Brad Pitt is ‘delighted’ with custody win over Angelina Jolie but is still ‘on guard’ against her further legal attacks
BRAD Pitt is “delighted’ to have won joint custody of his kids in his bitter legal battle with ex Angelina Jolie – but is not “resting on his laurels yet,” a source told The Sun.
The drawn-out divorce and custody battle has been “hell on earth” for Brad, and he is “on guard” against any further legal attacks from his ex, the insider added.
The Fight Club star won a major victory over Angelina on Wednesday, with a judge in Los Angeles dismissing her claims about his behavior and granting him joint custody of their five younger children.
“This whole experience for Brad has been hell on earth from beginning to end, and he’s not resting on his laurels just yet,” he said.
“He knows Angelina will continue to fight him with everything she’s got, not just by appealing the judge’s ruling, but pulling out every other dirty trick she can think of to make him look like the bad guy, and her the victim.
“So he is on guard and still talking to his lawyers about strategy, while waiting for those extra visits with the kids where he’ll get to spend that precious extra time with them.
“Needless to say he’s delighted about the overall verdict though, and can’t wait to make up for lost time with the kids.”
Angelina and Brad share six children -Maddox, 19, Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 14 and twins Vivienne and Knox, 12.
“Brad has a lot of exciting stuff he wants to plan, like visits to see his family in the Missouri and trips with the kids to his beach house near Santa Barbara,” the source said.
“He’s excited to have a July 4 celebration with them and hopes to take them abroad on a big summer vacation when it’s safe to travel.
“Until now it’s been difficult to have extended time away with the kids because Angie needed them back at her place at the earliest opportunity.
“Now though, Brad will be able to enjoy a lot more quality time with them and more weekends and overnights.
“There will be sensitivities and some awkwardness to adapt to as they figure out a new routine, he accepts that, and it saddens him that Maddox has no interest in seeing him out of loyalty to his mom.
“Brad has an extremely close bond with Shiloh and the twins though, and he hopes to spend more time with Zahara now, as well as Pax if he’s open to it.”
Brad and Angelina have been at war since filing for divorce in 2016.
There were allegations Brad, 57, had been abusive to their son Maddox, then 15, on a private jet flight from France to the US — although no charges were ever bought.
Judge John Ouderkirk did not believe such claims, and said custody of their children should be split equally.
In a lengthy ruling, the judge said Angelina’s testimony “lacked credibility in many important areas.”
The case has seen months of witness testimony, including from experts who interviewed the children, plus from therapists and others around the family.
Brad is now determined not to do anything that will cause any more drama – and does hope that he and Angelina can be civil with each other at some point in the future, the source said.
“He will continue to keep his side of the street clean, by not trashing Angelina or getting drawn into this toxic war he maintains she’s perpetuated,” the insider said.
“From Brad’s point of view all he can do is rise above it and watch his back, since the hatred she has towards him is clearly very real and unlikely to change.
“Brad is resigned to that, and while he hopes over time they can at least find a way to be cordial he’s certainly not counting on it being amicable between them any time soon if ever.
The Oscar-winning actor is also planning to step into the dating arena again soon after keeping his love life tightly under wraps while legal proceedings were ongoing, the source claimed.
“He is also planning to date again, since he decided a long time ago that he would not be getting serious with anyone or even be seen with other women while the case was ongoing. It was the same for Angie, who also decided to put her dating life on hold.
“There was this perception, rightly or wrongly, that it might not look good to a judge if they were in another romance.
“So both of them independently put their love life on the backburner, at least publicly, until the case was concluded.”
It is understood Angelina is furious that the judge refused to hear directly from the children during proceedings, saying in legal papers on Monday the judge had “refused to hear the minor teenagers’ input as to their experiences, needs, or wishes as to their custody fate.”
A source told Page Six, “Joint custody is not the issue that Angelina objects to, there were other issues of concern, but the court proceedings are closed and sealed.”
Angelina is also hoping to have the judge removed from the case.
“Judge Ouderkirk denied Ms. Jolie a fair trial, improperly excluding her evidence relevant to the children’s health, safety, and welfare, evidence critical to making her case,” according to the filing in California’s Second District Court of Appeal.
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If they rule in Angelina’s favor, Judge Ouderkirk’s ruling may be tossed out.
Angelina’s attorney’s took the bid to the appellate court, who have still not made a decision.
The Sun reached out to reps for Brad and Angelina for comment.