After more than eight years of legal disputes, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have finally reached a divorce settlement, marking the end of one of Hollywood’s most highly publicized and contentious divorces. The news, first reported by People magazine, was later confirmed by Jolie’s attorney, James Simon.
“Angelina filed for divorce more than eight years ago,” Simon said in a statement. “She and the children left all shared properties and have since focused on healing and finding peace. While this settlement is just one step in a lengthy process, Angelina is relieved to see this part resolved.”
The settlement, however, is still pending court approval and has not yet been filed. It is expected that a judge will need to approve the agreement before it becomes final. A request for comment from Brad Pitt’s attorney went unanswered, according to the Associated Press.
Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 61, were one of Hollywood’s most famous couples, together for 12 years and sharing six children. Their relationship took a tumultuous turn in 2016 when Jolie filed for divorce, citing an alleged incident during a flight from Europe in which she accused Pitt of abusive behavior toward her and their children—accusations that Pitt has consistently denied.
Though the couple was legally declared single in 2019, issues regarding the division of assets and child custody remained unresolved. Initially, a private judge awarded equal custody of their children, but Jolie later challenged the judge’s involvement due to a perceived conflict of interest. An appeals court sided with Jolie, removing the judge and restarting the custody process.
While the details of the settlement have not been made public, previous legal disputes have shed some light on the ongoing issues between the two, such as a lawsuit filed by Pitt, alleging that Jolie had reneged on an agreement to sell her share of their French winery to him. It remains unclear how this settlement will affect that particular case.
The use of a private judge throughout the process has ensured much of the divorce proceedings remained out of the public eye, but the end of this lengthy battle signals a step forward for both parties, as they work to find closure and move forward.
