Angelina Jolie has accused Brad Pitt of physically and emotionally abusing her and their children, with the central allegation arising from a September 2016 private flight from France to Los Angeles. Pitt has denied the Brad Pitt abuse allegations at every stage. The FBI and Los Angeles County child welfare investigators closed their inquiries without action, no criminal charges were filed, and the claims now sit at the heart of an active civil lawsuit over the couple’s French winery.
What Jolie Says Happened on the 2016 Flight
On September 14, 2016, Jolie, Pitt, and their six children, then aged 8 to 15, were flying from France to Los Angeles on a private jet. In her account documented in FBI records, Pitt had been drinking and became verbally and physically abusive during the flight. Jolie alleged he grabbed her by the head and shoulders, shook her, and pushed her into a bathroom wall while shouting, “You’re f—ing up this family.”1Los Angeles Times. Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie FBI Documents 2016 Private Plane Incident She said he punched the ceiling of the plane roughly four times, poured beer on her, and spilled beer and red wine on the children.2Rolling Stone. FBI Records Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie Jet Assault
When one of the children confronted Pitt, Jolie said, he moved toward the child aggressively, and she grabbed him from behind. She alleged Pitt then threw himself backward into the airplane seats, injuring her back and elbow. In a later court filing, she claimed Pitt “choked one of the children and struck another in the face” during the altercation.3NPR. Brad Pitt Choked One of His Children, Angelina Jolie Says in a Court Filing Her reported injuries included a rug-burn-type wound on her hand, a bruise on her elbow, and a back injury. The plane sustained an estimated $25,000 in damage from spilled wine.1Los Angeles Times. Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie FBI Documents 2016 Private Plane Incident
Jolie filed for divorce shortly after the flight.
What Investigators Found
Two agencies opened inquiries. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) ran an eight-week investigation and cleared Pitt of child abuse, concluding the incident involved physical contact but did not amount to abuse.4Variety. Brad Pitt Child Abuse Allegations Cleared The agency said it was “satisfied” that safeguards were in place for the children’s wellbeing.5Vanity Fair. Brad Pitt Cleared Child Abuse Investigation
The FBI investigated because the incident took place aboard an aircraft, giving federal jurisdiction. According to FBI records later released through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, a case agent drafted a probable cause statement and presented it to the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.1Los Angeles Times. Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie FBI Documents 2016 Private Plane Incident After that meeting, prosecutors and the agent agreed “criminal charges in this case would not be pursued due to several factors.”2Rolling Stone. FBI Records Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie Jet Assault The records noted that both parties had sustained apparent injuries and that Jolie was “personally conflicted on whether or not to be supportive of charges.” In November 2016, an FBI spokesperson confirmed no charges would be filed.6CNN. Angelina Jolie Brad Pitt FBI Report
As part of a voluntary agreement reached with DCFS in September 2016, Pitt agreed to random drug and alcohol testing, individual counseling, family counseling with the children, and therapeutic visits with a therapist present for at least the initial sessions. His first drug and alcohol test came back negative.7Vanity Fair. Angelina Jolie Brad Pitt Reach Temporary Custody Agreement
How the Allegations Have Grown Since 2016
The initial claims were made in the divorce and custody proceedings, which were largely sealed. Broader public detail has emerged through two later legal actions.
In April 2022, Jolie sued the FBI under the pseudonym “Jane Doe,” seeking the bureau’s full investigative file on the flight. She said the records were needed “for her children to receive medical care and trauma counseling.”8E! Online. Angelina Jolie Drops Legal Case Over Brad Pitt Plane Incident The suit produced heavily redacted records containing her account and revealed the agent’s probable cause statement. Jolie dropped the case in September 2024, with the dismissal entered with prejudice.9USA Today. Angelina Jolie FBI Lawsuit Brad Pitt Plane Incident
The more detailed allegations have surfaced through a lawsuit Pitt filed in February 2022 over the couple’s Château Miraval winery in Provence. Jolie’s October 2022 cross-complaint alleged Pitt choked one child, struck another in the face, grabbed her by the head and shoulders and pushed her into a wall, and poured beer and wine on her and the children.10ABC News Australia. Angelina Jolie Brad Pitt Physical Abuse Court Filing Lawsuit
On April 4, 2024, her attorney Paul Murphy filed a motion in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging Pitt had a “history of physical abuse of Jolie” that “started well before the family’s September 2016 plane trip from France to Los Angeles,” and that the flight “marked the first time he turned his physical abuse on the children as well.”11Variety. Angelina Jolie Lawyer Alleges Brad Pitt Abuse Plane Fight The motion sought to compel Pitt to produce communications with the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and DCFS.12Global News. Angelina Jolie Brad Pitt Abuse History Lawsuit Jolie’s team said she intended to support the claims with “testimony, emails, photographs, and other evidence” at trial.13CNN. Angelina Jolie Brad Pitt Abuse History
