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Brad Pitt Had Typical "Disagreements" With Teenage Sons, But "There Is No Abuse"

Source tells E! News exclusively Angelina Jolie "has a totally different approach to parenting," but she and Pitt both "love the kids more than anything in the world"

By Rebecca Macatee, Melanie Bromley Sep 22, 2016 6:51 PMTags
Brad PittJeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Brad Pitt is being questioned by the Department of Children and Family Services in Los Angeles County about allegations that he was involved in an incident with a child aboard a private plane flying from Europe to L.A., NBC News reports.

TMZ and People were first to report that Pitt was under investigation for the incident aboard the private plane, which allegedly took place Sept. 14. Angelina Jolie separated from Pitt the following day (Sept. 15), according to court documents obtained by E! News. She filed for divorce Sept. 19.

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We do not know the specifics of the incident that allegedly occurred aboard the private plane in September. A source exclusively tells E! News, however, "This comes down to the kind of disagreements that sometimes occur between teenage boys and their father. This is where the situation has spiraled from. And Angelina as a mother can be very protective."

"It was a typical argument between parents and kids," says a source. "Things got heated but they were never in physical danger." 

Ultimately, though, the source tells E! News Pitt and Jolie are "both great parents" to 15-year-old son Maddox, 12-year-old son Pax (who turns 13 on Nov. 29) , 11-year-old daughter Zahara, 10-year-old daughter Shiloh and 8-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox.

"There is no abuse," says the insider. "They both love the kids more than anything else in the world. Maddox and Pax are very protective of their mother and they are both growing up and developing their own personalities. And while sometimes there is screaming and yelling and they can all get boisterous, there is no huge problems here. Brad's relationship with the older boys is great, but from time to time they have their differences, which is very normal for fathers with teenage boys."

Jolie "has a totally different approach to parenting," adds the source. "She has a calmness about her no matter what screaming and yelling and playing might be going on around her. But Brad can sometimes react differently. And it can be difficult to discipline children, especially teenagers."

"Ultimately, they both love the kids," says the source. "From time to time, Brad and Angelina see things from different perspectives when it comes to how to handle issues that may come up with them. And sometimes things can get out of hand."

"A growing family is a process," notes the source, "and sometimes the family can have disagreements."

As for the future of Brangelina? "Brad and Angelina are both level headed and intelligent and in agreement that they want to work this out amicably and with the children in mind." an insider tells E! News exclusively. "They are talking. They are trying to work this out."