Angelina Jolie has described her split from Brad Pitt as “emotionally difficult,” offering fresh insight into the period after their separation and the ongoing legal contest over their Château Miraval estate in France.
Her remarks appeared in a recent declaration filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court, submitted in response to Pitt’s motion seeking private communications concerning the Miraval dispute.
In the same filing, Jolie asked that Pitt cover $33,000 in legal fees she incurred while responding to his motion.
Jolie emphasized that Miraval was far more than a mere property to her and the family. “Miraval was one of the first major investments we made together, and it was a focal point of our family life,” she wrote.
“We were married there, I spent part of my pregnancy there, and I brought our twin children home there from the hospital.
To have such a sudden break from my home and memories has been hard, and it was especially difficult for the children to have their lives so disrupted.”
In her legal filings, Jolie’s team asserts she repeatedly asked Pitt to withdraw his motion, warning that the legal fight would impose undue financial stress; when Pitt “refused to withdraw it,” Jolie requested the court to compel him to reimburse her for the “substantial attorneys’ fees” she was forced to incur.
This latest exchange is part of a broader, years-long legal saga dating back to their separation on 15 September 2016, though the seeds of the conflict can be traced to much earlier tensions.
Jolie and Pitt were married on 14 August 2014, and their divorce was formally acknowledged when they were declared legally single on 12 April 2019.
Background, Careers & Earlier Marriages
Angelina Jolie
Jolie is a celebrated actor, filmmaker, producer, and humanitarian. She has been involved in high-profile advocacy — field missions to refugee camps and war zones — and has received honors such as the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and recognition as a major force in both entertainment and humanitarian work.
Before marrying Pitt, Jolie had been married twice:
- Jonny Lee Miller (m. 1996) — this marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce in 1999.
- Billy Bob Thornton (m. 2000) — also ended in divorce (2003). Their intense, public romance drew media attention.
Jolie also had other romantic relationships before Pitt; at one time, she was involved with model Jenny Shimizu, and she has openly discussed her attraction to both men and women.
Brad Pitt
Pitt is one of Hollywood’s best-known actors and producers, with a long career spanning diverse genres. He was previously married to Jennifer Aniston (from July 2000 to March 2005).
Thus, when Jolie and Pitt came together, both brought with them established careers and past high-profile marriages, making their union and subsequent breakup a subject of intense media scrutiny.
What Led to the Split & Legal Battles
Although the precise turning point in their relationship is complex and contested, several key factors are widely reported and have been advanced in their filings:
Jolie later stated that she chose to separate in the interest of her family’s well-being, emphasizing that she prioritized their children’s healing.
In legal filings and media reports, one focal point was an alleged incident on a private jet in 2016. Jolie has alleged that Pitt physically and verbally abused her and their children during that flight; Pitt has denied these accusations.
That event is often cited as a catalyst for Jolie’s decision to file for divorce in September 2016. Their divorce has been notoriously protracted — taking eight years from the date of separation to final settlement — largely due to disputes over custody, division of assets, control of shared properties, and, in particular, the contested Château Miraval winery.
In 2022, Pitt sued Jolie, claiming she sold her share of their jointly held Miraval winery to a third party (Stoli Group affiliate) without his consent.
Jolie countersued, accusing him of waging a “vindictive war” and of seeking to force non-disclosure regarding allegations of abuse. As late as 2025, new filings continue to surface in courts over control, communications, and legal fees.
The Miraval estate remains a central battleground. In the public sphere, Pitt has downplayed the drama of the divorce in interviews, calling the finalization “just something coming to fruition” legally. He has also acknowledged having made mistakes over time.
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