A recent legal ruling has added a new layer to the ongoing dispute between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt over their shared winery, with implications involving allegations of past abuse.
In a key court decision, the court has ordered Brad Pitt to release specific documents that might shed light on Angelina Jolie’s abuse claims linked to their shared business, Château Miraval, according to People.
The battle over Château Miraval, a winery estate that Jolie and Pitt previously co-owned, has morphed into a complex legal struggle. The couple, who separated in 2016, have become entangled in multifaceted legal proceedings, including their official divorce, which finalized in 2019.
Jolie’s decision to sell her half of Château Miraval to Tenute del Mondo in 2022 sparked a significant part of the dispute. She allegedly made the sale without Pitt’s approval, breaching a mutual agreement and prompting a series of legal battles.
The agreement in question reportedly required Jolie to seek Pitt’s consent before any sale, an aspect that has remained central to the ongoing court proceedings.
On November 25, 2024, the judge’s ruling that Pitt must disclose various communications became a focal point in the case, bringing the matter into the public eye due to the sensitive nature of the allegations. These communications are said to contain discussions about alleged abusive behavior and efforts to conceal this behavior, although they exclude communications between Pitt and his legal or therapy teams.
Pitt's team has countered by criticizing the breadth of Jolie's document requests, calling them "wide-ranging and intrusive." Nonetheless, the court has found the request pertinent to the case, particularly focusing on elements that could demonstrate a pattern of alleged abuse and cover-ups by Pitt.
Paul Murphy, Jolie’s lawyer, has stressed that the documents to be released could show “communications concerning abuse, lie to authorities, and years of cover-up.” He argued these are crucial for understanding the depths of the issues at hand.
The legal journey preceding this ruling saw Jolie attempt to manage the fallout from her separation from Pitt. She initially tried to sell the winery directly to Pitt, but she coupled the offer with a demand for a non-disclosure agreement from Pitt's side. Jolie’s team has argued that this NDA was overly restrictive and would have effectively silenced her from discussing any aspect of their past relationship publicly.
This wasn’t the only legal hurdle between them. In May 2024, a court order required Jolie to reveal eight years’ worth of NDAs she had used in her business dealings. The court aimed to portray what normal business practices looked like for her, compared to what Pitt demanded.
Despite these challenges, Pitt has maintained his denial of any abuse, backed by his clearance from authorities after a September 2016 incident. His legal victories have included proving that he and Jolie had a written agreement concerning conditions around the winery sale.
According to Murphy, the outcome of these legal battles and the actions of Pitt have deeply affected not only Jolie but their children as well. He articulated the harm these proceedings have inflicted on the family, suggesting they were central to understanding the whole case.
"His actions harmed Angelina and their children and are central to this case," Murphy stated, indicating the profound personal and legal ramifications of the dispute. He added that, despite the extensive legal back-and-forth, Pitt has effectively managed to maintain control over Miraval and the winery.
Murphy passionately defended his client's stance, pointing out: "She never pressed charges, she left all their properties, and she is the one who tried to sell him the business in the first place." He urged Pitt to focus more on healing their family instead of continuing legal hostilities.
As the layers of this legal case continue to unfold, both personal and public stakes remain high, with each court decision potentially setting precedents for how similar disputes are handled in the future.
