Hollywood star Brad Pitt is being investigated for child abuse after multiple sources accused him of becoming physically and verbally abusive towards one of his children on a private jet, TMZ and People report. This comes a few days after his wife, actress Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from him. The couple shares six kids: Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 8.
Sources told TMZ that the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services is looking into an incident in which the actor allegedly screamed at and got “physical” with the child, with Angelina Jolie and the couple’s other children as witnesses. According to TMZ, Pitt was drunk and “out of control” at the time of the disturbance, which took place on September 14, the day before Jolie filed for divorce.
While the Los Angeles Police Department has denied it is investigating the issue, it is being said that the department’s Abused Child Unit referred the case to the FBI for jurisdictional reasons having to do with the fact that the incident occurred on a plane. A source close to Pitt told People that the actor takes the matter very seriously and says he did not commit any abuse of his children. “It’s unfortunate that people involved are continuing to present him in the worst possible light,” the source said.
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The FBI said to Variety, “In response to your inquiry regarding allegations within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States; specifically, an aircraft carrying Mr. Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued.”
Jolie, 41, filed for divorce from Pitt, 52, in a Los Angeles court on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple was married for two years and had been together for 12. The actress has requested sole physical custody of the children, a decision made “for the health of the family”, in a statement released by her attorney.