some interesting analysis pieces on the Brangelina Split and the moves Angelina Jolie has been making specifically. According to NY Mag, Angelina has already “won” the biggest battle in the divorce because she shocked Brad and he was left sputtering for a way to regain the narrative. NY Mag theorized – correctly, I believe – that the weeklies would be angling to do sympathetic stories about Brad and how he just wanted a normal life with the kids, and Big Bad Angelina didn’t want that. But, as we can see from the TMZ exclusive this morning, that narrative doesn’t hold water now.

People Magazine rushed and did something rare (for them): they put a second cover within days, this one devoted to the split – you can read the cover story here. I think this is probably Brad’s side of things, because a similar thread was running through all of the reporting last night: Angelina “blindsided” Brad, he didn’t want to get divorced, he “begged” her not to file for divorce, he was “wrecked” by her decision. The NY Post says Brad has been “stunned by the aggressive way Jolie’s team immediately spread negative rumors about him.” But the NYP also says Brad “still loves Angelina.” What else? E!’s sources repeat all of that stuff, with one saying: “Brad did not want the marriage to end. He was committed to doing what he needed to make it work. He was open to counseling.”

So… that’s what Team Pitt was saying before the child abuse bombshell. That was his version, that he wanted to stay married, that Angelina was too aggressive and quick to throw in the towel. But given what we know now… I’m still asking: shouldn’t we be giving Angelina the benefit of the doubt?

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Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

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127 Responses to “Brad Pitt’s side insists that he never wanted the divorce, he ‘still loves’ Jolie”

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  1. Luca76 says:

    I’m still feeling sort of sad for him. I do think he’s a good man but if he cares about his family he needs to check into rehab and stop trying to feed his narrative to the press.

    • SilverUnicorn says:

      + ad infinitum

    • LB says:

      Same. if I’m giving Angie the benefit of the doubt on this incident, then I’m also giving her the benefit of the doubt that Brad actually is a good father generally (like she has said over and over for years). Lainey claims both of them still love each other. I’m assuming his substance issues have gotten out of hand and prompted whatever change in his treatment of the children, and Angie doesn’t want the kids exposed to that while Brad deals with this problem.

    • grace says:

      Is there any actual proof that he’s an alcoholic and/or a drug addict? Before sending him to rehab maybe first wait for the Child Protection Services to give some sort of statement/ruling.

      • LadyMTL says:

        There’s no concrete proof as of yet (who knows what else might pop up, if anything) but there have been rumors and gossip about his drinking for a while now. Of course it doesn’t mean that he needs to rush into rehab, or that he’s a falling-down drunk, but I tend to think that she wouldn’t have just filed for divorce without there being some serious issues there.

        At the end of the day if she felt her kids weren’t safe, she did the right thing.

      • Jessie says:

        His love of weed and in his own words problems with it at times is well known.
        His drinking problem has been rumoured for years.
        Vulture did a piece on what he has said about it over the years
        http://www.vulture.com/2016/09/brad-pitts-battle-with-marijuana-a-history.html

      • Impmom says:

        Unless you don’t believe his interviews or what fellow actors/directors have said about him.

    • LadyJane says:

      Me too. Why not separation, while he goes to rehab? Why divorce? Why so FINAL? I am a firm believer that no one ever does anything big for just one reason (and yes, it is her choice to protect her kids, but there could have been many ways to go about doing that in a discreet way that keeps the family intact if that is your goal). I believe there is more to this story than we know, or will ever know.

      • Who ARE These People? says:

        She didn’t rush into marriage with him, it is not a major value with her, but if the allegations are true she needed to remove him from day to day life with the kids and divorce with his losing physical custody is the only way to do it.

        If he became sober and if she still cared and if the children felt comfortable and safe around him, they could attempt to renew the relationship. However it seems more likely that she would co-parent with him from a distance. It’s hard to go back and her life was moving in a different direction anyway.

      • MrsBPitt says:

        LadyJane….that is what I was thinking, too….if this was one, singular incident, why not legally separate, and see, if Brad was willing to go to rehab and get help…I think, this is more like the straw that broke the camel’s back….

      • Colette says:

        Maybe he refused to go to rehab so she said OK if you aren’t willing to get help…

      • unless says:

        I’m not sure that aj got the marriage “she” envisioned- but had this conservative need to be constantly saying “the kids wanted it” .There’s two people in a marriage, it’s not exactly two adults “wanting”, “desiring” to be married!
        Getting married probably ruined the relationship and there was no need for it, but angelina wanted everything that jennifer had+more.

      • molee says:

        Whatever is/was going on in their family, AJ made it absolutely clear that this incident was the last time. She didn’t just burn the bridge, she blew it up! I was in love and unsafe at the same time and also had to take drastic measures. Half was so I could escape from my partner, and half was so I would be safe from my strong desire to go back to him.

