Brad and Angelina to sue

The couple has begun legal action over the split rumours...

19:52 08 February 2010

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have begun legal action against the News of the World after it falsely reported the Hollywood superstars had split.

The pair's lawyer, Keith Schilling, confirmed that the couple were still together and had commenced proceedings against the paper.

The News of the World ran a story in January alleging that the couple had visited a divorce lawyer at the end of 2009 and had agreed to divide up their £205m fortune and custody of their six children.

However, the pair have firmly denied this. Schilling said in a statement "We can confirm unequivocally ... that the allegations published by the News of the World are false as well as intrusive."

Regarding the court action, Schilling said: "The News of the World has failed to meet our clients' reasonable demands for a retraction and apology for these false and intrusive allegations which have now been widely republished by mainstream news outlets. We have advised them to bring proceedings, which they have now done."

Pitt and Jolie commenced action through Schillings in the high court in London against News Group Newspapers which publishes the News of the World.

The acting couple have three adopted children – Maddox, eight, Pax, six, and Zahara, five – and three biological children – Shiloh, three, and 17-month-old twins Knox and Vivienne.