The legal battle between Hollywood icons Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie has reached a new phase, with the spotlight now shining on non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), commonly known as gag orders, in their dispute over the ownership of Château Miraval, a French winery.
Recently, Jolie’s legal team filed a motion alleging a history of physical abuse by Pitt prior to their highly publicized split in 2016. According to court documents, the abuse allegedly occurred even before the family’s plane trip from France to Los Angeles in September 2016, during which Pitt allegedly turned his aggression towards their children for the first time. Jolie cited this “pattern” of abuse as a contributing factor in her decision to sell her shares in the winery.
Central to Jolie’s claims is the allegation that Pitt prevented her from selling her shares in Château Miraval unless she signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Described in legal filings as having “restrictive language” limiting her freedom of speech, Jolie contends that the NDA was an attempt to stifle her ability to speak openly about their relationship and its dynamics.
In response, Pitt’s representatives have vehemently denied the new abuse allegations, labeling them as a diversionary tactic aimed at deflecting attention from the core issue of the lawsuit: a breach of agreement. They argue that Jolie violated their initial agreement by selling her shares without obtaining Pitt’s consent.
Pitt’s legal team has countered by filing a motion seeking information about NDAs Jolie may have utilised with past employees. They aim to demonstrate that the NDA requested by Pitt was not excessively restrictive or unreasonable compared to the NDAs routinely employed by Jolie in her personal and professional dealings. Moreover, they allege that during their divorce proceedings, Jolie’s team proposed an even broader, mutual non-disparagement clause, highlighting potential hypocrisy in her objections to Pitt’s NDA.
The timeline of events leading up to the legal showdown is as follows: Pitt and Jolie entered into a relationship in 2005 and purchased Château Miraval in 2008. The picturesque winery served as the backdrop for their highly publicized wedding ceremony in August 2014. However, the couple’s relationship soured, culminating in their separation in 2016. In 2021, Jolie reportedly sold her shares in the winery to Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler, sparking a legal battle between the former spouses.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the public awaits further developments in this high-profile dispute, which not only involves the intricacies of property ownership but also delves into broader issues of privacy, control, and accountability within celebrity relationships.
