Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt are suing tabloid over breakup story

Game on! Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are taking legal action against the British tabloid News of the World for its story last month that alleged the couple were working out details of a split.

"The News of the World has failed to meet our clients' reasonable demands for a retraction of and apology for these false and intrusive allegations which have now been widely republished by mainstream news outlets," a lawyer working for the couple in London said in a statement. "We have advised them to bring proceedings, which they have now done."

In a letter cited in that statement, Sorrell Trope, the divorce attorney whose name was mentioned in the NOTW article, denied that he was in touch with the couple.

The Jan. 24 article, which was picked up by the Drudge Report late Jan. 23, the night of the Screen Actors Guild Awards, immediately caused a rip in the celebrity space-time continuum. Then on Jan. 25, the Monday after the Globes, the Ministry of Gossip treated the claims as a total joke, much to the dismay of readers clicking through for hard news.

Hayley Barlow, a spokeswoman for the News of the World, had no comment on the court filing.

Doesn't get much savvier than showing up and smooching at a game that turns out to be the most viewed TV event ever, and then immediately telling your detractors -- in court -- to kiss off.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

[For the record, 7:58 p.m.: A previous version of this post said the Golden Globe Awards were held Jan. 23. In fact, Jan. 23 was the night of the Screen Actors Guild Awards; the Ministry was in fact in the SAG Awards press room when we first heard -- and dismissed -- the NOTW rumor. A thousand pardons for our award-season fumble, and thanks to commenter Theo Kingma for the catch./cdz]

Photo: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive on the red carpet for the premiere of "Inglourious Basterds" in Cannes, France, on May 20, 2009. Credit: Francois Mori / Associated Press

Comments

[Heather]

Why are these two combined in a name like they don't exsist seperately??? Here's an idea.....GET MARRIED or something legal!!!!!!

[Rae]

finally, i am glad they r taking action becuz all this trash needs to stop sumwhere, i mean how many people in the world have ever broken up n moved on to relationships that work n make them happy? to many to count thast how many. So leave this beautiful fam alone already, rolleyes, im soooo sick of hearing bout them in a negative manor,they both r amazing in their goodwill deeds, their family ways, and of course wonderful top grade actors.
i think they sud sue every tabloid that spreads lies n gossip about them, put them suckas out of buisness once n for all-kuddos brad n angie :D
n sooo true terry-trash is trash put it in garbage where it belongs

[guest]

Judging from most of the comments here, it appears the Hollywood publicity machine is alive and well and doing an outstanding job in garnering sympathy votes for the publicity hungry couple. We have absolutely no idea what sort of private life "Brangelina" lead. For the most part, what we see are prearranged "sightings". If anyone doesn't believe me, speak to any paparazzo that's been on the job long enough and see what he will say. Or read a bit on the history of Hollywood and it's machinations.

It is possible to lead a somewhat private life even when one is a public figure. Robert De Niro or Anthony Hopkins for example... They don't capitalize on their personal lives for the benefit of their professional lives. But then, they are a different breed of actor altogether: They are artists.

[Janet]

To Bluejeans: ITA. They should sue every news outlet that picked up that BS rumor and ran with it without checking to source to see if it was creditable. Whatever happened to journalistic integrity? NOWT has a horrible reputation for libel and the news outlets jumped all over that rumor as if it was gospel. I wish they would sue Lyin' Ian Halperin for every dime he's got but a lawsuit would probably help sell more copies of his crappy book, so better just to ignore the creep.

[Deonna]

Leave Brangelina ALONE. They have every right to sue, its not right what the Talboids are doing to them and worse off their Family.

[TheBride]

Good for them.

[Don]

love you Angie!!!

[A.J.]

Well, they have SOME nerve! Everybody knows it's just a matter of time b4 it comes true. (maybe that was 'future-news')

[Tamara]

This message is for Cameron in response to:

"Personally, they lost any right to sue over any press the day they sold their children's photos. The children didn't ask to have this mayhem. The children aren't actors. They are minors in the care of two "adults". They make enough to donate to charities without selling their children's photos."

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie knew the very first photos of her children, especially the one of Shiloh, would fetch millions of dollars (and in deed, it did). That was why they intentionally held out on the interviews and photos to the highest bidder,and turned around and donated every penny from the sale to help poor children of third world countries. You are right - they both make enough to donate enough to charities - and BOTH OF THEM DO, millions at a time. You have to remember that just because someone have the wealth to do so does not automatically make them obligated to donate to charities, and many famous well-known actors and actresses do not. But Brad Pitt and Angelina Jole..ESPECIALLY Angelina Jolie have donated more than enough to charities, and this couple should be someone who we should all admire and look up to. I am glad they are stepping up and suing the ones who are making their false break up rumor into news outlets.

[Jane Ellen]

I'll be suing Brad and Angelina because their names take up valuable space in my computer memory.

[Don]

Brangelina dont look back and that's the only way that you guys can stop those gossips so i 100% agree...

