Despite earlier reports by TMZ that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's divorce and child custody fight had hit such intensity and viciousness that her lawyer is preparing to quit, a People magazine source is now saying that the divorce is rather "entering a new phase" and that Jolie's legal counsel, Laura Wasser, is staying by her side.
Jolie's spokesperson, Mindy Nyby, told People she has "spoken directly to Laura" and that "the TMZ story is not true." Added the rep, "She's not quitting now or in the future."
However, insiders with knowledge of the situation are telling TMZ that "Angelina has been out for blood," with one source close to Pitt adding that Jolie wants to destroy any relationship the actor has with his kids.
TMZ is also reporting that there has been a lot of shouting on the "Maleficent" star's part. As one source explains, "She's fueled with anger and has gotten ridiculously unreasonable."
Yet, a source close to the divorce proceedings, tells People that "the characterization of problems between Laura and Angie is not true."
And the People insider counters, saying that "someone is misinterpreting bringing in the experts, which is common at this point in the case," adding, "It's entering a new phase."
Jolie and Pitt met on the set of 2005 action thriller "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" and went public a few years later. The couple was married in 2014 but separated in 2016 due to irreconcilable differences.
They share custody of their six children, Maddox, 16, Pax, 14, Zahara, 13, Shiloh, 12, and 10-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox — although this has been an ongoing issue.
Back in June when they couldn't come to an agreement privately, a judge created a schedule for Pitt to be with the kids, save Maddox, who is legally old enough now to decide which parent with whom he wants to reside.
Jolie has "tried to bridge the gap between the kids and their dad," the People source continues. "She's worked to achieve reinstatement for them. But it's now between Pitt, his kids, and the court. The court will determine things."
Jolie and the kids are in London right now as she films "Maleficent 2," however, their home is in Los Angeles, where Pitt, who is also in London filming Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," lives too.