ANGELINA’S NEW PLAN TO DESTROY BRAD
Two years after she filed for divorce, Angelina Jolie tries to bring down Brad Pitt once and for all
Angelina Jolie’s new legal team wasted no time going for the jugular. On Aug. 27, less than a month after strongly denying rumors that she was parting ways with powerhouse attorney Laura Wasser amid a protracted, increasingly venomous divorce from Brad Pitt, the actress released a statement confirming that she had split with Laura — and subtly bashing her ex. “Angelina decided to change counsel to Samantha Bley Dejean of Bley and Bley,” her rep said, “as Samantha’s expertise is the protection and best interests of children.” Translation? “That’s code for ‘Brad’s a bad dad,’” says a source.
And Angelina is hell-bent on making everyone believe it. As the divorce drags on and Brad, 54, continues to receive good press for quitting drinking, taking the high road and quietly bonding with kids Maddox, 17, Pax, 14, Zahara, 13, Shiloh, 12, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 10, the Maleficent star’s rage grows. “Angelina is more determined than ever to destroy Brad and obtain primary cus- tody,” says the source. And the key to that plan of attack is the retaining of “pit bull attorney” Samantha. “Angelina wants a noholds-barred legal team that will annihilate Brad in court.”
OUT FOR BLOOD So far, Angelina, 43, hasn’t had much success in ruining his reputation. In the two years since they split following an incident on a private plane in which a drunk Brad allegedly got physical with one of the kids, the World War Z star has jumped through
hoops to prove himself as a worthy dad. Within months, he was granted supervised visitation and, eventually, overnight stays. Says the source: “Brad’s relationship with the children has been thawing nicely.”
That’s driving Angelina nuts. As In Touch previously reported, she monitored the kids’ text messages to their dad and avoided setting up a regular visitation schedule — which earned her a rebuke from a judge. Her new lawyers recently filed papers accusing him of providing “no meaningful child support,” a move Brad’s team said was “calculated to increase the conflict.” Laura, who’s known for keeping the peace, had been warning her client that if she didn’t play nice, “She could endanger her custody or worse,” says the source. “But Angelina didn’t want to hear it.”
She’d rather fight to the bitter end. “The custody battle is getting nastier, but Brad and his lawyers are ready,” says the source, noting that he could be forced to retaliate if pushed too far. “Angelina just can’t let go of her anger. It’s her Achilles’ heel.” ◼