    • Bibi81 says:

      “and stop trying to feed his narrative to the press.”

      Tell that to Ms. Jolie as well, will you?

    • Flowerydefense says:

      Still hope they can have a friendly, cordial relationship and no bitterness. I believe there is deep love there. Brad needs help for his substance problems, alcohol, etc. I do hope he can go into some type of rehab assistance and get the help he needs.

  2. SilverUnicorn says:

    We won’t be able to keep up with all this stuff, right, Kaiser?

    What’s your prediction, 3 weeks, 4 months before it fizzles out? LOL
    Gossip Santa is early this year.

    Of course we will hear his side too, Depp docet… *sighs*

    Poor kids, hopefully they will be flown away for a while.

  3. tifzlan says:

    I don’t doubt that he still loves her or even that she still loves him. But sometimes, you have to make tough decisions regardless of how you feel. Love isn’t the end all be all. Especially if abuse is involved.

    • Amelia says:

      Totally agree.
      Hard truths are often the most important kind.

      • Little Darling says:

        Hell yeah. This is a wake up call like, hey buddy if you ever want to be a working part of this family again, consciously uncoupled or other, you better get your shit together full
        Stop.

        Honestly, addiction doesn’t only happen to bad people. It sounds like it’s multi issues, that kind of ragey freak out seems like blackout alcohol and pill rage.

        I would absolutely pack up ship and go full tilt if my loving husband acted that way. You just simply can’t trust it won’t happen again without intervention.

      • Erinn says:

        Little Darling-

        Exactly what I think. I think she made a good call getting herself and the kids out of the situation the way she did. I applaud her on doing that. Because honestly – I think if he does have a problem, the thing that is going to make him realize how bad it’s gotten is reduced access to his kids, and knowing the people he loves are hurting from his actions.

        I believe both of them for the most part. I believe Brad loves her and the kids. I believe that he was a great father – and maybe still is when he’s sober. But I also believe that if he’s acting this way – the kids need to be away from that, and he needs to get serious about getting help.

    • artnoosa says:

      I agree with you, she has a kind nature when it comes to her family.

      I think Angelina did the divorce as bet with him if he is not changing she is going to do it. He took his family for granted, definitely in this family there is so much love but responsibility too. i think brad checked out on responsibilities in the last 2 years and focused more on his work.
      but I do think he is alcoholic or addict to something.

    • Emily says:

      Exactly. I bet he’d love to stay married to her. I bet there’s a part of her that’d like to stay married to him. But she can’t because of this.

      • yolo112 says:

        There’s a certain line of trust that’s been broken. I don’t think Angie can recover from this. She adopted those kids as her own to give them lives they would not have had. THIS was not part of her plan. This is not the life, or part of their lives, she intended for them.

    • greenmonster says:

      Exactly!! Love isn’t the answer to everything. If abuse is involved couple counseling might not be the only answer.

      We need to stop telling people/kids that if we love someone just strong enough we can overcome anything. You can love a person all you want, if abuse is involved, your love won’t “save” this person. Yet, we still keep telling (esp.) girls “stand by your man. He loves you. He needs you. You need to be there for HIM”. Angelina did what she had to do. She might still love him, but she loves their kids more.

    • Artemis says:

      Agree. Love does not conquer everything. He checked out emotionally like he did with his previous marriage and made it even worse with his addiction(s). I’m sure they both love each other deeply and their kids but that’s not a reason to excuse abuse and forego your responsibilities. He needs to get help and let Jolie take the kids for now. They can always come back to negotiate custody but I don’t buy that Pitt doesn’t know he’s got serious issues.

    • molee says:

      Totally agree with this thread! She let everybody know (including herself) that whatever happened will Never. Happen. Again. Sometimes a scorched earth policy is necessary and appropriate. If they get back together, rebuilding after scorched earth requires a lot of time and a ton of hard work, and I think that would be necessary and appropriate as well.

  4. Nacelle says:

    Team Angelina.

    • minx says:

      Absolutely Team Angelina.
      She did the right thing, protecting the children.

    • Birdix says:

      One thing is clear–one of the two of them is going to come out of this as the villain. It feels like a tennis game at this point, but my $ would be on Brad as Angelina seems way more in control of what’s happening.

    • Adele Dazeem says:

      Me too. And the LAPD investigation article is for all those posters that continue to bash la Jolie and make excuses for him.

      There’s no excuse for DV.

      • Saras says:

        Yes and everyone has seen someone get messed up on something that made them act like the opposite of how they are normally. Think belligerent drunks ect. I feel bad for the kids.

    • Colette says:

      +1000

    • Nicole says:

      I think people should be TeamKids.

