Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have finalized their divorce, ending an eight-year legal battle. The couple, once Hollywood’s golden duo, were married for two years after being romantic partners since 2005. Their relationship began shortly after Pitt’s divorce from Jennifer Aniston.

While Jolie and Pitt’s divorce has been in the spotlight for years, a 2005 Vanity Fair interview with Aniston has resurfaced, reigniting conversations about Pitt’s relationship history.

In the interview, Aniston reflected on her only encounter with Jolie in 2004. She recalled greeting Jolie in passing on the Warner Bros. lot. Aniston later admitted she chose to believe Pitt was responsible for the end of their marriage –– not Jolie, who had been linked to Pitt after filming “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”

A tumultuous relationship

Pitt and Jolie’s relationship quickly dominated headlines after they began dating. The pair raised six children and eventually tied the knot in 2014. But their relationship was far from smooth sailing.

In 2016, things took a turn after a reported plane fight between Pitt and one of his children, 15-year-old Maddox. According to Variety, court filings revealed allegations that Pitt choked one child, struck another, and grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her.

An anonymous call to authorities triggered an FBI investigation. Just five days later, Jolie filed for divorce. She dropped the court case in September.

Following the divorce filing, Pitt reportedly spent a year and a half in Alcoholics Anonymous. In a 2017 GQ interview, he revealed he got sober because he didn’t “want to live that way anymore.”

Why the long battle?

The eight-year delay in finalizing their divorce stemmed from various legal disputes, primarily over the six children.

Another major point of contention was their shared winery, Château Miraval. Jolie attempted to sell her stake in 2022, but Pitt halted negotiations by enforcing a non-disclosure agreement. According to court filings, the NDA would have prevented Jolie from speaking publicly about allegations of abuse.

Jolie ultimately sold her half of the winery, allegedly breaking an agreement not to sell without Pitt’s approval. In November, a judge ruled that Pitt must disclose documents that Jolie’s lawyers say prove communications about abuse and alleged lies to authorities.

Paul Murphy, one of Jolie’s attorneys, told People:

“Mr. Pitt has never been held accountable for his actions and has at all times controlled Miraval and the winery, yet he still demands more. She wants this to end, the children want this to end, and Mr. Pitt should focus on healing their family, not pursuing lawsuits.”

While the divorce has been finalized, legal disputes over the winery and other matters remain unresolved. Another lawyer for Jolie described the divorce settlement as just one part of a long, ongoing process.