It’s shaping up to be one of the most toxic Hollywood divorce battles ever, with reports last week suggesting it could rumble on for another six years, while it’s estimated to have already cost each party £730k – or a total of £1.5m – in legal fees.
Things took an even uglier turn recently when leaked documents revealed Angelina Jolie wants to testify about Brad Pitt’s alleged domestic abuse amid an ongoing custody battle over their six children.
Last month, Angelina, 45, filed court papers indicating both she and her children are willing to offer “proof and authority in support” of her claims that Brad, 56, “attacked” their eldest son Maddox, 19, when the family took a private flight home from France just days before she filed for divorce in September 2016.
The incident allegedly happened after Maddox verbally defended his mum following a heated row between her and an “intoxicated” Brad, who Angelina had reportedly told to “sober up”.
Brad’s reps have claimed the private documents were leaked by Angelina’s camp in a “calculated” bid to sway opinion ahead of the conclusion of their trial. He strongly denies the widely publicised claims and was not arrested or charged for any abuse allegations at the time.
Angelina’s latest bombshell has not only left Brad “heartbroken” according to his pals, but has also thrown doubt on hopes that their long-running battle could reach a settlement soon.
Brad is fighting for 50-50 legal and physical custody of their six children, who include adopted children Pax, 16, and Zahara, 15, and the couple’s three biological children, Shiloh, 13, and twins, Vivienne and Knox, 11.
Brad and Angelina’s decade-long relationship saw the couple frequent the world’s most exclusive events, set up a joint charity foundation, and even star in films together. But five years on and they have taken very different paths.
Closer looks at the contrasting lives the two former lovers now lead…
Contrasting love lives
Angelina – who was previously married to actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton – has reportedly remained single since her split from Brad, insisting in interviews that her children are her number one priority.
Brad, however, has been linked to a string of women, including A-lister Charlize Theron, jewellery designer Sat Hari Khalsa, and, most recently, 27-year-old German model Nicole Poturalski.
Closer previously reported that Brad and his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston had been growing closer in recent months, with Brad supporting Jen through her ambition to adopt a child.
Fans around the globe were also delighted when the former couple’s highly-publicised reunion at the SAG Awards last year was caught on camera – sending die-hard fans wild amid hopes that Hollywood’s former golden couple would reunite. But the picture reportedly left Angelina “furious”.
Psychological therapist Emma Kenny says, “Statistically, men usually move on quicker than women after a break-up, so it’s not surprising that Brad has returned to the dating scene while Angelina has taken time to heal. Brad is totally entitled to date again, but it’s never nice seeing a partner move on, no matter how sure you are that going your separate ways is the right thing. Angelina is devoted to her kids and humanitarian work and likely doesn’t have time for a relationship.”
Different career paths
Since their split in 2016, Brad has thrown himself into his acting career, starring in 14 films and even winning his first Oscar for his role in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood in 2019. He’s also remained immersed in the Hollywood social scene – reconnecting with his former closer friends Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney.
But while Brad has strengthened bonds with A-list pals and immersed himself in work, Angelina has rarely been seen socialising or at showbiz events in recent years – only being seen out and about with her children and choosing to live a more low-key life. She said in an interview during their marriage that she didn’t have a large social circle, saying, “I stay home a lot. I’m not really social. I’ll talk to my family. I talk to Brad … But I don’t know, I don’t have a lot of friends I talk to. He is really the only person I talk to.”
She has also taken a significant step back from her career, only returning to work to reprise her role in Maleficent 2, three years after her split in 2019, and starring in fantasy film Come Away last year.
Opening up about her life post-Brad earlier this year, she said, “I continue to focus on [the children’s] healing. The past few years have been pretty hard. It’s slowly coming back, like the ice melting and the blood returning to my body.”
And Emma says, “Brad is clearly away a lot and throwing himself into his work, while Angelina is mostly at home with the kids. They may have made that decision together, but if childcare doesn’t feel shared then it can cause arguments.
“When one person is away a fair bit due to commitments and the other is holding the fort, that can cause tension if promises aren’t met. Brad being away a lot now will have been a big change in the children’s lives and may have caused stress for Angelina.”
Check out: the most shocking celebrity breakups of the decade
Most shocking breakups of the decade - slider
1 of 30Louise and Jamie Redknapp
They were the British A-list couple that we thought would last but the world was stunned in July 2017 when Louise and Jamie Redknapp confirmed they'd split after 19 years together. Months later Louise opened up about the end of her marriage and following the end of the Redknapp marriage, it was reported that celebrities were refusing to sign up to the BBC show because of the Strictly curse.