      • tracking says:

        +1 Although Jolie clearly is in the right in the larger situation, I simply don’t understand why she didn’t lock it down and keep it as quiet as possible. So hurtful to the kids, who must already be very hurt and stressed by their dad’s actions. Just a horrible situation, made even worse by the publicity explosion.

      • brincalhona says:

        Exactly. They should be protected. They did not pursue a life in the spotlight.

  5. Greenieweenie says:

    He’s had some alcohol face bloat in recent years. Remember he tried to quit smoking–and maybe did for a few years–when they first got together? And then you saw those DM pics of them on the balcony in Australia fighting, both smoking. I’ve seen it up close and personal: lingering borderline/actual addiction problems that go away in the early years of child raising only to resurface with a vengeance later.

    • Rhiley says:

      Yeah, I mentioned his bloat yesterday. Since he turned 50 it becomes more noticeable and then goes away for a bit and then comes back. Angelina seems to be a sober person these days- little to no alcohol and no drugs. I remember at her wedding reception she drank rose water throughout the evening. Brad may have tried to be more sober but just can’t hang right now. It is hard to be with someone who is abusing when you are sober. It is chaos for all involved, most especially children. That said, I think the world is a better place because of Brad Pitt. He has done a lot of very good work in New Orleans, with making film making more diverse, with spreading the importance of maintaining architectural integrity of classic homes and communities. He doesn’t strike me as the smartest person, but he does seem to care about making the world better. Maybe I am wrong. Indeed, Angelina help to make him a better man, and maybe right now he is just in over his head. Who knows.

      • anon says:

        listen to any of his in depth interviews and he is genuinely smart. just because he is Lhasa some doesn’t mean he is dumb

  6. HejHej says:

    I just can’t.. 6 little kids, possible abuse and their parents splitting up in public. This is terrible to watch. Certainly not entertainment 🙁

    • OrigialTessa says:

      Yeah, I agree. This is terribly sad.

    • OG MJ says:

      I agree. They are both obviously good people, but for someone so private to lay things out so publicly, this must be a dire situation. A bright spot for the kids is the fact that there are six of them so close in age. In my personal experience with divorce and childhood abuse, siblings make it through together, and that love and mutual understanding can temper the horrible dynamics of parents’ bitter breakups. I feel AJ had to make a strong point to her children that whatever went down is not OK. This is not bullshit.

      • Who ARE These People? says:

        I agree with everything you said and am sorry you learned much of this through personal experience.

  7. Xboxsucks says:

    He has issues and needa treatment but i dont think the abuse on the chikdren was recurrent, i hope it was on episode and she said enough

  8. Rachael says:

    If the child abuse claims prove true, “stunned by her aggressiveness” will be the greatest LOL I’ve ever had. I’d go scorched earth within 0.3 seconds if my husband ever engaged in any form of abusive behavior with our children.

  9. Mia4S says:

    This is no longer salacious, it’s just sad.

    If the accusation is true then sole custody would likely be best. Hopefully he can get sober and it can be reexamined down the road.

  10. BangersandMash says:

    Brad needs to play the game…. HARD!!!!!

    Brad is not as media savvy and he needs to get on top of it. Regardless, if he was willing to work on things, abusing a child is NOT okay. If it was a thing where a child could have very well (God forbid) passed on or be severely injured..

    Bitch… I’d be ready to sign them papers, too!!!!!

    • Jessie says:

      She’s not getting back with him. She’s already rented a house in LA. Yesterday she had moving vans remove her property from his compound.

    • BangersandMash says:

      This is getting SERIOUS!!!
      And it sounds like a “this isn’t the first time” type of thing.
      My armchair analysis of this situation is that I think he physically put HIS CHILD in a dire and extremely dangerous situation where she/he could have been severly injured or even die…

      Move out that house Angie. Forgive him, love him… but from Afar… From waaaaay over theerrrrree.
      I hope she gets her kids.

  11. V4Real says:

    All jokes aside they were such a beautiful couple but if those allegations are true shame on him. It’s fine to discipline your child but abuse verbal or physical doesn’t fly with me.

    It has now been reported that they were already having serious issues with the relationship so that might have been the straw that broke the camel’s back.

    Maybe that scene on their balcony that year was an argument. I was thinking it looked like a scene from their last movie together. I hope they can sort this crap out and remain cordial towards each other for the sake of their kids.

    • msd says:

      “Straw that broke the camel’s back” is probably right. Some people are being very black and white; this doesn’t mean he wasn’t a good parent most of the time or while sober, or that he’s a terrible, evil person or that she doesn’t still love him. Life and relationships are more complicated than that. But he crossed a line and she couldn’t go back after that, and if it happened with witnesses it was probably going to get out soon so that probably forced her hand in the matter.

