Brad Pitt's pal claims Angelina Jolie started 'smear campaign' amid abuse allegations

express.co.uk:

Brad Pitt, 58, has been subject to a smear campaign created by his ex-wife Angelina Jolie, 47, a source close to the actor has claimed.

It comes amid a legal dispute between the two former spouses, where Angelina has claimed negotiations to sell her share of the winery they used to co-own to Brad fell through after he demanded that she sign "a nondisclosure agreement that would have contractually prohibited her from speaking outside of court about Pitt's physical and emotional abuse of her and their children." Angelina and Brad, who were married from 2014 to 2019, have been embroiled in a long custody battle over their six children.They are also in a legal dispute over a vineyard in France they once shared  – with recent court documents by Angelina’s lawyers having included claims of abuse.It has been alleged that Brad was "emotionally and physically abusive" towards Angelina and their children on a private plane on September 14, 2016 - accusations the actor has vehemently denied.According to TMZ, a source close to Brad has claimed Angelina is on a "smear campaign" against him.They also told the outlet that her repeated attempts to portray him as someone who would be abusive towards children have taken an "extreme toll" on their family.

Angelina and Brad share six children together: Maddox, 21, Pax, 18, Zahara, 17, Shiloh, 16, and 14-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.Lawyers representing Angelina have detailed a series of alleged violent incidents, with her claiming Brad was "emotionally and physically abusive" towards her and their children, which resulted in her filing for a divorce.PA obtained documents filed on Wednesday in Los Angeles claiming Brad had "verbally attacked" his now ex-wife and at one point "lunged" at.