Brad Pitt has spoken publicly for the first time about his divorce from Angelina Jolie.
Brad Pitt, 61, and Angelina Jolie, 49, were once Hollywood’s most A-list couple.
From co-stars to parents to business partners, their relationship unfolded on the world stage before crumbling just as publicly.
Their romance began on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2004, while the Fight Club star was still married to Jennifer Aniston. Though the pair denied any infidelity, both later admitted they fell in love during filming.
Pitt divorced Aniston in 2005, and soon after, he and Jolie confirmed their relationship, quickly becoming tabloid royalty as “Brangelina.”
Over the years, the former couple expanded their family to six children, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne - and married in 2014. But just two years later, Jolie filed for divorce in 2016 following an alleged altercation on a private flight.
The fallout triggered a long, highly public legal battle involving custody and a jointly owned French vineyard.
Now, nearly eight years later, that legal fight has finally come to an end. In an interview with GQ published May 28, Pitt addressed the finalization of their divorce for the first time.
"I don't think it was that big of a deal," he shared. "It was just something that came to an end. Legally."
Despite the prolonged public scrutiny, the Troy star said he feels at peace. A source close to the actor shared that he’s “happy that the divorce is now a thing of the past” and is content in his relationship with Ines de Ramon, whom he’s been dating since 2022.
"It's been in the news for 30 years, brother. Or some version of my personal life," Pitt said. These days, he described his life as "contained" and "secure" with close friends and loved ones.
On Jolie’s side, a lawyer confirmed the actress is relieved. “Angelina is exhausted, but relieved that this part is over,” they said, per the Evening Standard.
Before his time with the Maleficent actress, Pitt’s marriage to Aniston defined early-2000s celebrity culture. The two were married from 2000 to 2005, splitting just as Friends wrapped its final season.
At the time, they issued a joint statement dismissing tabloid rumors, insisting the decision was made with “great love and admiration.” But speculation about Pitt’s growing bond with Jolie dominated headlines.
In hindsight, Pitt’s honesty about his feelings helped avoid further drama. Jennifer’s close friend and Friends co-star Courteney Cox later shared that he was upfront with Aniston.
“I don’t think he started an affair physically, but I think he was attracted to her,” Cox told Vanity Fair. “There was a connection, and he was honest about that with Jen. Most of the time, when people are attracted to other people, they don’t tell. At least he was honest.”
The emotional toll came at a vulnerable moment for Aniston, who was navigating the end of her iconic TV role while her marriage dissolved. One insider told The Mirror: “They gradually lost sight of themselves as individuals. Despite their nice lifestyle and having everything they might want, they weren’t happy.”
Years later, the Just Go With It star firmly rejected the media’s portrayal of her as the heartbroken ex in a feud with Jolie.
“I think it's time people stop with that petty B.S. and start celebrating great work,” she told Entertainment Tonight, calling the narrative “tiresome and old, like an old leather shoe.”
With the legal chapter of his relationship with Jolie finally closed, Pitt is focusing on the future.
His forthcoming film F1, where he stars as a Formula 1 driver opposite Damson Idris, hits theaters on June 27 and marks a new phase in his professional journey.