Actor Brad Pitt is seeking to clear his name against alleged child abuse claims.
People magazine recently reported that Pitt had voluntarily submitted to a drug test for the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) as part of a child abuse investigation, which is standard procedure.
It was reported that Pitt took the test within days of the alleged incident on Sept. 14, when an inebriated Pitt is said to have physically and verbally attacked one of his sons while on board a private jet. The alleged incident was anonymously reported to the L.A. County DCFS.
The case was initially thought to be under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, but was taken over by the FBI, which has jurisdiction over mid-flight incidents. The FBI stated it was gathering facts to decide if it will proceed with an investigation of Pitt.
Pitt has maintained his innocence, with an unnamed source close to the actor vouching for him.
“He takes the matter very seriously and says he did not commit any abuse of his children. It’s unfortunate that people involved are continuing to present him in the worst possible light,” the source said.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have both said their six children remain their top priority.
“I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well-being of our kids,” Pitt said in a statement to People magazine. “I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.”
Pitt and Jolie met on the set of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” in 2005, and were together for a decade before they married in a private ceremony in 2014. The high profile marriage came to an end when Jolie filed for divorce on Sept. 19, citing irreconcilable differences. She has petitioned the court for sole custody of the couple’s children, with visitation rights for Pitt.
