UPDATE: The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services has told The Hollywood Reporter that it could not confirm or deny allegations it was investigating Pitt.
However, news station KTLA says it can confirm that DCFS is investigating the actor. People magazine also confirmed it, quoting DCFS as saying the investigation is “absolutely ongoing.”
The Los Angeles Police Department is not investigating Pitt in the matter, contrary to earlier reports.
ORIGINAL STORY: Fresh on the heels of the Angelina Jolie–Brad Pitt divorce news, Pitt is now under investigation for child abuse after an alleged incident on the couple’s private plane.
Multiple sources are reporting that Pitt allegedly got “verbally abusive” and “physical” with one of his six children. Jolie and at least some of the other kids were present when the incident allegedly took place.
WATCH: George Clooney reacts to news of Angelina Jolie-Brad Pitt divorce
The abuse was reported by someone on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport, and the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services is looking into the matter.
The report seems to indicate that Pitt had been drinking at the time. It’s not clear if he was inebriated, but TMZ reports that he continued to rant on the tarmac and even tried to drive away on one of the fuel trucks nearby.
People magazine quotes a source who says that Pitt is co-operating with the investigation.
“He takes the matter very seriously and says he did not commit any abuse of his children,” says the source. “It’s unfortunate that people involved are continuing to present him in the worst possible light.”
Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences. In her filing, she said she was ending the marriage due to Pitt’s “parenting of the children.” She was reportedly “extremely upset” with his methods.
She has asked for physical custody of their six kids — Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 8 — and didn’t ask for spousal support. She does not want Pitt to have joint physical custody, only joint legal custody — the difference being only one parent has both physical and legal custody of the child: in this case, Jolie.
READ MORE: Angelina Jolie files for divorce from Brad Pitt
Pitt released a statement after learning about the divorce filing.
“I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well-being of our kids,” he said. “I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.”
In a statement by Jolie’s divorce lawyer, Laura Wasser, she made it clear that the actress did this for her children.
“This decision was made for the health of the family,” she said.
The couple has been together since 2004, and were just officially married in 2014.
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