Since Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt Monday, September 19, she is doing what she can to shield the couple’s six children from the drama, a source tells Us Weekly.
“Angelina is devastated that it has come to this but will do everything in her power to protect her family,” the insider says.
As Us Weekly previously reported, the Oscar-winning actress, 41, shocked the world when she filed divorce documents Monday night, citing irreconcilable differences, after two years of marriage and 12 years together. She is seeking sole physical custody of their six kids, Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 8.
Jolie’s rep released a statement the next morning, saying the divorce “decision was made for the health of the family.”
Since the Maleficent actress’ filing, she has severed communication with Pitt, 52, and “blocked all incoming text messages and also Brad’s number,” a source previously told Us.
As for the Fight Club actor? “He is beside himself and has been crying. He was completely caught off guard and blindsided and had no idea she would do this,” another insider told Us. “Angelina filed the court papers a minute before the courts closed on Monday night. He didn’t have a lawyer or anything.”
The former power couple’s seemingly sudden split came hot on the heels of an alleged altercation that took place aboard a private jet as the family of eight flew from Nice, France, to Burbank, California, September 14. “[Brad] got drunk and was fighting with Angie,” an insider told Us of the incident. “Maddox stepped in to defend Angie and got in Brad’s face.” (Pitt and Jolie spoke with the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services immediately after the plane incident.)
The FBI released a statement Thursday, September 22, saying the agency is gathering facts and will consider whether to investigate the 12 Years a Slave producer for alleged child abuse, although a Pitt source told Us “the abuse suggestions are inaccurate.”
A second insider told Us that Pitt “has cooperated” with the investigation and is taking the allegations “very seriously.”
