Police deny Brad Pitt probed for alleged child abuse

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie arrive in Tokyo on July 28, 2013, with their children Pax, Shiloh and Knox. PHOTO: EPA

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - The Los Angeles Police Department denied on Thursday (Sept 22) reports that Brad Pitt was under investigation for child abuse and said authorities had received no such allegations against the actor.

"We have no report in our record for any filings for Brad Pitt, we are not having any investigations regarding Brad Pitt," police spokesman Lorenzo Quezada told AFP.

The LA County Department of Children and Family Services also denied that it had confirmed to any media outlets the allegations against Pitt.

"Contrary to what's been published in several places, this office has not told anyone or confirmed that we are involved with any specific client as reported elsewhere," spokesman Neil Zanville said.

He said his office was legally prohibited from discussing any ongoing investigations regarding any clients, celebrity or otherwise.

Several media outlets on Tuesday reported that Pitt had been verbally and physically abusive to at least one of his six children during an angry outburst that contributed to Angelina Jolie seeking a divorce.

According to the celebrity website TMZ, Los Angeles police began probing Pitt based on an anonymous tip received by the Department of Children and Family Services, as is systematic following any report of child abuse.

The report came days after 41-year-old Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt, 52, citing irreconcilable differences and seeking custody of their kids.

The source reportedly told authorities that Pitt began screaming and "getting physical" with his children on a private jet, possibly under the influence, and then continued ranting after the plane landed.

The split between two of the world's biggest stars spells the end of "Brangelina," one of Hollywood's highest-profile celebrity couples.

The A-listers wed in France in August two years ago, but have been a couple since 2004. They have three biological and three adopted children together.

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