  12. Rebecca says:

    Angelina Jolie is represented by Laura Wasser. Since TMZ broke the child abuse story first, this is more evidence, I think, that TMZ’s Harvey Levin has a special relationship with Wasser. Wasser is leaking these stories to TMZ first.

    • Lindsay says:

      He began in LA as a lawyer and then as a journalist/legal analyst. I think by getting to know the power players (and court staff) he was able to start his gossip empire.

    • Jessie says:

      Tmz find this information on their own they have people assigned to just dig in police records in California. A good lawyer would advice their client to get ahead of the story. If Wasser did anything she probably made tmz hold off in exchange for an exclusive statement.

  13. PunkyMomma says:

    Child abuse is a total deal breaker. It’s those kids I feel for.

    • BangersandMash says:

      Total.

      Absolute.

      And I think this wasn’t the first time. So this “incident” of a very “sensitive” nature has to have been REALLY REALLY bad for her the pull the plug. It’s one of those things, where over some time the abuse becomes worse and worse. And I think they said something about an incident in a plane, or something?!
      Can you imagine if a child fell the wrong way, or was thrown or something and could have died or been seriously injured?

      SIGN THOSE PAPERS. GET OUT THAT HOUSE. And get out of his way, wish him well, but get out of his way!!!!!!!

  14. leigh says:

    She’s going nuclear. There’s no going back from this.

  15. Heat says:

    Here’s a thought: What if Angelina also still loves Brad (and I have no doubt that she does)?

    Maybe this was her way of giving him a wake-up call on his substance abuse. We have no idea how long she’s been tolerating his drug/alcohol use, and the incident on the plane was just the final straw. Perhaps, if Brad seeks treatment and counseling, they may reconcile.

    Stranger things have happened.

    • Luca76 says:

      I have the same thought but his statements make me feel that he is deeply in denial. The thing is as a huge movie star it’s so easy for him to surround himself with enablers all a Johnny Depp and not hit a rock bottom. I would hope the threat of losing his family would make him seek help.

    • doofus says:

      it’s funny (strange, not haha)…I read a story on some gossip site that said “friends say they break up/get back together all the time so they still might reconcile”…but she’s never FILED before.

      also, there were pics of a moving van outside of their estate in the LA area. so, I’m going with this is OVER and there’s no going back. which is VERY sad for the kids. but I don’t blame her one bit for protecting them.

  16. pretty says:

    How was he blindsided when they both got interviewed by the child department? did he think, nah, this incident will just remain between my family and employees that were present at that time?

    • ArtHistorian says:

      Never ever underestimate the power of denial – especially when it comes to people with severe mental problems and/or substance abuse! Something like that seriously impairs a person. I have seen this up close and personal with a loved one – and you can’t help a person who doesn’t realize that they need (or want) help. When there’s children involved, the responsible parent protect the children first!! Abuse is not about the person(s) being abused but the abuser him/herself.

      Addiction and mental issues happen to good people too, and abuse can be triggered by those issues – that’s the tragedy! I have been verbally and emotionally abused by my mother periodically throughout my childhood and adult life. She suffers from severe mental illness and when she’s impared, she can become either verbally abusive or emotionally blackmailing (including the use of suicide attempts). I know she loves me and she can be very caring when she’s lucid.

  17. als says:

    His statements are starting to sound ridiculous and whiny. It’s clear now why Angelina decided to drop the bomb, if he had it his way he would have dragged the situation endlessly.

  18. ria says:

    My father also begged my Mother not to divorce him, that he still loved her and he also told that the lawyers and everyone my mother knew, that he Loved her forever and all was rainbow and Sunshine and little sparkly flying hearts for him in the marriage.
    At first people believed him and asked her why she would be so cold to him and if there were Problems, they might not be so bad, she should not be so fast with ending a marriage.

    Then she showed them a Video, secretly done just 5 minutes of the Video, then she shut it of. Nobody believed my father after that.

    It was a Video of him late a night in my bed, doing what he was doing, while my mother worked night shift as a nurse.

    I was 11 years old and i had told my mother before of what happend, she never believed it of him, the secretly placed Video camera loaned by a friend with a lie was my last try.

    If my Mama still would not have believed me, i have had sworn to myself that i would end my life.

    It shocked her to the bone

    And it shocked him even more that i fought back after 5 years of abuse.

    Whatever happend in the Jolie Pitt family, i am glad if Angelina swift actions are helping her Children.

    • Zapp Brannigan says:

      Ria I am so sorry, I am in tears reading what happened to you, I was four and it was an uncle, no one believed me either. Something happened recently in my life and just now at 36 am I starting to deal with what happened. I hope you have love and support in your life. I wish you well in everything.

