Angelina Jolie shared what really happened after divorcing Brad Pitt. It paints an ugly picture.

Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt in 2016, following an alleged incident on a private jet as they travelled with their six children from their home in France back to LA.

Eight years later, the former couple reached a settlement in December 2024. Both parties signed off on their divorce, with both requesting a jury trial.

However, the lawsuit over Château Miraval continues, with a trial reportedly now set for 2026. The legal dispute over Miraval began in 2022, when Pitt sued Jolie for selling her stake in their business.

Responding to the lawsuit filed by Pitt, Jolie filed court documents on October 6, reviewed by E! News, that detailed why she and their six children have not returned to the estate since their 2016 divorce.

In a declaration submitted to a California court, the actress outlined the circumstances leading to her separation.

"The events leading to my need to separate from my ex-husband were emotionally difficult for me and our children. Upon filing for divorce, I left him control (and full residency) of our family homes in Los Angeles and at Miraval, without compensation, which I hoped would make him calmer in his dealings with me after a difficult and traumatic period," Jolie penned in the filing.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt together in 2015. Image: Getty.

She further explained the lasting impact of those events on their family's relationship with their home. "To this day, the children and I have never again set foot on the property, given its connection to the painful events leading to the divorce."

Jolie did not provide details about the specific events she referenced in the filing, but it paints a troubling picture of the couple's split and what may have transpired in their family home.

Earlier this year, a judge ordered Pitt to disclose documents, which Jolie's lawyers say will bring to light "crucial evidence" that Pitt has "fought for years to hide."

"His actions harmed Angelina and their children and are central to this case," Murphy said. "She wants this to end, the children want this to end, and Mr. Pitt should focus on healing their family, not pursuing lawsuits."

The ongoing lawsuit, in combination with their lengthy divorce, has seen Pitt's now-adult children distance themselves from their father.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's divorce is still ongoing. Image: Getty.

Pitt and Jolie share six children together: Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16.

Under the current custody agreement, Pitt has visitation rights with his two youngest children, Vivienne and Knox. People Magazine reported Pitt had minimal contact with the twins, as he was busy filming his Formula One film. According to sources, Pitt has "virtually no contact" with his older children, who are now legally adults.

Pitt and Jolie's children regularly attend premieres for their mum's latest films. Ahead of her upcoming drama, Couture, Jolie spoke about them at the TIFF screening in September 2025.

"My house is very, 'To each their own.' We're very democratic. Everybody does their own thing, " she told E! News.

"As long as you're being you, we're good," Jolie added.

In January, sources close to Pitt and Jolie told People Magazine the children had wanted Jolie to "defend herself" amid negative stories online.

"The kids have grown up seeing that some people have so much power and privilege that their voices don't matter. Their pain doesn't count," the source told People.

"They have wanted her to speak up for herself, to defend herself over these years, but she reminds them to focus on changing laws over telling public stories," the source added.

While the adult children haven't often spoken of Pitt, they have each made their feelings known in their own ways.

Last year, Zahara, the eldest daughter of Jolie and Pitt, dropped her father's surname.

Zahara, who no longer identifies as a Pitt, went viral online after she joined a college sorority at Spelman College. She was filmed performing her induction ceremony as a newly minted Alpha Kappa Alpha member, where she omitted her famous dad's last name.

"My name is Zahara Marley Jolie," she shouted in the performance. "Coming all the way from the Golden State in the city that is full of angels, Los Angeles, California."

Zahara and Shiloh have both dropped their father's surname. Image: Getty.

Then, their daughter Shiloh followed suit.

Having turned 18 on May 27, 2024, Shiloh celebrated this milestone by requesting a legal name change to go solely by Shiloh Jolie, rather than Shiloh Jolie-Pitt.

"Shiloh hired her own lawyer and paid for it herself," a source told People, referring to the abuse allegations against her father as the reason for doing so.

In response to false reports, Shiloh had taken out an 'advertisement' to announce the name change in Los Angeles Times, the 18-year-old's attorney, Peter Levine, issued an explanation.

"The media should be more careful in their reporting, especially when covering a young adult who has made an independent and significant decision following painful events, and is merely following legal process," he said in a statement.

"Shiloh Jolie did not take out an 'ad' announcing any name change, and any press reporting that is inaccurate. As Shiloh’s attorney, I am required to publish a legal notice because the law in California requires that of anyone who wants to change their name. That legal notice was published in the Los Angeles Times, as is required."

