The Independent on Saturday

Brangelina: the last straw

Mid-air argument last straw for Jolie

- STAFF REPORTER AND DAILY MAIL

AN ARGUMENT on a plane between a father and son. It is this incident celebrity media outlets are saying triggered the launch of divorce proceeding­s by Hollywood star Angelina Jolie against her equally famous actor husband Brad Pitt. They have six children.

Some reports claim Pitt “lunged” at his son Maddox when the 15-year-old tried to verbally defend his mother during an argument last week on the family’s flight home from France.

The FBI has said it is aware of allegation­s. “The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigat­ion at the federal level will be pursued.” The FBI is investigat­ing because it allegedly happened mid-air.

It was also reported the incident is being investigat­ed by the LA County Department of Children and Family Services, TMZ said.

It is also not known if Pitt was drunk at the time or if he got drunk later in the flight.

An earlier report said he allegedly became “wasted” and started “screaming” before continuing the “rant” on the tarmac when the plane landed, trying to leave the scene in a fuel truck.

A source close to Pitt said that allegation­s of abuse against the actor, verbal and physical, had been “exaggerate­d or fabricated”.

Jolie filed for divorce from the actor on Monday, citing irreconcil­able difference­s, and has asked for physical custody of the children.

Access Hollywood reported a colleague of the couple saying while Jolie wants the children to have a relationsh­ip with Pitt, there are no plans for visitation between the six kids and their father at this time.

And while the divorce did not come as a surprise to Pitt, he was thrown off by the timing according to those close to the actor.

Pitt, 52, was said to be furious with Jolie over claims he posed a threat to their family because of an anger problem and his heavy consumptio­n of marijuana and alcohol.

He was said to have told friends that Jolie had “no chance” of getting her demand for sole custody.

While Pitt has told friends not to criticise his wife publicly and has praised her parenting skills, he is said to be incensed that she has created a media storm.

Although both stars have insisted through friends that they want to settle the divorce amicably, Jolie has hired Laura Wasser, one of Hollywood’s most feared divorce lawyers – who represente­d actor Johnny Depp in his recent split from Amber Heard.

Jolie, 41, who has been married three times, has reportedly set up a “war room” in a Los Angeles house where she, Wasser and their team can work out their strategy for Hollywood’s biggest divorce in decades.

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 ?? PICTURE: REUTERS ?? DEVOTED: Brad Pitt and son Maddox.
PICTURE: REUTERS DEVOTED: Brad Pitt and son Maddox.

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