Drugs, Discipline And The TRUTH About Brad & Angelina’s Parenting
She says he was too strict and has a substance abuse problem.
Banoosh.TV Unless you've been living under a rock the last 24 hours, I'm sure you've heard about the news that rocked the world: Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt.
SAY WHAT?! I KNOW!
It was a shock to me, too.
While most of the internet responded with Jennifer Aniston memes (Come on! Let's not drag her in to this mess, OK?), theories were circulated as to WHY Angelina divorced Brad.
The one reason that everyone seems to be landing on is that Jolie could no longer turn a blind eye to Pitt's parenting style.
Huh? I'm not really sure what that means, either.
Both parties have made statements asking that their privacy be respected during this time. Which of course, is expected.
But sources say Brad is PISSED that Angelina is spreading negativity involving him and the kids; he's allegedly worried that this type of media hype will cause the paparazzi to hound them and the kids.
Speaking of, who are the children? Let's break it down:
Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt, 15, Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt, 12, Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt, 11, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, 10, Knox Léon Jolie-Pitt, 8, Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt, 8
Back in August of 2014, after more than 10 years of being together, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt finally tied the knot; mostly to satisfy their children, who urged them to marry.
However, in an interview with Hello Magazine, Pitt had this to say:
"I was surprised afterwards at the effect that getting married has had on us—it was more than just a ceremony, it meant a real depth of commitment. I feel like a married man—I really do."
A little more than two years later, here we are, watching the divorce unfold in front of our eyes.
Rumors spreading like wildfire say Pitt was the strict one, while Jolie was laid back.
In an interview with OK! Magazine in 2012, Jolie talks about her parenting style:
“I used to be the tougher parent but since the birth of the twins, Brad’s had to play bad cop more often. It also depends on which of the children we’re talking about. I think I’m a little closer to the girls, maybe, but he’s always making them laugh.”
In a similar interview with The Telegraph in 2015, Pitt describes his parenting style:
“I am (the disciplinarian) with the boys. Girls do no wrong, so I don’t have to be. I feel like my job is to show ‘em around, help them find what they want to do with their life, put as many things in front of them, and pull them back when they get out of line, so they know who they are.”
According to Aha! Parenting, strict parenting can actually be detrimental to a child's future. Aha Parenting says:
"Research studies on discipline consistently show that strict, or authoritarian, child-raising actually produces kids with lower self esteem who behave worse than other kids."
Whoa! Maybe Angelina has been brushing up on her parenting studies?
I don't really think there's a WRONG way to parent unless the children are in danger, which brings us to Pitt's alleged use of substances.
It's been speculated that Pitt gets high often, and his weed and alcohol abuse, combined with some anger issues, made Jolie fearful for the kids.
That's kind of scary, if true. Of course, unless you're actually INVOLVED in the marriage, you don't REALLY know what goes on.
Pitt hasn't shied away from admitting his past with marijuana, but claims he stopped to be a good dad. Watch a clip here from Real Time With Bill Maher:
So, what exactly went wrong? For a family that's been together over 10 years, how does it just end? And what exactly are the conditions Jolie is asking in her divorce petition?
Angelina Jolie is asking for sole physical custody, not just joint LEGAL custody.
What the hell does that mean?
Well, the sole physical custody would mean Angelina gets the kids the majority of the time. Allowing for joint legal custody gives Brad Pitt the right to make certain decisions with Jolie on the brood, like education, medical, extracurricular activities, etc.
Jolie asking for sole custody is kind of huge, guys. I mean, she's going to have to prove that the children are better off in her care virtually 100% of the time; she'll have to somehow convince a judge that it's not in the best interest of the children to have Pitt with the kids at least half of the time.
If he is, in fact, a substance abuser, that may be easier than we think. But if Pitt hasn't actually used in front of his children, it'll be harder to prove.
However, family court has one thing on their mind: the welfare of the children.
They don't care if you're an Oscar winner or best friends with Hollywood's elite. Kids come first, as they should.
In California, where the divorce was petitioned, they prefer that the kids have equal time with each parent; Jolie may have a hard time winning her case since Pitt is said to be prepared to fight for joint custody (equal time).
Obviously, something went wrong. Even Jolie's father, actor Jon Voight, had this to say:
The one thing we can all agree on is that this is terribly sad for six children, right? I don't care how much money they have in their bank accounts, watching your parents have a very public split has GOT to be hard on the little ones.
Hopefully, the press gives them the space they need. And even more so, we hope that whatever is finalized, it's in the children's best interest, and not that of their parent's egos.