Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s legal battle over their co-owned French winery, Miraval, has taken a dramatic turn with new accusations of abuse.

A motion filed by Jolie’s lawyers on Thursday, April 5, 2024, alleges a “history of physical abuse of Jolie” by Pitt, predating their infamous plane altercation in 2016. The filing claims this alleged abuse is why Pitt insisted on a broad non-disclosure agreement (NDA) during negotiations for Jolie to sell her stake in the winery.

This counters Pitt’s 2022 lawsuit, which argued that Jolie’s sale of her shares was spiteful after a custody ruling. Jolie claims she was willing to sign an NDA limited to the winery’s business, but refused Pitt’s broader NDA which would have restricted her from speaking publicly about the alleged abuse.

The filing states Jolie will present evidence to support her claims, including “testimony, emails, photographs, and other evidence.” Jolie previously did not press charges after the 2016 incident, hoping for Pitt to “accept responsibility” for the family’s well-being.

Pitt’s representatives have denied these new allegations, maintaining his stance of accepting responsibility for past actions but not for “things he didn’t do.”

This bitter legal battle adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing custody arrangements and the winery dispute. Jolie’s filing expresses a desire for healing and avoiding further trauma for their children, while also seeking to hold Pitt accountable for his alleged actions.

Both parties have ongoing legal representation, and the winery dispute is expected to continue.