Angelina and Brad’s custody feud explodes.
IN THE MIDST OF A MELTDOWN OVER CUSTODY, ANGELINA IS GOING ALL OUT TO BRING DOWN BRAD
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ngelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s custody and divorce war has gone nuclear with both stars coming out swinging in the latest stage of their conflict.
And in what’s shaping up to be the most toxic separation in Hollywood history, Angelina’s now so desperate, she’s pulling out all the stops by hiring a new legal team, clearing her work schedule and accusing Brad of being a deadbeat dad.
In a blistering attack, Ange spoke through her attorney accusing Brad of ‘a blatant attempt to obfuscate the truth and distract from the fact that he has not fully met his legal obligations to support the children.’ To which Brad hit back claiming he had paid over $12 million in the past 18 months.
In a statement to Us Weekly, Angelina’s legal team stated: ‘Brad was asked to assist in the expense of a new home for Angelina and the children, but instead he loaned Angelina money, for which he is charging her interest on a payment plan.
‘Angelina will of course honour that loan. A loan is not, however, child support and to represent it as such is misleading and inaccurate.
‘Angelina is asking Brad to pay 50 per cent of the children’s expenses. He has not. Angelina has had to shoulder the majority of those without his contribution for the past two years.’
Furthermore, it was reported that Ange’s high-profile divorce attorney Laura Wasser quit the case with reports claiming she’d had enough of her client’s ‘unreasonable’ behaviour, (though reps say Laura remains part of the legal team).
Laura, who has represented a string of celebrity clients, quit Britney Spears’ legal team back in 2007 after the singer repeatedly ignored Laura’s advice that would allow her 50:50 custody of her sons.
It seems likely she’s advised Angelina the same way, with TMZ reporting a source told them Angelina’s ‘fuelled with anger and has gotten ridiculously unreasonable’.
Ange’s new lawyer, Samantha Bley Dejean, is described on her company’s website as specialising in ‘complex family law-trial work’ suggesting the Jolie-pitts could be heading for an explosive
courtroom battle. And while an insider told People magazine that Brad, 54, had paid ‘far more than any informal agreement would stipulate and far more than any judge would have ordered paid if there had been such an order,’ further insiders claim that Ange was forced to return to making movies after a year and a half off in order to cover the costs of supporting her children.
The reason for Angelina’s renewed attack is thought to be down to her legal team advising her she will have to settle for joint custody when she’s always wanted the six kids full-time. It’s thought this new jab is an attempt by Ange to wrestle back control after Brad was able to take the younger five kids for an extended period of time during their school holidays.
So desperate is Ange to win this battle, she’s even put her work on hold, having pulled out of her role in the upcoming film, Come Away, less than 24 hours before she was due on set. ‘Nobody is quite sure what’s going on,’ said the source.
However, it appears Angelina could be risking her own custody claims if she continues her feud with Brad.