After 12 years of being together and two years after officially tying the knot in 2014, the marriage of high-profile couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt has come to a divorce.
It was actually the actress’s lawyer Robert Offer who confirmed it when he said that the 41-year-old Angelina Jolie filed in court on September 19 a petition for the dissolution of her marriage with 52-year-old Brad Pitt and that the decision was arrived at for the health of the family.
Offer said that Angelina Jolie will not be commenting on the issue and requested that the family is given their privacy at this time, reports BBC News.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been together since 2004 but only officially tied the knot in August 2014 in the French hamlet of Correns in Provence.
The couple has six children together – Maddox, Pax, Zahara, who are adopted, and biological children Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne.
Their children served as ring bearers during their wedding two years ago and even helped illustrate Angelina’s white wedding dress with their drawings.
Second marriage and second divorce
Brad Pitt’s marriage to Angelina Jolie was his second and the divorce is to be his second as well. He was previously married to “Friends” star Jennifer Aniston.
For her part, it is Angelina Jolie’s third failed marriage. She was previously married to Billy Bob Thornton and Johnny Lee Miller.
Based on the divorce papers filed, Jolie apparently cited irreconcilable differences in the filing and listed the date of separation as September 15. It is also understood that she is asking for the physical custody of their six children and also asked the court to give Brad Pitt visitation rights.
She has also asked the court to keep miscellaneous jewelry and other personal effects as well as any earnings from after the date of their separation and other separate assets to be determined later, reports CNN.
Cordial breakup
Given the level of their popularity and status in the celebrity world, there have been speculations that a tabloid-friendly and child-unfriendly custody battle may ensue over their six children as a result of the divorce.
But a source close to the couple said that both Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie want a cordial breakup and less of the hoopla in the media.
The same source disclosed that other than the fame of the people involved, it is like so many other divorces.
In a statement, Brad Pitt said that he is very saddened with the development but what matters most now is the well-being of their kids. He said that he is asking the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.
Angelina Jolie’s manager Geyer Kosinski also said that Angelina will always do what is in the best interest to protect her children. Her manager also added that the actress would appreciate everyone’s understanding of their need for privacy at this time.
Jolie and Pitt – nicknamed “Brangelina” by fans – are one of the best-known couples in Hollywood.
They got together after meeting on the set of the film “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” which was released in 2005.
Jolie, who is the daughter of actor Jon Voight and actress Marcheline Bertrand, rose to fame with roles in films such as “The Bone Collector” and “Girl, Interrupted,” for which she won a best supporting actress Oscar in 1999.
She starred as Lara Croft in the “Tomb Raider” film series and went on to appear in “Changeling,” “Salt,” “A Mighty Heart,” “Wanted,” and “Maleficent.” She also directed World War Two prisoner of war film “Unbroken.”
Pitt’s early acting roles include appearing alongside Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis in “Thelma and Louise.”
He went on to appear in films including “Fight Club,” ”Ocean’s Eleven,” “World War Z,” “Snatch,” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”
Pitt’s producing work includes “12 Years A Slave,” which won the Best Picture Oscar in 2014 and “The Big Short,” in which he also acted.