Sad all around. I am not surprised celebrity marriages often don’t last (when I read about people like James Garner, who was married to the same woman for like 60 years, or Herb Alpert who have been married well over 40 years and loves performing with his wife, it makes me smile a bit), with Brad and Angelina, however they came together,whatever the real story is, they have been hounded by the media the whole time, the tabloid magazines had Angelina at deaths’ door, Brad cheating with Jennifer, Angelina fighting with Jennifer, the kids, well, all kinds of crap…
All I can say is I hope this works out where the kids are protected, and maybe the two of them can get some peace, I don’t know what happened, I don’t know who the bad guy is or whatever, all I know is that a lot of people are taking joy out of the misery of others, as if this couple breaking up means somehow their own lives are made better. I made this comment to someone, and they said 'well, what about people jumping on the Duggars for all the crap that came out?". The difference was as far as I can tell Brad and Angelina didn’t sell themselves as the perfect couple, they as far as I can tell didn’t go around pronouncing how they lived was the ‘perfect way’ to live, they didn’t ask to be in that position, they were put there by the media and such.
For the record, I am not someone who usually gives a crap about the lives of celebrities, but people extolling in the pain of a couple like this bothers me (and I am not talking about the comments in this thread, I am talking in the world out there).
I don’t think Angelina would get much sympathy if her reason for filing for divorce was infidelity. She married Billy Bob Thornton while his fiancee was on location working on a film. I don’t think anyone thinks it’s a coincidence that Brad’s marriage ended around the time they were on location or were surprised when they ended up together either. I feel badly for their children because I get the impression that their parents are pretty self-centered individuals. I do wish the media would quit saying variations of “They have 6 children, 3 of whom are biological and 3 who are adopted.” The phrase they’re looking for is, “They have 6 children.”
Chelsea Handler has built a career on the strategic targeting of other people - many of whom are other celebrities. She is like an unrelenting doberman – and this is far from her first attack on Jolie and her family. She is a much younger version of the late Joan Rivers, but she releases a lot more venom. Very few boundaries.
Combining this news story with good summer reads, Susan Elizabeth Phillips has one book that’s clearly based on Jennifer’s aftermath from Brangelina - What I did for Love. Spoiler - the Jennifer character has a happy ending.
I’ve always thought she was a major weirdo. The vial of blood, the affairs and weird comments.
But I also wonder if her medical issues had any role in this. Maybe Brad couldn’t handle it. And let’s not forget she’s teaching a class at I think London school of economics though she never went to college.
But it takes 2 to marry and divorce. He seems more normal to me, but who knows. Celebrity, living so much time apart, so many kids, the history of cheating. I can’t say I was shocked.
I kind of like her “edge” and think she is talented actress. Part of what makes her so interesting to me is that she has a complicated personality. I tend to always “play by the rules” so it is fascinating to me to observe the lives of women who don’t.
I’m interested in the story as an observer of PR teams on the move, managing high profile celebrity careers, and manipulating the narrative in the press.
No opinion on what the “truth” is behind the divorce.
I couldn’t believe she didn’t hang onto
Johnny Lee Miller, her first husband (and seriously a favorite of mine). Someone mentioned long term Hollywood relationships above – I’m not super surprised at these two, but if Tom Hanks & his wife Rita Wilson ever throw in the towel, I will lose all the faith I have left in the institute of marriage.
While true, Chelsea and Jennifer Aniston are also BFF’s, so the fact that she’s not team Angelina should come as no surprise. Still, Chelsea bringing the kids into it was not cool.
Sounds to me like Jolie has formed a witch-hunt. I’ve always liked both of them but come on…they are superstars and the media is putting them under a microscope. Even if Pitt got drunk and had an argument with his 15 year old, that’s hardly abuse. I’ll even go so far as to say that a 15 year old has no business getting in the middle of his parents’ affairs. This stuff happens every day in households around the country. It was a private plane, much the same as happening in your living room. I think the fact that Jolie is feeding the frenzy is more abusive to her kids than their father disciplining them.
(and seriously a favorite of mine). Someone mentioned long term Hollywood relationships above – I’m not super surprised at these two, but if Tom Hanks & his wife Rita Wilson ever throw in the towel, I will lose all the faith I have left in the institute of marriage.