Summary: Scarlett Johansson and Romain Dauriac are not the only celebrity couple to war over their offspring in family court.
Divorces are messy, and when kids are involved, the fights can be brutal. This is no exception for celebrities, whose fame and money can’t shield them from their own drama and media scrutiny.
The following five former couples have engaged in some of the nastiest custody brawls in recent history. Are there any that we also should have included? Let us know in the comments below.
Scarlett Johansson and Romain Dauriac
Earlier this month, Scarlett Johansson filed for divorce from her estranged husband, French-born businessman Romain Dauriac. The two were married for two years and had one child, a daughter named Rose. Their custody battle stems from Dauriac wanting to raise their daughter in a traditional household in France, while Johansson wants Rose to reside with her.
When battling for custody, Dauriac argued that Johansson was unfit to be a mother because her busy schedule makes it difficult for her to provide a stable home for Rose. For instance, The Avengers actress shot this year’s release Ghost in the Shell in New Zealand, and her bustling career has her trotting all over the world.
The good-looking pair’s custodial conflict is still ongoing.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Angelina Jolie shocked fans when she filed for divorce from her handsome husband, Brad Pitt. The two had been together for over 10 years since they famously connected on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Pitt had been married to Jennifer Aniston at the time, and after those two subsequently divorced, Pitt immediately entered a relationship with sultry Jolie. Pitt adopted her sons, Maddox and Pax. The couple had three children of their own and adopted one more. They married in 2o14.
After Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016, it was discovered that Pitt was under investigation for child abuse, following a drunken incident on a private plane. He was cleared of charges, and in November, it was reported that the two had signed an agreement that Jolie would have full custody and Pitt would have visitation rights.
The pair’s divorce is still ongoing, and despite the November agreement, there was a rumor last Christmas that Jolie was furious her famous ex got to spend time with their six kids. However, this week, E! Online reported that Jolie and Pitt vacationed with their children, sparking whispers that they may reconcile.
Paula Patton and Robin Thicke
In March of 2015, actress Paula Patton and Blurred Lines singer Robin Thicke divorced after 10 years of marriage, and they are currently in a custody dispute for their son, Julian. In January of this year, Patton was granted a restraining order against her unlikeable husband, who is under investigation for allegedly beating their son. Thicke has denied any child abuse and said that although he does spank his child, he does it in a legal way.
In February, Patton’s legal team accused Thicke of tampering with a court order, and they said that he had tried to get her arrested in front of Julian.
The messy case is still pending in the Los Angeles court system.
Kate Gosselin and Jon Gosselin
Jon Gosselin recently made headlines because he had agreed to perform as a stripper for one night in Atlantic City. Since his reality show “Jon & Kate Plus 8” ended, the father of eight’s image has gone downhill, and when he and his wife Kate divorced in December 2009, she obtained primary legal custody.
It was reported in June of 2016 that Jon was allowed a weekly dinner with his kids and weekend sleepovers as part of the custody agreement. However, he was only allowed to see four out of eight of them at a time, and he wasn’t allowed to choose which child he could see. Months later, however, he told PEOPLE that he and Kate share joint physical custody.
Oksana Grigorieva and Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson famously fell from grace when he was arrested for drunk driving in 2006 and was caught on tape saying sexist and racist remarks. Years later, he entered a relationship with musician Oksana Grigorieva and unfortunately, his nastiness was still intact. After one year of dating, the couple broke up, and tapes of Gibson verbally assaulting her was released. She also accused him of assault, and he pled no contest and was sentenced to three years of probation.
Although not married, the couple fought in family court over their daughter Lucia, who was a baby at the time. In September 2016, joint custody was granted after Gibson successfully argued that he was verbally abusive to Grigorieva only to rescue Lucia from Grigorieva’s own violent behavior.