Pitt Allegations 'Won't Capture Same Attention' as Depp Case—Expert Says

The abuse allegations against Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp aren't comparable, a reputation expert has told Newsweek.

The actors' legal battles are being dissected after Pitt's ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, alleged in a court filing earlier this month that the Bullet Train star, 58, was abusive toward her and their six children during a 2016 flight from Paris to Los Angeles.

According to the documents, first obtained by The New York Times, Jolie, 47, alleged that Pitt grabbed her by the head and shook her and then choked one of their kids.

The lawsuit stems from an ongoing battle over Château Miraval, a French winery the couple once owned together and where they exchanged vows.

The former couple got married in August 2014 and share sons Maddox, 21, Pax, 18 and Knox 14, as well as daughters Zahara, 17, Shiloh, 16, and Vivienne, also 14. Jolie filed for divorce in 2016 shortly after the airplane incident.

Pitt's lawyer denied the allegations in a statement following the filing, noting: "Brad has owned everything he's responsible for from day one—unlike the other side—but he's not going to own anything he didn't do."

The Blonde producer was later cleared by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services after being investigated for alleged child abuse.

As for Depp, 59, the Pirates of the Caribbean star filed a defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard for $50 million after she published a 2018 op-ed in the Washington Post, claiming that she was a victim of domestic abuse. Though the Aquaman actress, 36, didn't mention Depp by name, his legal team argued the piece hindered his career. Heard later countersued for $100 million.

The pair wed in February 2015 and split in January 2017.

In June 2022, Depp won the case. The jury awarded the dad of two—who shares kids Lily-Rose Depp, 23, and Jack Depp, 20, with ex Vanessa Paradis—with $15 million in damages, though Heard only had to pay $10.35 million due to Virginia's cap on punitive damages.

Heard—who is a mom to daughter Oonagh Paige Heard, 18 months—meanwhile, was given $2 million for her countersuit.

On an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience earlier this month, host Joe Rogan hinted that Pitt and Jolie's case would be even bigger than Depp and Heard's.

When guest Greg Fitzsimmons said Pitt was the "real deal," Rogan chimed in: "That poor guy! That Angelina Jolie thing. Imagine that trial."

He later added: "You think that Amber Heard trial was wild? Imagine that trial."

Previously, the former Fear Factor host called Heard a "crazy lady" who is "full of s***."

Comparisons have also been swirling on social media.

"Find him more disappointing than Depp tbqh," one person wrote on Twitter, referring to Pitt. "I mean, that I expected more from Pitt, both are horrible dangers."

Another added: "'Thanks' to Amber Heard's false accusations, Angelina now has her work cut out for her," while someone else said: "It makes me want to vomit how abusers like Pitt and Depp keep getting work, while Amber and Angelina get blacklisted."

Other Twitter users pointed out, though, that "allegations" is a "key word" in the cases.

Despite comparisons, reputation expert Eric Schiffer—chairman of L.A.'s Reputation Management Consultants—told Newsweek the two cases are different.

"The comparison of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie with Depp and Heard is because of the star power, but it doesn't equate and won't capture anywhere close to the same attention," he said.

"The Depp case was not a single incident but a series of admitted dysfunctional acts over time that went boom," Schiffer explained. "With Pitt, it was one plane ride he wished he never took."