After this, Vivienne, credited as a producer on her mother's new Broadway production The Outsiders, was listed as Vivienne Jolie on the playbill.

Angelina Jolie and her daughter Vivienne at The 77th Annual Tony Awards. Image: Getty.

Pitt's daughters aren't the only ones who have voiced their feelings about their father. His son, Pax Jolie-Pitt, has also expressed his disdain towards him.

In November 2023, Pax's old social media post about his father resurfaced — and it didn't paint a pretty picture of the famous family's dynamic.

Since Angelina filed for divorce in 2016, the couple has been through years of court battles over custody, property disputes, and allegations of abuse.

During a trial in December 2020, three of the couple's kids wanted to testify against their father, but Angelina claimed the judge rejected the request.

"Three of the children have asked to testify," Jolie’s lawyers said in court documents obtained by Us Weekly.

Because they hadn't been allowed to testify, it meant that Pax's resurfaced comments were the first time one of the kids had the opportunity to speak out against their dad publicly.

Brad Pitt, Pax Jolie-Pitt, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt and Maddox Jolie-Pitt. Image: Getty.

A then-16-year-old Pax posted from his private account on Father’s Day in 2020 about Pitt.

The message was written over a photo of the 59-year-old accepting an Oscar. “Happy Father’s Day to this world-class a**hole!! You time and time again prove yourself to be a terrible and despicable person,” he began.

"You have no consideration or empathy toward your four youngest children who tremble in fear when in your presence," Pax said, referring to Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Vivienne and Knox.

"You have made the lives of those closest to me a constant hell," he continued. "You may tell yourself and the world whatever you want, but the truth will come to light someday. So, Happy Father’s Day, you f***ing awful human being!!!"

Watch Zahara's performance here. Post continues after video.

According to Page Six, a reporter asked Maddox in 2019 whether Pitt planned to visit him at Yonsei University, South Korea, where he had recently enrolled.

Maddox bluntly responded, "I don’t know about that [or] what’s happening."

Then, when asked whether his relationship with Pitt was over, he replied "Well, whatever happens, happens."

It's long been rumoured that Brad is estranged from his six children since splitting from Angelina in 2016.

As part of a dispute over the exes' French home and winery, Page Six published court documents from October 2022 that included Jolie's claims the children were left "traumatised" by Brad's behaviour, which reportedly included physical assault, emotional abuse, and intimidation while under the influence of alcohol.

Jolie alleged that Pitt "choked one of the children and struck another in the face," during a 2016 dispute on a plane as the family travelled from France to California.

The filing also claimed that Brad "grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her," and "at one point, he poured beer on Jolie; at another, he poured beer and red wine on the children".

Jolie shared photos from the alleged attack with the federal authorities, which showed the actress had sustained injuries to her hand, back, and elbow.

An FBI investigation was launched into Brad's alleged child abuse, but no criminal charges were pursued.

According to US Weekly, Pitt reportedly dropped his fight for shared custody of the children in March 2024.

"The negotiation process was agonising, but the financial docs were filed," a source told the publication. "Brad just wants to move on with his life, and this final step symbolises relief and a definitive end to their relationship."

This means Jolie will maintain primary custody of the pair's minor children: Vivienne and Knox.

A second source added that while Pitt "isn’t thrilled" with the arrangement, he "agreed because it wasn’t as bad as Angie [getting] full custody like she wanted."

While Pitt still has visitation rights, the source said: "It’s disappointing he doesn’t see the kids," as often as he’d like to. "He wishes their relationship was stronger and wants to work on that."

However, a source close to the star confirmed to People Magazine recently that Pitt had not seen Vivienne or Knox in a while, given his "busy filming schedule."

"He has virtually no contact with the adult kids. His engagement with the younger kids is more limited in recent months because of his filming schedule," the source said. Pitt is currently on location in Europe filming his upcoming racing movie F1.

The Fight Club actor has not been photographed with any of his children since Jolie filed for divorce in 2016.

In an interview for his new film F1, Pitt reflected on what he's learned in his later years.

"No matter the mistake, you know, you just learn from it and move on," he told Entertainment Tonight.

"It'll lead to the next success."

Read more about Pitt and Jolie's ongoing legal battles, here.

This story was originally published in March 2024, and has since been updated with new information.

Feature image: Getty.

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