    • Lindsay says:

      I am so sorry that happened to you. *internet hugs* I hope you were able to get help and work past it. The idea of not only being abused but also not believed is heartbreaking.

      • ria says:

        Internet hugs to you too

        I can talk about it 20 years later and i stopped hurting about not being believed.

        Like i said, we all don’t know what happend in Jolie Pitt family but if something bad was done by Pitt to the kids, then it is good That Jolie is not joking around.

    • Marika says:

      I am so sorry for what happened to you. And I am so sad that your mother didn’t believe you. But I am very happy that you fought back and were eventually able to get your voice heard. You are a strong and courageous person and I wish you the very best!

    • Embee says:

      I am so sorry you were put through that. And I am so proud of your mama for believing eventually, though sorry it took time. I hope that you have all you need now. Lots of love from an internet sister.

    • doofus says:

      geez, ria, I am so sorry that happened to you. I hope you are able to live happily these days and have found some peace.

      good for you for not backing down and fighting for yourself. you are a very strong person.

    • Elle says:

      Ria, like others have said before me, I’m so sorry.

      I too grew up with an abusive father who was kind and generous with everyone else but absolutely horrific to his own family. I saw him burn my mother, beat her senseless, and he physically tortured me and my brother for years. He has never apologized nor will he ever because, according to him, nothing was ever his fault. No one ever believed us because he was such a “good” guy. To this day he remains an alcoholic and it’s “our” fault for making him that way.

      whenever I hear or read so and so could never be violent, I just shake my head at their ignorance. People are capable of being absolute monsters behind closed doors. The only ones who know are the witnesses to their monstrosity.

      • ria says:

        Elle, sweet dear, hope it got better for you.
        Hope you and everyone else of your family never has to see him again.

    • adastraperaspera says:

      I am so sorry for what you suffered. Your speaking out will help others who feel alone and desperate. My mom was someone like this. As a child, she was victimized by her brother, but her parents would not listen. She lived in the time before videocam and before Oprah and others had started speaking out publicly to expose abuse of this kind. I remember how happy she was when she told me and I believed her. It broke my heart, and it explained so much about the dysfunction in our family. Thank you for speaking up!

    • pinetree13 says:

      Wow this whole comment train just…wow. Just utterly breaks my heart. While simultaneously sickening me that abusers like this exist. I am so sorry 🙁

      • ria says:

        In western countries we as survivors still have a lot of problems, when we talk about abuse like that, but it got better since a couple of years.
        My husbands family is of Turkish origin and while he is quite open about everything and is helpful and loving, he is also someone that has seen a lot of evil in his family too. He is not religious and only play believing muslim if he has to, because he said to this day there are still horrible abuse is happening, of every kind, in his family and others he knew back in his childhood country and it is excused with the words their god and their prophet.
        The abused ones never speak of it, they can’t, they would hurt the family honor and would be killed.
        Kind of like it was here, years ago, even if survivors in the western world are less seldom killed in the name of honor.
        Sorry, i didnt wanted to ramble, just was talking earlier on with a friend about a women we knew, that was killed by her husband for wanting to leave him.

  19. hey-ya says:

    …hes aged 20 years in looks during their time together…I love movie stars but on some level its a tough life…just feeling it for Brad, Ben, Tom…any more…as they get older their personal lives just seem to fall apart…

  20. Who ARE these people? says:

    If he was ‘open to counseling’ it means she asked and he hadn’t done it yet. It also sounds like counseling alone might not have been enough.

  21. Mew says:

    Angelina has always been one to leave, fast. She has dropped people out of her life for far less than to keep her kids safe and now she’s only concerned to keep her kids safe. I’m certain she has talked about it with him, they’ve fought over it and he was the one who didn’t really take it seriously. So, she’s out. And when she’s out, she’s out.

  22. lem says:

    Based on the earlier article, I think it’s likely that Brad’s behavior isn’t new, that Jolie tried to shield the children from it/deal with it privately, and then once it spilled over into a public setting where third parties were aware of the situation, her hand was forced. I don’t blame her for filing but part of me feels like it was partly done in order to save face. Had it not spilled over into a public setting, she may have tried to continue dealing with it privately, i.e. trying to get him to get help.

    • Heat says:

      Good point, lem.
      That could very well be the case. If she stuck with Brad through this sh!tstorm, they would have both been tarred with the same brush in the eyes of the media as well as Child Protective Services.

