On December 30, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt finalized their divorce settlement, concluding a lengthy and contentious process that has reportedly been challenging for the actress. A source close to Jolie expressed to People that the past eight years have been incredibly difficult for her and her family.
The source’s characterization of the prolonged ordeal as “horrendous” aligns with a statement released by her divorce attorney, James Simon of Hersh Mannis, who described Jolie as “exhausted,” yet “relieved” that the settlement has been achieved.
New beginnings await Jolie as she puts the past behind her and embraces the future
“More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt,” the statement noted. “She and the children departed from all shared properties with Mr. Pitt, and since then, her focus has been on seeking peace and healing for their family. This is just one segment of an ongoing journey that began eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved that this chapter is now closed.”
Following an incident on a private plane in 2016, during which Jolie alleged that Pitt was abusive toward their six children, Jolie sought a divorce. Pitt was investigated by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services but was finally cleared, and Jolie chose not to pursue charges—a decision also mentioned by the People source.
“She could have pressed charges against him. She could have told the world what happened. She didn’t,” the source stated. “Her only wish was for Brad to receive the help he required and for their children to get the support they needed to heal.”
At the time of Jolie’s divorce filing, all six of their children were minors, and custody issues were reportedly part of the settlement discussions. Currently, only two of the children—twins Knox and Vivienne, who are 16—are still under 18. The four older children—Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, Zahara, 19, and Shiloh, 18—are now legally adults and have had “virtually no contact” with Pitt, as noted by a source to People earlier this year.
Despite ongoing family issues and the couple’s continued legal dispute over a French winery they jointly owned, reaching the settlement has relieved Jolie, with the source adding that it “gives her some relief” that “this part is finally over.”
