Hollywood actors Brad Pitt (62) and Angelina Jolie (50) are embroiled in an escalating legal battle over their French winery "Château Miraval." Pitt has stepped up pressure by seeking to bring the Russian tycoon who was Jolie's partner in selling her equity to court.
According to court documents obtained by foreign outlets including the Daily Mail on the 17th (local time), Pitt's side requested that Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler be compelled to give remote testimony (deposition) before the court.
The case dates back to 2021. At that time, Jolie sold half of her equity in Château Miraval, which she co-owned with Pitt, to the Stoli group owned by Yuri Shefler for $67 million (about 89 billion won) without Pitt's consent.
Pitt's side sued Jolie, arguing that "they agreed not to sell equity without the other party's consent." In the filing, Pitt says Shefler has indicated he will refuse to testify, but "there is evidence that Jolie and Shefler communicated directly and coordinated the transaction," and he strongly argues that Shefler must be examined in person to verify related information.
Pitt gained momentum after securing a significant victory from the court the day before his 62nd birthday in December last year. The court ordered Jolie to produce all 22 emails and text messages with associates related to the equity sale.
Pitt's attorney criticized that "Jolie is abusing privilege to hide key documents," while Jolie's side said it was "an extension of Pitt's attempts to harass and control Jolie" and said it would immediately appeal.
Behind the legal battle of the glamorous top-star couple lies deep family conflict. In recent court papers, Jolie lamented that "at the time of the 2016 divorce I gave up the house and control of the winery without compensation to calm Pitt," and "my children and I have not set foot there again because of the trauma."
Currently, all six of their children, including Maddox (24), Pax (22), Zahara (20), and Shiloh (19), are reported to be on Jolie's side. In particular, most of the children have been removing the name "Pitt" from their own names, distancing themselves from their father, which adds to the poignancy.
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