Angelina Jolie Addresses “Painful Events” Leading to Brad Pitt Divorce | E! News

Angelina Jolie is reflecting on the deeply distressing events that led to her separation from Brad Pitt in 2016. She revealed that since filing for divorce, neither she nor their six children have returned to their former French winery, Chateau Miraval, due to its painful associations. Jolie explained that upon leaving, she relinquished control and full residency of their family homes in Los Angeles and at Miraval without financial compensation, hoping to foster a calmer environment.

The legal battle over the winery resurfaced when Jolie sold her stake to a third party in 2021. Pitt subsequently filed a lawsuit, claiming she sold her interest without his consent and seeking to access private messages he believes show she acted with malice. Jolie has argued that these messages are protected by attorney-client privilege, as they involved confidential communications about legal advice and strategy.

Jolie's declaration details how discussions about Pitt buying her shares began in early 2017 but were fraught with difficulty due to her emotional attachment to Miraval. The winery held significant sentimental value, having been a place of marriage, part of her pregnancy, and where she brought their twins home. The sudden disruption of this home and family life was profoundly hard on everyone, especially the children.

• Jolie stated the events leading to her separation from Pitt were emotionally difficult for her and their six children.
• She left their homes in Los Angeles and at Miraval without compensation after filing for divorce in 2016.
• Neither Jolie nor their children have visited Chateau Miraval since the divorce filing due to its connection to painful events.
• Discussions about Pitt buying Jolie's shares in Miraval began in early 2017 and were difficult for her due to emotional ties and the relationship's end.
• Pitt's alleged condition for purchasing Jolie's shares was her agreement to an expanded NDA that would silence her about the divorce events, which she refused.

The Difficulties Leading to Separation [00:18]

• Jolie stated that the events leading to her separation from her ex-husband were emotionally difficult for her and their children.
• Upon filing for divorce, she left him control and full residency of their family homes in Los Angeles and at Miraval without compensation.
• She hoped this would make him calmer in his dealings with her after a difficult and traumatic period.
• To this day, the children and she have never again set foot on the property given its connection to the painful events leading to the divorce.

The separation was marked by profound emotional distress for Jolie and their children, leading her to relinquish control of their homes without financial gain in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. The winery remains a site of painful memories, preventing any return for her and the children.

"The events leading to my need to separate from my ex-husband were emotionally difficult for me and our children."

The Significance of Chateau Miraval and the Winery Sale Dispute [01:09]

• Jolie and Pitt began on-again, off-again discussions in early 2017 about him buying her shares in the winery.
• These discussions were always difficult for Jolie due to her deep emotional ties to their family home there and how their relationship ended.
• Miraval was one of the first major investments they made together and was a focal point of their family life.
• They were married there, she spent part of her pregnancy there, and she brought their twin children home from the hospital there.
• Having such a sudden break from her home and memories has been hard, and it was especially difficult for the children to have their lives so disrupted.
• Jolie finalized her deal with Stalie Group's Tanuda Delmundo in 2021.
• The following year, Pitt filed a lawsuit against his former wife, alleging that she sold her interest without his permission.

Chateau Miraval held deep emotional significance for Jolie, representing key life milestones and family moments, making the break and subsequent sale discussions incredibly challenging. The finalized sale in 2021 led to a lawsuit from Pitt, who claimed the sale occurred without his consent.

"Miraval was one of the first major investments we made together and it was a focal point of our family life."

The Non-Disclosure Agreement and Legal Battle Over Communications [01:47]

• Jolie said Pitt eventually offered to purchase her shares under the condition that she agreed to an expanded NDA.
• The non-disclosure agreement would silence her from speaking about the events leading up to their divorce.
• Jolie found his demand extremely painful as the mother of their children and an advocate for victims of violence.
• She ultimately could not agree to this coercive demand and notified Pitt and his attorneys that she planned on selling her shares of Miraval to a third party instead.
• As part of the lawsuit, Pitt requested to see private messages sent by Jolie, alleging they contained information showing that his ex acted with malice in selling her shares to Stalyroup.
• In her personal statement to the court, Jolie argued that her private messages fell under attorney-client privilege.
• What was discussed in the messages were intended to be a confidential communication.

The dispute escalated with Pitt's alleged demand for an expanded NDA, which Jolie perceived as an attempt to silence her about the divorce's circumstances. Her refusal led to her selling her shares to a third party, which in turn triggered Pitt's lawsuit seeking access to her private communications, which she contends are protected by attorney-client privilege.

"As the mother of our children, as well as an advocate for victims of violence around the world, I found his demand extremely painful."