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In just a matter of weeks, Vivienne and Knox Jolie-Pitt will celebrate a significant milestone as they turn 18.
However, beyond the typical birthday festivities, their milestone on July 12th carries deeper significance — it symbolizes the conclusion of a decade-long legal struggle between their famous parents, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, and marks the definitive end of the era of “Brangelina.”
These Hollywood titans have been entangled in legal battles since September 2016, when Jolie initiated divorce proceedings against Pitt after two years of marriage, citing distress caused by the “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” star.
For several years, the two were locked in an exhaustive custody dispute over their six children, including Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, and Zahara, amidst the emotional turmoil.
Meanwhile, Knox was recently spotted in Los Angeles, showcasing a vibrant red hairstyle as he departed from a Muay Thai session, a martial art he has diligently practiced for years, even participating in competitions.
“The children, who are now adults who make their own decisions, were not only affected by what happened on that plane 10 years ago, but what has happened since — [Pitt] continuing to cover up and minimize his own behavior,” the family insider said. “This has had the biggest impact on his relationships with the children. When will people start asking real questions about what happened to the kids?”
As Page Six has previously reported, Pitt was given joint custody of his children back in 2021. However, Jolie’s lawyers successfully argued to disqualify John Ouderkirk, the private judge the couple had hired to oversee the custody fight, over undisclosed business dealings with Pitt’s attorneys.
“A judge actually looked at the facts. He had a 168-page decision that gave them 50/50 custody that was based on testimony from people who lived with them, dealt with them on a regular basis, therapists and all sorts of people, including the kids themselves and what they had said,” said the source in the know.
“It was a fair conclusion, it allowed both parents to be in a situation of raising the kids, which is best for the children,” the source added, but an “atrocious” decision was made of procedural issues. “It had an influence on the kids, because the likelihood of going through that whole thing again was extremely low.”
In 2024, sources alleged to People that Pitt’s lawyers were using the fight over their Château Miraval winery to “punish” her for leaving him. Her attorneys alleged Pitt’s demands — including attempting to force her to turn over a tranche of private emails and the disclosure of past agreements — were abusive tactics designed to drag out the case, drain her resources and hide his own alleged misconduct.
To this, a Pitt insider hit back, telling the outlet, “They are the ones who were greatly enriched from violating the parties’ agreement in selling the business.”
In May, Page Six reported Jolie had a big win when a Los Angeles Superior Court judge decided not to force her to disclose private correspondence tied to the sale of her stake in the French winery.
While Pitt has been dating girlfriend Ines de Ramon since 2022, Jolie has reportedly only had dalliances including with singer The Weeknd.
She reportedly plans to move away from LA now that her kids are grown and has put her sprawling Los Feliz home up for sale for nearly $30 million. “The Eternals” star “never wanted to live in L.A. full-time,” a source previously told People. “She didn’t have a choice because of the custody arrangement with Brad.”
The actress encourages all of her children to embrace their full individuality, a source told People, adding that raising her kids and being a mom “makes her the happiest.”
“She’s the kind of mom who genuinely wants to be present for the important moments in their lives, and the kids love her,” the insider adds. “They often tell her she’s the best mom, and it makes her tear up. Motherhood is very emotional for her. It makes her the happiest.”
Pitt, meanwhile, continues to face the reality of strained relationships with his kids. “No man or woman should have to go through this,” said the source in the know.