2 of 30Cheryl and Ashley Cole
Cheryl and Ashley Cole first met in 2004 and quickly became an A-list couple. Two years later they tied the knot in an extravagant wedding. However, in 2010 following cheating allegations that were splashed across the media, Chez split from her footballer husband.
3 of 30Lisa Armstrong and Ant McPartlin
Lisa Armstrong and Ant McPartlin had been together for 23 years and married for 11 but in January 2018, the TV presenter confirmed he was filing for divorce following his rehab stint.However after a drink driving arrest, a second visit to rehab and liking a lot of shady tweets – the pair officially divorced nine months after splitting.
4 of 30Lenny Henry and Dawn French
At the beginning of the decade, Dawn French and Lenny Henry announced they were splitting after 25 years of marriage.
5 of 30Paul and Alex Hollywood
Great British Bake Off star Paul Hollywood and his wife Alex split after 20 years together. They'd previously split in 2013 after the GBBO star had an affair with his American co-star but they managed to patch things over and make things work. For a while.
6 of 30Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
We still can't believe Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie split in 2016 after ten years together and two years marriage. The couple are parents to six children; Maddox, 18, Shiloh, 13, Pax, 16, Zahara, 14, Vivienne, 11, and Knox, 11. Even George Clooney was stunned at the news; well, to be fair he did find out during an interview.
7 of 30Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green
We thought they'd be a real-life Romeo and Juliet (minus the death) but Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green called it quits after being married for three years. We weren't the only ones who thought they were a power couple; remember when Craig Lawson joked he'd be the next Pro Green and Millie with Camilla Thurlow? Yeah, that didn't last.
8 of 30Bruce and Kris Jenner
They're the head of the Kardashian/Jenner household but in 2013 the world was shocked when Bruce and Kris Jenner announced they had separated after 23 years of marriage. A year later, Kris filed for divorce and cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason. A month after their divorce was finalised, Bruce publicly came out as a transgender woman – Caitlyn.
9 of 30Katy Perry and Russell Brand
One of the most heart-breaking celebrity break ups was definitely Katy Perry and Russell Brand, after all, she found out their 14-month marriage ended via TEXT. Their entire split was shown on her documentary Part of Me and remarkably Katy still performed on stage just hours after Russell announced he wanted to end their marriage.
10 of 30Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom
Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom had only known each other for three weeks before they tied the knot. Yes, really. They lasted four years before the Keeping Up with The Kardashians star filed for divorce. However, in 2015 she withdrew the file after Lamar suffered a drug overdose and she had to take control of his health decisions. There were reports that the pair would reunite but in 2016 their divorce was finalised.
11 of 30Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries
Kim appeared to have followed in the footsteps as her younger sister Khloe when she got engaged to Kris Humphries after just seven months. She documented her 'dream' wedding on Keeping Up with The Kardashians but their relationship didn't last and they split just 72 DAYS after their wedding. Their breakup was also documented on their show.
12 of 30Stormzy and Maya Jama
We're still devastated about Stormzy and Maya Jama splitting, tbh. They were the dream team and had been together for four years – despite being very private they appeared in Vogue magazine together and the grime artist dedicated a song to her. However in August 2019 they called it quits and the TV presenter unfollowed him on Instagram.
13 of 30Seal and Heidi Klum
Seal and Heidi Klum renewed their wedding vows every year on their anniversary however after a seven-year marriage they called it quits. The A-list couple are parents to four children; Leni (who Heidi had from a previous relationship, but Seal adopted) and during their relationship they also welcomed Henry, Johan and Lou into the world.
14 of 30Gary Lucy and Natasha Gray
After dating for 10 years and then being married for four, Gary Lucy and Natasha Gray called time on their marriage. The pair confirmed the news in a statement saying, "This was a very difficult decision, but was reached mutually and amicably. No other parties are involved."
15 of 30Liam Payne and Cheryl
We're pretty sure the world was shocked when Liam Payne and Cheryl announced they were dating. However they then went on to welcome baby Bear Grey Payne into the world and despite breakup rumours they posed together at the Brit Awards in 2018. Unfortunately a few months later – and a total of two years together - they split.
16 of 30Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy
This break up is still a bit weird and we're not really sure why it happened because – spoiler alert – they're not real people. Anyways, in 2015 the puppets announced the end of their relationship in a lengthy statement.
17 of 30Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick
Another KUWTK break up – this one more surprising than the others – was Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick. The pair had been together for nine years and during that time they welcomed Mason, Penelope and Reign. They'd split a few times throughout their relationship – which included Scott doing to rehab and cheating allegations. However in 2015 they split for good.
