Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie Sue Over Split Story

Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie Sue Over Split Story
By Simon Perry and Mary Green

Monday February 08, 2010

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have issued a legal statement asserting that they are not about to split.

The couple's lawyer, Keith Schilling, said Monday that the pair had commenced proceedings against Britain's News of the World for making "false allegations about their relationship" – and said that the reports are not true.

"We can confirm unequivocally ... that the allegations published by the News of the World are false as well as intrusive," said Schilling in a statement.

The U.K. paper had reported that Jolie, 34, and Pitt, 46, had met with a divorce lawyer and were headed for a split.

According to Schilling, Sorrell Trope, who was identified in some media reports as the lawyer representing the couple, submitted a statement saying, "I have had no contact from them ... Angelina Jolie and/or Brad Pitt. I have never met your ... clients or had any involvement with either of them."

When news broke of a possible impending split between the superstar couple, sources close to them told PEOPLE that the story was not true.

On Sunday, Pitt and Jolie publicly showed their affection for each other by kissing, cuddling and cheering when they took son Maddox to the Super Bowl.

News of the World did not immediately return calls for comment.

I'm so glad!

I've heard that the News of the World magazine just moved the article about Brad & Angie split from their web site I hope the two of them get millions & give it to charity..

Atalanta wrote: I hope the two of them get millions & give it to charity..

yes....... of course

Brangelina vs. The Tabloids: No Wonder They're Suing!

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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie turned heads when they unleashed their English barristers on a British tabloid for reporting that the couple had split up. But are they out to fry a bigger fish?

The picture is starting to come into focus now that a common link has surfaced. That tabloids leading the charge on alleged split ups, infidelity, and nervous breakdowns are owned by press baron Rupert Murdoch.

Through his sprawling News Corp., Murdoch owns The New York Post, the Fox Network, the 20th Century Fox movie studio and a string of screaming tabloids around the world, among other media properties.

Apparently he’s the real target and it appears that the Jolie-Pitts are determined to take him down a notch. And now wonder! An analysis by popbitch, an irreverent UK gossip blog, shows the tabs have been ruthless in their liberties with the couple.

The analysis make some sense because Jolie-Pitt have traditionally ignored tabloid reports about their relationship. They certainly don’t need the money they might win, or the headache and time demands of a protracted trial. But Murdoch? Now there’s a worthy target.

Rupe’s London tabloid News of the World has turned stories about Brangelina’s alleged marital discord and bizarre behavior into a cottage industry.

It prompted the suit by reporting that Jolie and Pitt were dividing their estimated $300 million estate and working out custody arrangements for their six children.

The report also contained allegations of knock-down drag-out fights, infidelity on both parts and an increasingly hostile relationship between the two.

All of that added up to “false and intrusive allegations,” according to London-based Lawyer Keith Schillings.

Under English libel law the burden is on the publication to prove its published allegations are true. In the United States, Jolie and Pitt would have to prove the reports were not only false but written with malicious intent — a tough legal standard to meet.

In the United States, rival National Enquirer owned by American Media, Inc. has led the charge. It also owns Star magazine and several fitness publications. But other tabloids have occasionally piled on as well.

American Media also owns gossip Web site Radaronline, which has served up a fair share of unsubstantiated and ultimately questionable reports on celebrities since AMI took it over.

It’s CEO, David J. Pecker is a Rupert Murdoch wannabe.

Over the last few years, the National Enquirer reported that Brad and Angelina had married twice, split 20 times, and that Brad had gone back to Jennifer Aniston, his ex-wife, eight times.

Jen has been reported to have been done with Brad three times, and to be pining for him 16 times. And she’s been pregnant with his baby.

Other reports claimed that Brad refused to have any more kids with Angelina, just five months before their twins were born. He started to turn to drink last January, in March and again after Christmas.

This week’s Enquirer reports that Angelina apparently is taunting Brad about her plans to cheat with Johnny Depp in their new film, which includes some racy scenes.

Meanwhile, Brad and Angelina are still together, and from at least outward signs, such as their recent Super Bowl appearance, they seem quite content together.