The Miraval Meltdown: Angelina Jolie’s Lawyers Pursued Brad Pitt with Subpoenas at High-Profile Hollywood Events

In a dramatic twist to one of Hollywood’s most enduring and contentious divorces, recent reports have revealed that Angelina Jolie’s legal team made concerted efforts to serve Brad Pitt with a subpoena at high-profile industry events, including the 2022 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. While Pitt, 58, ultimately did not attend the event, his absence likely spared him a public confrontation with process servers intent on delivering legal papers tied to the ongoing dispute over Château Miraval, the former couple’s sprawling French winery.

This incident underscores the bitter nature of the legal battle between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, 47, extending far beyond the initial divorce proceedings into complex business litigation. The attempts to serve Pitt at public gatherings like the SAG Awards and, reportedly, the Oscars, highlight a strategy by Jolie’s legal representatives to compel his cooperation in providing crucial documents related to the sale of her stake in the winery.

The High-Stakes Pursuit: Attempted Subpoena at the SAG Awards

The revelation, initially reported by Page Six, painted a vivid picture of process servers strategically positioned at major Hollywood galas. Their target: Brad Pitt, who was a likely attendee given his prominent career. A source close to Brad Pitt, confirming the reports to HollywoodLife, expressed dismay at the tactic, stating: “Anyone that would deliberately try to serve someone at a high-profile event like this tells you everything you need to know about their negative intentions.” This sentiment reflects the heightened tension and animosity that has characterized the protracted legal sparring between the ex-spouses.

Process servers face a unique challenge when attempting to serve legal documents to high-profile celebrities. These individuals are often surrounded by security and a robust legal team, making direct contact difficult. Therefore, public events where celebrities are expected to appear, such as awards ceremonies, become strategic targets. The servers were reportedly hopeful that the Fight Club star would make an appearance at the SAG Awards, especially considering his previous win in 2020 for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. However, to their chagrin, Pitt did not attend that particular ceremony, thwarting their immediate plans.

Following the unsuccessful attempt at the SAG Awards, the report suggested that Jolie’s legal team had planned a similar strategy for the Academy Awards. This continuous pursuit underscored the urgency and determination with which they sought to obtain the requested documentation. However, before the Oscars could commence, Brad Pitt’s legal counsel intervened, effectively putting an end to the public chase and ensuring the subpoena would be served through more conventional, private channels, thereby avoiding further spectacle.

Understanding the Subpoena: What Angelina’s Legal Team Sought

A subpoena is a legal writ ordering a person to attend a court or other judicial proceeding, or to produce documents or other evidence. In this specific case, Angelina Jolie’s lawyers were not seeking Pitt’s physical presence in court immediately, but rather a subpoena duces tecum, which compels the recipient to produce specified documents. Page Six further elaborated that the legal team sought to compel Brad Pitt to hand over records and correspondence related to the couple’s French winery, Château Miraval.

The specific nature of these requested documents is critical to the ongoing legal dispute. They likely include financial records, business communications, partnership agreements, and any other relevant paperwork that sheds light on the management, valuation, and particularly, the rights concerning the sale of shares in the winery. For Angelina Jolie’s legal strategy, obtaining these documents is essential to substantiate her position regarding her right to sell her stake and to challenge Brad Pitt’s subsequent legal actions.

The Heart of the Dispute: Château Miraval and Its Contentious Ownership

The Château Miraval estate in Correns, France, holds immense significance in the former couple’s narrative. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie purchased a controlling stake in the property in 2008 for an estimated $28 million. Beyond its considerable financial value as a successful wine producer, Miraval was also the intimate setting for their wedding in August 2014, two years before their separation. It was a joint venture, a passion project that they intended to pass on to their children, symbolizing a shared future that has now dissolved into legal contention.

The legal saga concerning Miraval intensified when Angelina Jolie sold her 50% stake in the winery to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of Stoli Group, a massive liquor firm owned by Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler, in October 2021. Jolie’s team has stated that she made the sale after her divorce settlement with Pitt, claiming she had no obligation to seek his permission. Brad Pitt, however, vehemently disputes this. His lawsuit, filed in February 2022, alleges that Jolie breached an understanding that neither would sell their interest in the property without the other’s consent. Pitt claims that Jolie purposefully orchestrated the sale to an outside party without his knowledge or approval, effectively violating his “right of first refusal” and causing him significant financial and reputational damage.

Pitt’s legal arguments center on the premise that Miraval was more than just a financial investment; it was a carefully cultivated legacy to which he had dedicated substantial effort and resources. He asserts that Jolie’s sale sought to deliberately undermine his involvement in the business and sever his ties to a project he deeply valued. The contentious point of whether she was legally entitled to sell her shares without first offering them to him forms the crux of the current dispute. The legal battles have seen various rulings, including one where a judge recently ruled that Brad Pitt and his business partners must turn over the requested papers to Jolie’s legal team. This was seen as a significant win for Jolie, though it is widely anticipated that Pitt’s legal team may appeal the decision, prolonging the Miraval controversy even further.

The Broader Context: A Divorce Saga Plagued by Legal Battles

The Miraval winery dispute is but one facet of the complex and often acrimonious legal battles that have engulfed Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie since their separation in September 2016. Their initial divorce filing quickly evolved into protracted disputes over child custody, which have seen a revolving door of judges and appeals. The intensity of the Miraval legal skirmish mirrors the overall tenor of their post-divorce relationship, characterized by high stakes, celebrity lawyers, and relentless media scrutiny. Each legal victory or setback, no matter how minor, is dissected by the public and often interpreted as a continuation of their personal animosity.

This ongoing legal entanglement over assets acquired during their marriage, particularly one with such personal history as Miraval, highlights the profound difficulties of disentangling two powerful and wealthy individuals. The emotional toll on both parties, as well as their six children, whom they share together, is undeniable, making headlines for celebrity legal woes a constant feature of their lives.

Public Scrutiny and Media Frenzy

The public nature of these legal battles, especially attempts to serve subpoenas at events like the SAG Awards, invariably attracts intense media attention. Every development becomes fodder for tabloids and entertainment news outlets, further amplifying the drama. While both actors are accustomed to life in the public eye, the specific nature of their legal disputes — involving allegations of negative intentions and breaches of trust — often leads to public speculation and judgment, impacting their respective public images.

The media’s role in documenting these events, from the initial reports of the attempted subpoena to updates on court rulings, keeps the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie legal feud in the spotlight. This sustained scrutiny ensures that every move by either legal team is scrutinized, adding another layer of complexity to an already intricate legal landscape.

In light of these developments, HollywoodLife reached out to representatives for both Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for comment, but did not receive immediate responses. As the legal wrangling over Château Miraval and other aspects of their divorce continues, it remains evident that the saga of one of Hollywood’s most iconic couples is far from its conclusion, promising further chapters in their ongoing courtroom drama.