Brad Pitt Joked About Beating Kids Like An Abusive Father Before Angelina Jolie Divorce

“Allied” actor Brad Pitt joked about beating his six children during a 2011 interview at Cannes Film Festival. He was promoting his film, “The Tree of Life,” where he plays an abusive father.

“I beat my kids regularly and it seems to do the trick,” Pitt, now 52, said at the time. “And I deprive them of meals.”

After the quip, Pitt revealed he was reluctant to take the role because he knew his children would see the film one day. “I was a little hesitant about playing the oppressive father. I think about everything I do now my kids are going to see when they grow up and how are they going to feel. But they know me as a dad and know I’m not like that. I hope they’ll just think of me as a pretty, damn-good actor,” he said.

Now, he has to fight to see his children. Jolie, 41, filed for divorce Monday and asked the judge to grant her full custody. She requested the judge give Pitt visitation rights.

As detailed in their prenuptial agreement, money isn’t an issue. All of their property was outlined, which makes divvying up the money easy. The issue is going to be custody of Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara 11, Shiloh 10 and twins Vivienne and Knox, 8. Pitt reportedly wants joint custody.

The actor hasn’t see his kids since the divorce filing, Us Weekly wrote in an exclusive report Saturday. “He knows the severity of the allegations and wants to be cleared of abuse before he sees them,” an insider said. “He is confident he will be cleared. The kids are asking to see Brad, so he is hoping to see them next week.”

A second source added, “He's so torn up and shattered, not only because of the divorce but because he hasn't seen the kids and he really wants to. Being apart from them is part of why he's so torn up.”

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