  23. vauvert says:

    This is not fun gossip, this is terribly sad. I can’t imagine anyone but that horrible Handler woman gloating over the situation.
    Second, I was disheartened by many comments even on this, a pretty progressive site, about how Angie is too tough or how she should have “helped” her husband… excuse me, double standard much? If Jen G stays and tries to work through issues, she is a doormat. If Angie leaves and goes on the offensive, she is vindictive.
    Also, as I said yesterday, you cannot judge how a person behaves in private based on photo assumptions and photo ops. These men are actors. They can project whatever they want. Behind closed doors, we really don’t know how they act, particularly under the influence.
    Some of you were commenting yesterday that the kids after all have nannies with them. That made me roll my eyes so bad… you are either not a parent, or have never had nannies. I used to place nannies and, FTR, it is NOT a nanny’s job to protect a child from a parent. Ever. Or to referee between parents, or family members and kids. Nannies quit over this type of stuff, period. And even when staff is present almost all the time, they will protect their jobs in the case of high profile couples (see Amber) and say nothing, because… jobs.
    Finally, it is disheartening how some are trying to turn around and now say that if he was allegedly abusive before, why didn’t she leave sooner. Well, I sure am glad that there are women out there who have the manual on what exactly is the right moment to leave a spouse – whether he is abusive towards their wife or their kids. For most, I assume, it’s a question of degrees, behaviour that progressively worsened, and a trigger incident – again, see Amber. Fortunately for her, Angie is in a better position than someone like Amber, being an A lister herself, and even she is coming under a lot of negative scrutiny, rather than people thinking that maybe she does love him, and she tried to get him help, but he refused to change and hence she decided to leave when something really bad happened.
    I do hope he gets help. I liked them together, and I love Angie, and I do have faith in her. She is a strong woman (how much venom has been spewed at her over the years and she ignored it), so I trust that she is making the right choice for her family. I don’t think they can save the marriage, which is too bad.

    • Embee says:

      Amen! Women are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. While Brad sits back and “aw shucks”-es his way into presumed innocence. It’s despicable.

      I say they BOTH deserve the benefit of the doubt and the space to work through what seems like an intensely painful and personal time.

    • Rhea says:

      Well said.

  24. paolanqar says:

    I don’t know why but I think she went down the divorce route to give him a wake-up call.
    I feel like they will get back together.

    • Artemis says:

      That’s what was said too about his marriage to Aniston and they never got back together. They didn’t deal with child abuse claims or addictions (well his weed maybe). Aniston also wanted to stay married just like PItt wants to stay married. If he and Aniston didn’t get back together, then he’s definitely not getting back with Jolie because Jolie is done.

      • Luca76 says:

        They’ve been together twice as long and have a family together. This also seems to be a sudden break due specifically to his drinking. I don’t think its unrealistic to see them reconciling if he gets treatment.

      • LAK says:

        I don’t know anyone, including a disinterested bystander, who thought he’d get back together with Aniston.

        For years, during the marriage, they both gave interviews in which they effectively said marriage was just a phase, they didn’t believe in soulmates and or marriage as a concept wasn’t forever.

        The long separations when Brad was filming – six months for TROY.

        The OBVIOUS intensity of his relationship with Jolie from day one.

        Honestly, if it wasn’t for the fact that Jolie never looks back when she walks away, i’m more inclined to believe a reconciliation between her and him.

      • almondmilk says:

        good post @Lak

        However, people are confusing what Brad does when HE is done with a relationship versus THIS situation with Angelina.

        1)When Brad ends it, his fans know he will not be going back. Especially with Aniston (I always believed she was rebound from Paltrow anyway and that he and Aniston were more like dorm bros, lol) he pretty much said their split wasn’t even sad for him, but instead it was a new beginning – dude was eager to leave (I believe with or without Angelina he was outta there) that they had their time, it wasn’t meant to be long term and he was moving on.

        HOWEVER, it wasn’t Brad that ended THIS one (take a look at this thread title) it was Angelina. The message he wants sent is that he’s in love, is wrecked, saddened and doesn’t want a split.

        2)Then we need to ask what is Angelina like when her relationships split? Some seem to be getting her confused with Brad and his exes that he leaves. But honestly if you look at Angelina’s long term relationships – like with Jonny Lee miller, she said on a couple occasions she never should have divorced him, and during the early filming of MAMS she and Jonny are out on a date and smootching in a tat parlor. She may have even been opened to BBT, but his reluctance to be a dad to Maddox killed that dead. Angie has a soft heart. If Brad puts the effort in and does the work to get better and handle his addictions, I would say she most definitely is the type to *go back.*

  25. bootyhoo says:

    The norm is for child protective services to threaten the spouse. Leave him or we will take the children. Whether she really wanted to leave him or not I know she would not let the kids be taken into foster care.

    • Lindsay says:

      That’s not true at all and horribly unfair to the brave and dedicated people who do a very difficult job for very little money. In the US CPS’ #1 goal is to keep families together.

      This was a fist time investigation and she has the lawyers to keep her family together and her kids out of foster care. That is a drastic step. She left because she felt like that was what was best for her and the kids. I guarantee you no one forced her hand.

