UPDATED 09/22/16 2:50 p.m. ET: Brad Pitt is not being investigated by the LAPD and L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services for child abuse, despite previous reports claiming otherwise.
According to sources who spoke with TMZ, the investigation started last Wednesday after Pitt allegedly got intoxicated on a private plane during a flight with his wife Angelina Jolie and the couple’s six kids and became verbally and physically abusive towards them. Sources told TMZ that Pitt screamed at the children on the flight and continued yelling once the flight landed. He also reportedly attempted to get into a fuel truck that was parked on the tarmac of the airport that the family landed at and tried to leave before someone stopped him. TMZ reports it was at that point someone who was either on the plane with Pitt and Jolie or on the tarmac called the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services to report what was going on.
Since the investigation started, Pitt and Jolie have both reportedly been interviewed by the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services about what took place on the flight. The couple’s kids are scheduled to be interviewed as well. TMZ did not report on the specifics of the alleged abuse, but they did note that the incident took place just days before Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt.
TMZ spoke with a source close to Pitt who denied the allegations that have been made against the actor. "He takes the matter very seriously and says he did not commit any abuse of his children," the source said. "It’s unfortunate that people involved are continuing to present him in the worst possible light."
Pitt and Jolie have six children together: Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 8. Jolie filed for divorce on Monday.
Sgt. Barry Montgomery later clarified to the Hollywood Reporter that, despite reports, no such investigation was currently in progress. "We understand how rumors get spun up and hopefully we can put a few of them to rest," Sgt. Montgomery said Thursday. "We have no investigation involving Mr. Pitt." In fact, Sgt. Montgomery noted that Pitt has not spoken with police at all and no allegations against him currently exist.
A separate report from TMZ, also released Thursday, claimed that the allegations in question have been referred to the FBI. According to their sources, the initial alleged report was deemed out of the LAPD's jurisdiction and thus placed with the FBI. These sources also claim that a "new case" with the LAPD could be opened, noting that additional interviews are expected to take place.
"[Pitt] was never physically abusive to her or the kids," a separate source toldPage Six Thursday afternoon. "He did yell at one of their children on the plane during an argument, but he didn’t hit the child. Brad is denying claims of inappropriate behavior." Any allegations of abuse, the source claimed, are being used to "take the kids away from him."