Pitt’s Denial and Response
Pitt has denied all the physical abuse allegations. His attorney, Anne Kiley, said in 2022: “Brad has owned everything he’s responsible for from day one — unlike the other side — but he’s not going to own anything he didn’t do. He has been on the receiving end of every type of personal attack and misrepresentation.” Kiley pointed to the closed FBI and DCFS investigations, saying, “Thankfully, the various public authorities the other side has tried to use against him over the past six years have made their own independent decisions.”14Today. Brad Pitts Lawyer Responds to Angelina Jolies Abuse Allegations
In the winery case, Pitt’s team has characterized the abuse claims as a “misdirection and distraction” from the contractual dispute. The two sides also disagree about a proposed nondisclosure agreement. According to Jolie’s legal team, Pitt tried to condition a 2021 sale of her stake on her signing an “all-encompassing” and “onerous” NDA, enforceable by an “$8.5 million holdback,” that would have barred her from speaking publicly about his alleged abuse.15Los Angeles Times. Angelina Jolie Brad Pitt Miraval Winery Lawsuit NDA Motion to Compel Kiley told the New York Times that Jolie’s own lawyers had proposed a mutual nondisparagement clause in separate divorce talks, and a source close to Pitt called the abuse-related framing a “cover story” to justify selling to a third party.16People. Brad Pitt Lawyers Fire Back at Angelina Jolie in Court Filing In April 2024, Pitt’s team obtained a court order requiring Jolie to produce eight years’ worth of NDAs she had required others to sign, to argue his proposed NDA was consistent with her standard practice.17E! Online. Angelina Jolie Ordered to Turn Over Eight Years Worth of NDAs in Brad Pitt Winery Lawsuit
Pitt has also spoken about his sobriety. On the podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard in June 2025, he said he quit drinking after the 2016 separation and joined a men’s-only Alcoholics Anonymous group. “I needed rebooting. I needed to wake the f— up in some areas,” he said, adding he was “pretty good at taking responsibility” and focused on “how can I right this and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”18Good Morning America. Brad Pitt Attending Alcoholics Anonymous, Needed Rebooting He had earlier told the New York Times in 2019 that he spent 18 months in AA after the divorce.
Where the Case Stands
Jolie and Pitt reached a divorce settlement on December 30, 2024, ending eight years of litigation. Terms were not made public.19People. Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie Finalize Divorce Settlement
The Miraval lawsuit, where the most detailed abuse allegations have played out, remains active and is now expected to go to trial in August 2027.20USA Today. Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie Winery Dispute Chateau Miraval Pitt is seeking $35 million in damages.21People. Angelina Jolie Wins Legal Bid to Block Release of Her Private Messages in Brad Pitt Winery Battle Jolie’s countersuit seeks $250 million, alleging Pitt and his winemaking partner froze her out of the business and intentionally devalued her investment.22Wine Spectator. Campari Caught in Miraval Fight
Pitt’s career has continued through the litigation. He starred in F1, an Apple Original Film released in 2025 that became Apple’s highest-grossing theatrical release; he was paid more than $20 million for the role, with additional revenue participation.23Wall Street Journal. F1 Movie Apple Brad Pitt The research sources document no loss of employment, contract termination, or industry sanction tied to the allegations.
The Children and the Family Rift
Several of the Jolie-Pitt children have moved to drop “Pitt” from their names as the litigation has continued. Shiloh filed a court petition on her 18th birthday in May 2024 to change her name to Shiloh Nouvel Jolie, and the change was granted. Vivienne was credited as “Vivienne Jolie” in the May 2024 Playbill for the Broadway musical The Outsiders.24Los Angeles Times. Angelina Jolie Brad Pitt Shiloh Petition Drop Father Last Name Maddox filed paperwork to remove “Pitt” in May 2026, and Zahara filed her own petition in June 2026, having identified herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie” publicly since at least 2023.25People. Angelina Jolie Brad Pitt Daughter Zahara Files to Drop Pitt From Last Name Knox reportedly dropped “Pitt” from his name on his high school diploma in June 2026.26Page Six. Angelina Jolies Son Pax Maintains Ties to Dad Brad Pitt Despite Siblings Estrangement
Pax has kept some connection to Pitt’s extended family, attending a dinner with Pitt’s sister and niece in 2026, though a source told People he “doesn’t have much of a relationship with Brad.”26Page Six. Angelina Jolies Son Pax Maintains Ties to Dad Brad Pitt Despite Siblings Estrangement Pax posted on Instagram in 2020 calling Pitt a “world-class a–hole” and a “despicable person,” and said Pitt made the children “tremble in fear.”27The Telegraph. Bitter Truth: Why Brad Pitts Family Turned Against Him A source close to Pitt has described the pattern as evidence of “successful alienation” by Jolie and said Pitt now has “virtually no contact” with his adult children.25People. Angelina Jolie Brad Pitt Daughter Zahara Files to Drop Pitt From Last Name