Angelina Jolie has surprisingly faced a wave of online abuse. Her recent photoshoot for TIME France is now being viewed as an attempt to win a legal war against her ex-husband, Brad Pitt.

Jolie underwent a preventive double mastectomy in 2013 after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation. With her recent photoshoot, she chose to promote breast cancer awareness. She also highlighted the effects of her life-saving surgery. 

The Oscar-winning actress opened up about why she decided to reveal her scars. In an impactful interview, she revealed, “I share these scars with many women I love. And I’m always moved when I see other women share theirs.” 

The mother of six posed for the cover of TIME France magazine in a low-cut black jumper, subtly concealing one breast with her hand. Jolie told the magazine, “I wanted to join them, knowing that TIME France would be sharing information about breast health, prevention, and knowledge about breast cancer.”

The 50-year-old also advocated for informed personal health choices for women. She added, “Every woman should always be able to determine her own healthcare journey and have the information she needs to make informed choices: genetic testing and screening should be accessible and affordable for women with clear risk factors or a significant family history.”

She emphasized the importance of accessible genetic testing and screening for women with risk factors. The Maleficent star continued, “Access to screening and care should not depend on financial resources or where someone lives.”

The cover star’s mother, Marcheline Bertrand, died of ovarian cancer in 2007. Her grandmother and aunt also passed away from cancer. These instances deeply motivated Jolie’s advocacy for cancer prevention. Following her double mastectomy, Jolie in March 2015 also had her fallopian tubes and ovaries removed. 

Many people have lauded Jolie’s courage and transparency. But others have accused her of using the photoshoot to gain sympathy amid her legal battles with Pitt over their French winery. Pitt recently won a legal ruling requiring Jolie to turn over private messages related to Château Miraval. 

A judge ordered Jolie to produce unredacted communications within “45 calendar days of this order.” As per PEOPLE, she denied Jolie’s requests for sanctions. 

The dispute centers on her 2021 sale of her winery stake to Stoli Group, reportedly breaching a mutual approval agreement. The 62-year-old actor’s legal team has claimed that the private messages may contradict his ex-wife’s earlier statements about the sale.

Many critics unfairly linked Jolie’s cancer advocacy photoshoot to her bitter legal feud with Pitt over Château Miraval. However, a source close to the 50-year-old insisted that the shoot was a deeply personal and public gesture from her. 

The insider told OK! Magazine, “She is proud of what she’s done and why she’s sharing it. But people are twisting it, linking it to everything else going on in her life. The online abuse has been brutal, and it’s compounded by the legal fight over the winery.”

Another source added, “These people should be ashamed of themselves. They are opportunists after web clicks, as Angelina’s photoshoot clearly has nothing to do with some crackpot theory she bared all to try and draw some kind of sympathy vote from lawmakers and fans.”

Many cancer survivors and fans have widely appreciated Jolie’s openness. They found her vulnerability empowering and inspiring. 

The legal battle between the exes is complex and ongoing. A trial is scheduled for 2027, and mediation is ordered beforehand.