Los Angles — Brad Pitt on Wednesday
rebutted claims that he had failed to support his children and
accused his estranged wife Angelina Jolie of trying to
manipulate the media in their long drawn-out divorce.
In the latest round of bitter accusations between the
Hollywood power couple once known as Brangelina, Pitt's
attorneys said the actor had paid over $1.3 million in bills for
Jolie and their six children since their 2016 separation.
In documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the
attorneys also said Pitt had loaned Jolie $8 million to help her
buy a new home.
Jolie's attorney responded by saying that Pitt was charging
Jolie interest on the loan for the new house and that the
actress has had to shoulder most of the expenses for the
children alone.
"What has been filed by Brad’s side today is a blatant
attempt to obfuscate the truth and distract from the fact that
he has not fully met his legal obligations to support the
children," attorney Samantha Bley DeJean said in a statement.
Jolie had said in a Tuesday court filing that Pitt had "paid
no meaningful child support" since Jolie filed for divorce in
September 2016.
Pitt's attorneys said that Jolie's claims were "a
thinly-veiled effort to manipulate media coverage."
Pitt and Jolie were married for two years and enjoyed a
10-year romance that had made the pair one of Hollywood's most
glamorous couples. They have six children for whom she is
seeking primary custody.
Pitt and Jolie pose at the premiere of "The Tree of Life" at LACMA in Los Angeles. Picture: Reuters
The "Maleficent" actress said on Tuesday that she wanted to
expedite the divorce and return to single status by the end of
2018.
Pitt's court filing said it was the actor, not Jolie, who
first made the request to speed up the divorce.
The divorce filing, citing irreconcilable differences,
triggered a bitter custody dispute during which Pitt was
investigated and cleared of child abuse. Final custody
arrangements have yet to be agreed.