Hollywood's luminous stars, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, parted ways after an astonishing 12-year journey together, during which they lovingly raised six children.
The high-profile divorce is set against a backdrop of allegations against Pitt, including mistreatment and substance abuse.
Their fateful encounter transpired on the set of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," a film directed by Doug Liman, and it irrevocably altered the course of both Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's lives. What began as an action film eventually laid the foundation for a passionate love story, one that, over a decade later, reached a heart-wrenching conclusion. This chapter marks the end of one of Hollywood's most captivating and iconic couples.
In 2004, Brad Pitt, one of Hollywood's most sought-after leading men, was married to Jennifer Aniston, the beloved star of "Friends." Their union, sealed in a Malibu ceremony in 2000, stood as a symbol of celebrity affection. Before his marriage to Aniston, Pitt had a significant relationship with Gwyneth Paltrow, the Oscar-winning actress renowned for her role in "Shakespeare in Love."
At that time, Angelina Jolie, daughter of the legendary actor Jon Voight, had already experienced two failed marriages. Her first marriage, in 1995, was to the Englishman Jonny Lee Miller, her co-star in "Hackers." The romance, however, lasted only a year, and their divorce was formalized in 1999. Her second marriage, in 2000, was to the American actor Billy Bob Thornton, marked by eccentricities like wearing vials of each other's blood around their necks. Their unconventional relationship became a favorite tabloid topic, but it ultimately concluded in 2003.
The public's first glimpse of Jolie and Pitt together occurred in April 2005, just three months after Pitt announced his separation from Aniston following a five-year relationship. The photos captured the couple on a beach in Diani, Kenya, accompanied by Maddox, the son Angelina had adopted in 2002. These images confirmed what had been an open secret, a relationship that was further solidified during their summer travels, which included a visit to Ethiopia where Jolie adopted her second daughter, Zahara Marley.
Official confirmation from the couple arrived in December of that year when Pitt announced his intention to adopt both children. In May 2006, Brad and Angelina celebrated the birth of their first biological daughter, Shiloh Nouvel, born in Namibia, Africa. One year later, they expanded their family by adopting Pax Thien, a Vietnamese boy just over three years old.
Despite already having four children, the family's expansion was not yet complete. On July 12, 2008, they welcomed twins Knox León and Vivienne Marcheline in the picturesque town of Nice, France.
In 2013, the couple endured a period of anguish. Following the passing of Angelina's mother, Marcheline Bertrand, at the age of 56 from ovarian cancer and discovering that her aunt suffered from breast cancer, Jolie made the courageous decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy due to her 87% risk of developing the disease. During this challenging time, Brad Pitt expressed unwavering support for his wife's choice, hailing her and others like her as "totally heroic" and expressing his wish for her to enjoy a long and healthy life with him and their children.
After ten years together, the couple chose to formalize their relationship in 2014 with a secret wedding ceremony on August 23. The event took place at their magnificent French coastal estate, with only 20 guests in attendance. Notably, the veil of Angelina's wedding dress, designed by Versace, featured tender drawings by each of their children.
The couple's exclusives, including photos of their children's births and wedding, were dedicated entirely to charitable causes.
Their journey together continued until this year when, in September, fans and the entertainment world were stunned by the announcement of Angelina Jolie filing for divorce from Brad Pitt, her partner of 12 years. In the divorce papers submitted to the court, she cited "irreconcilable differences" and requested custody of their children.
The drama escalated when news broke that Pitt, aged 52, was under investigation for alleged physical and verbal abuse of his eldest son, Maddox. The incident purportedly occurred during a private plane trip from France to California on September 14.
Adding a twist to the narrative, Pitt was linked to Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, his co-star in the film "Allied," set for release in November. Both Cotillard and her husband, actor and director Guillaume Canet, vehemently denied the rumors.