18 of 30Cheryl and Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini
Cheryl literally surprised the world when she announced on Instagram that she had eloped with Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini after three months of dating. The pair seemed totally in love until Cheryl raised concerns among fans after losing a lot of weight and slammed any split rumours by revealing her father in law had died. Unfortunately their romance wasn't to last and after 18 months of marriage they split.
19 of 30Perrie Edwards and Zayn Malik
Little Mix's Perri Edwards and One Direction's Zayn Malik were X Factor sweethearts. They supported each other's career, posted adorable snaps and even got a puppy together. The singers then got engaged but two years later – following cheating accusations and after Zayn quit One Direction – it came to light that he ended their relationship. While she claimed he dumped her via text, he denied it.
20 of 30Adele and Simon Konecki
She's notoriously private with her life but in 2019 is came to light that Adele and her husband Simon Konecki had split. Awhopping £145m is the figure being talked about in relation to their divorce. In 2012 they welcomed their only child into the world – Angelo.
21 of 30Chris Pratt and Anna Faris
Chris Pratt and Anna Faris announced they were splitting back in 2018 and a few months later their divorce was finalised. At the time they released a statement, saying: "We tried hard for a long time, and we're really disappointed. "Our son has two parents who love him very much and for his sake we want to keep this situation as private as possible moving forward."They went on to say they "still have love for each other".
22 of 30Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan
Step Up stars Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan called it quits after being married for eight years. At the time they insisted they'd "lovingly chosen to separate as a couple". During their relationship they welcomed their daughter Everly into the world.
23 of 30Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk
We were devastated in June 2019 when one of the hottest A-list couples – Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk – split after four years together. Apparently the parents to their daughter Lea De Seine hadn't "been good for a few months".
24 of 30Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes dated for seven years and were married for six but in 2012 it came to light that she had filed for divorce. He later spoke out and admitted he "did not expect" the turn of events.
25 of 30Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux
Friends star Jennifer Aniston and her husband Justin Theroux called it quits after being married for two years. At the time they said the "decision was mutual and loving" and it appeared to be the truth because a year later to paid tribute to his ex-wife to celebrate her 50th birthday.
26 of 30Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom
Victoria's Secret model and Hollywood actor Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom broke up after six years together. After being married for three years they announced they'd been "amicably separated for the past few months" before confirming their relationship had ended.
27 of 30Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth lived a real-life story after falling in love on the set of The Last Song. However after four years together they split. They were then on/off but decided to call it quits AGAIN after eight years together. Their relationship didn't end there though because they reunited and got married but eight months after their wedding they split again.
28 of 30Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson
Another couple who took the world by surprise were Twilightstars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. They met on the set of the vampire phenomenon back in 2009 and fell in love. While we all thought it would last, it didn't. Their relationship hit a rough patch in 2012 when Kristen's affair with her married director Rupert Sanders was exposed by paparazzi. Robert forgave her and they tried to make it work but they split a few months later.
29 of 30Fergie and Josh Duhamel
After eight years together Fergie and Josh Duhamel announced their split. Fast forward two years and Fergie filed for divorce.
30 of 30Matt Leblanc and Aurora Mulligan
In news that shocked Friends fans the world over, In February 2022 it was reported that Matt LeBlanc - best known for playing Joey Tribbiani on the show – had split from his girlfriend of six years, Top Gear producer Aurora Mulligan.
Shifting priorities
Brad and Angelina have gone in different directions in terms of their priorities in recent years. Brad has thrown himself into sobriety, having previously cited his heavy drinking as one of the reasons for his break-up with Angelina – saying in 2019, “I’d taken things as far as I could, so I removed my drinking privilege.”
Since their split, Brad – who reportedly joined Alcoholics Anonymous in 2016 – has made efforts to turn his life around. He is also said to have embarked on a new healthier lifestyle with the support of celeb pals, working out regularly and adopting a predominantly plant-based diet – and he’s thrown himself into pottery making, building a studio in his house where he’ll spend time on his creative side.
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Meanwhile Angelina – who lives in a six-bedroom mansion just five minutes from Brad in LA – reportedly spends her free time having therapy sessions and doing cooking classes. She has admitted that she’s had to adapt to being a single mum of six, saying, “I’ve been trying to be really good at just being a homemaker and picking up dog poop and cleaning dishes and reading bedtime stories. And I’m getting better at all three.”
Emma says, “When you’re focusing on sobriety, you have to put yourself first, because if you don’t, it affects every other element of your life and can be much harder to get sober. Sometimes that can seem like the person in the recovery is neglecting others or other things, but it has to be done. Brad will no doubt have done that on his path to recovery, and it may have caused resentment. If Angelina has been at home, looking after the kids, while her ex is looking after his own needs, that can be interpreted as ‘well, he’s self-centered’, so it can lead to bitterness.”
Get the best celeb interviews in Closer magazine each week.