In the latest twist in the ongoing saga of the Brangelina breakup, Brad Pitt is reportedly under investigation for child abuse.
Hollywood gossip site TMZ.com initially broke the story, reporting early Thursday morning that the actor was “under investigation by the LAPD and L.A. County Dept. of Children and Family Services for allegedly getting verbally abusive and physical with his children, and that’s what triggered the divorce.”
But USA Today reported Thursday that an LAPD spokeswoman denied that there’s an investigation while a Family Services spokesman said that by law the agency could neither confirm or deny an investigation was underway.
People magazine reported Thursday that an unnamed source familiar with the case can confirm a Family Services investigation is underway, and that it stems from an incident in which an inebriated Mr. Pitt allegedly got “physical” with at least one of his children when aboard the couple’s private plane.
As People noted, Ms. Jolie’s divorce filing earlier this week requested sole custody of the couple’s children.
Since the divorce announcement, Mr. Pitt has been the subject of various rumors as the cause of the split, including that he cheated on Ms. Jolie with Marion Cotillard, a French actress with whom he co-stars in the forthcoming movie “Allied,” which hits theaters on Nov. 23. Ms. Cotillard has denied the rumor that the two have been romantically involved.
• Ken Shepherd can be reached at kshepherd@washingtontimes.com.
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