In the weeks after Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, the actor was reportedly not permitted to see his six kids.
Though perhaps extreme, the freeze-out from Angie wasn’t terribly surprising, as Brad was investigated for child abuse in the days following the couple’s separation.
Insiders say Pitt was involved in some sort of confrontation with his 15-year-old son Maddox aboard a private jet last month.
Details have been scarce, but whatever happened, the incident was bad enough that Jolie moved out on Brad immediately afterward and Maddox is still angry with his father.
Earlier this month, after a separation period of 19 days, Pitt visited his kids at a Los Angeles-area home that Pitt once shared with Jolie.
Determined to send the message to all parties involved (and possibly a family court judge) that he has the best of intentions, Pitt waited patiently as the kids attended several therapy sessions designed to emotionally prepare them for the supervised visit.
“He and Angie agreed on steps that needed to be completed,” says a source.
“He wanted to wait until the timing was best.”
Unfortunately for Brad, it seems not all of the kids were ready for a reunion.
According to Us Weekly, Maddox opted out of the visit with his mother’s full blessing.
“He chose not to go and stayed with Angie,” says one insider.
The source adds that the reunion did not go as well as Pitt had hoped:
“It wasn’t full of joy and happiness,” the family friend says.
Sources indicate that the bad blood between Brad and Maddox dates back well beyond the now-notorious plane incident.
Jolie adopted Maddox two years before she became romantically involved with Pitt, and sources close to the family say that he stil regards Brad as more of a stepfather figure.
“Maddox is very close with Angie,” the insider says.
“He doesn’t really see himself as Brad’s son.”
Another insider is even more blunt about the damaged relationship between Maddox and Brad:
“Maddox never wants to see Brad again,” a source tells Us.
As for Jolie, those closest to the actress insist that she’s doing everything in her power to foster a healthy relationship between Brad and the kids.
Thus far, however, it doesn’t seem to be working.
Currently, there are reportedly no further plans for Brad to spend time with his kids.
“No other visitations have been scheduled,” says one insider.