The Los Angeles Police Department is not investigating Brad Pitt for child abuse, nor has any allegation been made against the actor, Sgt. Barry Montgomery told The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday morning, but the FBI is now evaluating whether they will pursue their own investigation.
In a statement to THR, the FBI stated: “In response to your inquiry regarding allegations within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States; specifically, an aircraft carrying Mr. Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued.”
Multiple outlets were reporting Pitt allegedly was recently verbally and physically abusive toward at least one of his children, and that is among the reasons why Angelina Jolie is seeking a divorce. Police tell THR those reports are not accurate.
“We have no criminal investigation that we are actively pursuing,” Montgomery said. “To my knowledge, [Pitt talking to police] never happened. And right now, that is where our office is. We are not investigating any case, nor do we have any allegations against Mr. Pitt. We understand how rumors get spun up, and hopefully we can put a few of them to rest. We have no investigation involving Mr. Pitt.”
Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services could not confirm nor deny it was involved in an allegation involving Pitt.
“We have very strict confidentially laws that don’t allow us to confirm or deny the subjects of our investigations,” spokeswoman Amara Suarez told THR. She added that the department’s media team did not confirm any investigation reports to any news outlets.
Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt, citing irreconcilable differences. The news was first reported Tuesday morning.
The Hollywood power couple has been married a little more than two years. The Associated Press reported Jolie’s attorney, Robert Offer, said Jolie filed for dissolution of the marriage, with a decision made “for the health of the family.”
Pitt said in a statement to People: “I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well-being of our kids. I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.”
Sept. 22, 8:50 a.m. Updated with a comment from L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services.
Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m. Updated with FBI statement.