[me]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the News of the World is a tabloid??? If this is the case, why not go after every tabloid that has printed incorrect information, why just sue this one? Do I think Brad and Jen will ever get back together, NO. Do I think this couple has some serious issues, Yes. Do I see a split down the road, Yes! If there is smoke there is fire, and the public display of trying to proof they are in love ( they where never like this before) just shows they are trying to cover up something. Angie has never been to an event like this. Its beneath her. But what better way then when millions are watching...

[N SAmuelas]

When you are in the public eye, people are going to say what they want. If you try to sue everyone that says something not true then you will have to sue everyone, and besides who really cares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jamie]

There is no couple more scrutinized and analyzed than Brad & Angelina. You don't need to look further than the wide coverage the latest gossip received -- by one estimate, there were over 13 million entries in Google after the story hit. Every time they are seen in public, their pictures are splashed on all the magazines. If they are successful in avoiding the paps for a few weeks, tab headlines will immediately scream that they have broken up. It's a no-win situation for them.
I wish to make the following points: First, Angelina and Brad have said that they know every move they make is closely followed so they try to take some of that attention and focus it on issues that need it such as refugees and NOLA. The only other times they interact with the media is when they are promoting their movies -- as all actors are expected to do. They have tried in the past to avoid having to discuss their personal lives during such occasions and this has led to the charges of manipulation. This is why they have been widely described as being secretive. It is one thing if a tabloid can provide hard evidence to back up its story, and quite another to routinely hide behind the First Amendment and quote phantom "insiders" for bogus stories.
As to the sale of pictures of their babies to People, Oprah Winfrey was in the Souith of France at the time Angelina was giving birth and she said to Brad on her show "You guys were hunted like dogs." Brad and Angie knew there was a large bounty for the first pics and elected to pose for pictures and sell them to both satisfy the demand and so that the money can go to a charity rather than a tab or pap. That was their way of taking control of the situation. Would they have rather that no pictures be published? Well, how many pictures of the twins have you seen since?
Suing the tabs was a long overdue move on their part. For too long they have been the go-to subject of the tabs and tab sites when they needed a cover story to sell at the checkout counter or attractive tag lines to generate hits. Obviously, a story with their names and pictures sell very well. Now the tabs will have to find another, easier punching bag to drum up sales. I have noticed that gossip sites have become more careful about rehashing the breakup story since news of the lawsuit came to light. I admire both of them for their professional and humanitarian work, and how they've chose to lead their lives.
Finally, when I do not care for a celebrity, I usually ignore the story completely. I would have to say that people who profess that they do not care for Brad and Angelina and yet not only read the articles but take the time to write a comment must a) have a lot of time in their hands, and b) be masochistic.

[saucelady]

you gotta be kiddin' right? Why just sue this one publication? At the supermarket checkout today, I saw no fewer than 3 magazines blaring headlines about the jolie-pitts breaking up or Brad getting back with Jennifer. Geeez, it' all over the place in multiple rags. Why aren't they suing all of them? Maybe just picking one as a scapegoat and hoping the other ones will retract before they get the court summons too?

[Hugo]

yeah sue 'em.

[Sherri]

Oh please. Where there's smoke, there's fire. They WILL split, the question is when. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, next year. But it is coming. It shows on both their faces.

[Joe Lucky]

Why some people (media) don't want a happy couple? Why tried to put an end to a wonderful family like Brangelina? Can you do what they did to adopt and give life to those children? I can't so i adore the beautiful things that Brad and Angie is trying to do to change the world to the best that they could. Hope that we can see what they have shared and enlighten those who have much to share.

It is a shame that some people have to live at the expense of others. Let's build a responsible and reliable means of print entertainment!

[Maritess R. Diocales]

There's no perfect relationship! The reason why relationship last is one give in to the other. Maybe this is what's going on with Brangelina especially with six kids! So people don't believe what you read until you see it with your eyes!

[Theo Kingma]

Sorry, but the Golden Globes took place on January 17, not the 24th.

[marianne]

to cameron and annie i agree with you 100%...and to margarita maybe you need to be reminded that angelina snatch brad from jen,,,whatever jen said about her is all true...very uncool!!!and for brad he got exactly what he wish for.

[CDZ from the Ministry]

@Theo Kingma -- Christie D'Zurilla here from the Ministry. THANKS so much for the Globes catch. [She hits herself in the forehead, like she could've had a V-8.] I was at an awards show when I heard the rumor, duh, just lost my mind about which one it was.

You'll see the post is now corrected.

Gracias.

/cdz

[sandra iyamu]

enough is enough of Brad and Angelina, Brad need to take control of this situation he started this mess by cheating on his adorable wife for an obessive person who does not care for anyone but herself. Angelina is better of with her type eg billy bob , and its time she let brad be before she traps him with more babies-------------shame on you both for all you've done to d------Jennifer

[christine]

I'm glad they are doing this, it's about time. They are good people. Just leave them alone to be together.

[maj]

i am so disappointed