  26. LittleTeaPot says:

    Isolated incident or a reoccurring event? I would believe this lock, stock & barrel if Angelina had not praised Brads’ parenting skills, so long & loudly. I need more information before I draw any conclusions. All of this coming out of the clear blue — at this point, things are still murky. Poor Kids.

    • Lindsay says:

      I don’t understand this line of thinking. They have been out of the public eye for months. I think I read the last red carpet they were on was four months ago. That is enough time for controlled use to spiral into addiction, it’s enough time for an addicts behavior to drastically change. Was she supposed to call you or hold a press conference and say “I know I said previously Brad was a great father but this week has been tough. I will keep you all up to date on this very personal family issue.”

      • LittleTeaPot says:

        Personally, I don’t know these people. They can say or accuse anyone of anything. All I’m saying is that it IS still murky & I will wait for more information.

  27. Char says:

    This is going down like the Amber/Johnny divorce in that people automatically jumped to defend Johnny & Brad and vilify Amber & Angelina. This is why women stay in abusive relationships! It is so frustrating to read comments with people still defending Brad at this point! Angelina did not report him to DFCS, another witness did. There is no reason to doubt Brad got aggressive. I do believe that when sober he is a good father or Angelina most likely wouldn’t have stayed with him so long. But that doesn’t mean she owes him to stay & work it out now. She owes her children a safe environment. I hope Brad gets help, but Angelina is doing the right thing here. & I agree with other commenters in that I believe she may have done this more quietly if the report to DFCS hadn’t forced her hand.

  28. AMber says:

    Im not a brangeloonie, but I’ve followed their relationship close enough. I don’t think this is the end of the road for them. I think this is how she protecting her kids while he gets help. Being married gave her leg up on custody that she wouldn’t have had if they never gotten married. After he cleans up, I bet they get back together. Not remarried, but back to their old way. Again, not a brangeloonie, just the vibe I’m getting. Being married was never the basis for them staying together before….

  29. Moon says:

    I think the pro-Brad/poor Brad narrative might just be leftover brangeloonism. People still want to believe these two will get back!

  30. Frosty says:

    I have to say I never thought they would split, and definitely not in this way. To me they were never Taylor/Burton, their relationship seemed more stable. More Kurt and Goldie, if comparisons had to be made. That said, the timing of all this – no, this didn’t just suddenly happen a couple of days ago. They’d been having issues that they seemed to be trying to work out and then one final event (allegedly). HOWEVER. I think AJ lawyered up in advance and had the PR rollout prepared — and dropped all this just in advance of his movie opening and, perhaps, Marion Cotillard’s pregnancy announcement.

  31. Nancy says:

    I’ve never been a fan of them together, but I do like Brad. She must have evidence because I cannot believe should would make such blatant accusations without receipts. However, before judging either, guess we will just have to wait and see. I still question her constantly saying what a good father he was and how they married for the children then out of the blue he’s the bad seed. I always felt for those kids travelling around the world seemingly without a home base. Don’t care about her, hope Brad isn’t what she’s claiming and like they say God Bless The Children.

  32. Goldmama says:

    Angelina is constantly speaking up about humans in need everywhere. She has seen too much devastation throughout her travels and talks with victims, so I will never buy she is vindictive and bad mouthing Brad. If they wanted to just divorce why take the children and not joint custody when she is the number one advocate for families if nothing would be wrong.
    Coming out of a broken home and being through abusive relationships I always get alarm bells ringing when someone is praising a partner or family member over and over and over again like she Brad for being a good father. I always used to sing praises for my abusive partners to others just to idk, reassure myself and big time hoping someone will come up to me and scream in my face: wake up!!! You are lying!! He is no good!!!! Because the hardest part of being with someone “not nice” is feeling like the biggest failure in the world and feeling so ashamed for having triggered this behaviour in the other person. And once you have not walked away the same second it happened the first time, add to the above feeling a himalayas mountain of guilt and shock as we all believe if it ever happens to us, we will be stronger and tougher and smarter. What you end up with is a broken person, crushed. So no matter what the truth is, respect to Angelina and Brad for ending it, no matter who was the “guilty” party. And one more thing: the biggest “not nice guys” are out of my experience always the ones who are running around and shouting it from the rooftops how great the woman they love is, and how much they love her and please come back aka: shut up b…ch and stop ruining my great reputation.

    • mija922 says:

      I think you just aren’t even trying to get it. She’s not lied in her praise of him as a dad. You’re taking your own personal story and attempting to assess everybody’s the same and you can’t. Brad has “allegedly” allowed his grown-folk appetites/issues to affect his family and we don’t much more than that and so for you to dismiss Angelina’s calling him a good dad for 12 years is wrongheaded.

