Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie divorce battle could last ‘forever’: lawyer
The divorce between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie — now in its seventh year — is a warning about prolonged legal battles. Longtime Los Angeles attorney Alphonse Provinziano, who specializes in divorces of high-net-worth individuals, told me, “When all is said and done, they will have spent millions of dollars and countless hours on a legal fight that will end with terms pretty much like what they could have gotten from the very start.”
Some 80% of divorces are resolved without a trial, using private arbitration or mediation.
“Jeff Bezos did his divorce very simply, very confidentially,” Provinziano said of the Amazon chief.
“It’s crucial to remember that any court battle will be decided by a judge, meaning that neither party will have the final say on matters such as child custody or support payments,” Provinziano said.
“If you get into a legal fight, it may not end up with a situation that is agreeable to either of you, or you may lose on the issue that you cared the most about. You should do whatever it takes to avoid letting a stranger make those decisions for you. The five worst words you can say to your soonto-be ex-spouse are, ‘I’ll see you in court.’ ”
The lawyer pointed out that Pitt and Jolie (photo) fell in love shooting “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” playing a bored married couple surprised to learn that they are both assassins hired by competing agencies to kill each other.
“Both of them have enough money to fight forever,” Provinziano said.
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“Virtually Ours,” a new musical about online dating, could be heading to Broadway.
The show was written by four best friends — Lisa Ann Grant, Eva Grant Rawiszer, Diana Sussman and Lisa Yves — who have a long history working on Broadway and the New York stage.
The show headlined the Spark Theatre Festival NYC last month at the Tada Theater on W. 28th St.
It’s a musical rom-com about five busy young professionals who turn to an artificial intelligence-driven dating app to find their match. The plot is peppered with misrepresentations and red flags — think “Twelfth Night” meets Tinder.
The show’s promo line is, “When it comes to finding love, science always prevails.”
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Jazz singer Champian Fulton loves the music of Duke Ellington.
“I probably first heard him when I was 1 year old,” she said.
On the cusp of Ellington’s 125th birthday, Fulton and her quartet will perform his music at Hampton Bays’ Canoe Place on April 29.
“I love all his songs and arrangements,” she said. “You could dedicate your whole life to loving Duke Ellington.”
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Naomi Campbell had an unusual request of her waiter at a posh party in London.
“Bring me a vodka soda with a slice of lime every 35 minutes,” said the supermodel, who didn’t want to converse or reorder her cocktail.
At the end of the night, she cornered the surprised waiter and thanked him, saying, “You did a great job.”
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Beyoncé’s new album “Cowboy Carter” features a duet with Dolly Parton that’s put the country music legend in the news.
Parton will get roasted by comedian D’Yan Forest at a “Night of 1000 Dollys” by Ukulele Cabaret at Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse in Brooklyn on next Saturday.
Forest will open the show by singing “Hello, Dolly!” and then be joined by 20 other ukulele virtuosos all dressed up as Parton with rhinestone miniskirts, big blond hair and lots of makeup.
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Audrey Gruss and Jamee Gregory hosted a party at Veronica Beard’s Madison Ave. store to benefit the Hope for Depression Research Foundation that included a talk by Dr. Sudhir Gadh about new depression treatments.
On May 19, the organization will hold its annual Teen Race of Hope at Hudson River Park at 10 a.m.
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Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick’s architect Morris Adjmi, who turned two townhouses in the West Village into the stars’ single-family home, will serve as the moderator of a talk hosted by
Glen-Gery at the Brickworks Design Studio on Fifth Ave. next Thursday.
The party will celebrate the publication “Materiality,” a book that features the use of luxury bricks in architecture.
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Bradford Rand, the founder of Rand Luxury, spoke at the Entrepreneur Organization House on how to make a smart exit after you sell your business, one of those rich people’s problems.
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Out & About: Chazz Palminteri will host a Cigar Night at his eponymously named restaurant in White Plains to benefit the Child Reach Foundation on May 8 … Entrepreneur Frank Schilling, who co-stars in Hulu’s new show “Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise,” handed out gold glasses filled with Aphrodise, his sparkling rosé, at the Bar & Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas … Top divorce attorney Dan Stock talking about the importance of prenups with a group of women at a pal’s engagement party at Mediterranean hotspot White Olive on W. 55th St.