  33. Sam says:

    It’s fairly common for families involved with Child Protective Services (DCFS , whatever it’s called, it’s different in every state I think) that the parent who is not being accused will legally separate from the alleged abuser and establish separate residence in order to prevent the children being removed from the home altogether and placed into foster care. I’m not saying that this is what Jolie is definitely doing. I’m just saying that I’m a social worker and I’ve seen it before.

  34. Rtms says:

    I’m going out on a limb and thinking she really wanted him to go to rehab and counselling and he wouldn’t admit it and go so the the shock and awe campaign on her part. I get the feeling he just doesn’t get it that you can’t live the party life he’s 50 yrs old. It’s time he grew up and admit he has a problem.

  35. mija922 says:

    Not going to call it over even if the divorce goes through. I think this is a couple who truly have a once in a lifetime connection in the ways that really count and a part of me wonders if Angelina went drastic to get his full attention about what he’s losing. No, I don’t believe she’s playing around here and I do have confidence she’s willing to see the divorce through to the end but, I’m also certain they really love each other deeply. Their kids urged them to get married and even wrote their vows (how deep is that?!) and my gut tells me the children are going to be the healers here.

    • Carol Anne says:

      Unfortunately, I think they fell in love with each others images. Brads marriage to Jen was failing partly because he wanted kids and apparently she didn’t at the time. Angie, in spite of her Oscar win and U.N. membership needed to clean up her reputation in Hollywood,esp. after Billy Bob Thornton. She also wanted kids even after her adoption and said she needed a good man to have kids with. He was the clean cut, handsome, lovable Hollywood idol; she was the beautiful, sensuous, wild child ready to be earth mother. They thought it would be perfect! How often do people think they are soulmates or have a affair because of an image and not really knowing a person until you take them home and unwrap them so to say?

      • mija922 says:

        I respectfully disagree. This is real deal all the way. I think its hard for people to believe celebrities are just as capable of having the same feelings as us but they do. The only difference is the cynicism of unbelievers. Brad and Angelina fell in love and fell hard and its not ever going to go away no matter how far apart they remain from each other. They may never reconcile but it doesn’t matter, they aren’t ever going to have a connection with another like they’ve shared with each other and I imagine they both are in some serious pain right now.

  36. The Original G says:

    Well, this speaks volumes about her as a negotiator. She’s taken the hardest possible line and the most powerful position here. She’s got all the bargaining chips.

    I hope she hasn’t overplayed her hand. Time will tell. I’m hoping there can be healing here.

  37. Elle says:

    I grew up with an abusive father who was kind and generous with everyone else but absolutely horrific to his own family. I saw him burn my mother, beat her senseless, and he physically tortured me and my brother for years. He has never apologized nor will he ever because, according to him, nothing was ever his fault. No one ever believed us because he was such a “good” guy. To this day he remains an alcoholic and it’s “our” fault for making him that way.

    whenever I hear or read so and so could never be violent, I just shake my head at their ignorance. People are capable of being absolute monsters behind closed doors. The only ones who know are the witnesses to their monstrosity.

    • Carol Anne says:

      God bless you, your mom and brother,you’re all alive! I’m happy you no longer have to bare that! In this case I feel if Brad was such a monster, Angie would have left him along time ago. He was a great husband, partner,father,etc. or at least that’s what she said in interviews. She looks like the dominant one in this relationship, not a victim at all. I don’t think she would let the kids be victimized by him for a long period either. This was a build up of other things that led to the alleged incident and divorce. Not that it justifies his actions but I can see him cracking.

      • Elle says:

        Thank you. Also, I wasn’t trying to imply that Brad was behaving similarly to my father – just that people shouldn’t take public behavior as proof of anything.

  38. Loca says:

    Yeah he loved her so much he was hardly around the last year’s together. He was doing his own thing. Photos don’t lie.

  39. Vee says:

    To switch tracks a little…I have always noticed that there are more than a few couples that live together for years but when they marry it ends in divorce after only a year or two .It is almost like theyhave to marry first to end the relationship. What do you guys think?

  40. Zut alors! says:

    Why are people mad because Angelina hired Laura Wasser? She hired the best person she could find to protect her and het childrens’ interests. I can’t imagine how emotional and crazy it is for her. At least she and the kids are in a protected environment.

  41. Sorrybuttruthseemstocandies says:

    Btw I’m not saying abuse should be passed on it just that I have hard time believing like most brad is abuser since he has no story etc I’m thinking a minor incident blow up by other issues etc…

  42. Sorrybuttruthseemstocandies says:

    I think they no longer fit in each others wants and worlds and vice versa that’s the cause of their problem both want their way. Sad but its good riddance for both. I say more to his than hers. Men will have it easy but that will remain to be seen.