Angelina Jolie has gone on record:
She doesn’t actually think Brad Pitt is a deadbeat, often-drunk, allegedly abusive father.
Back in September, of course, Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt, just four days after a confrontation on board a private airplane between the actor and his teenage son, Maddox.
Neither star has spoken publicly about the incident.
But the FBI actually investigated claims of abuse against Pitt in light of it, with many insiders believing Jolie has been behind various gossip items trashing Pitt’s competence as a father.
Jolie, however, is now making a few press rounds in promotion of her new film, First They Killed My Father.
Over the weekend, the actress spoke to BBC World News about the movie – but also about the state of her relationship with Pitt in the wake of their divorce and the many explosive allegations hurled back and forth.
“I don’t want to say very much about that, except to say it was a very difficult time,” Jolie said, adding:
“We are a family and we will always be a family, and we will get through this time and hopefully be a stronger family for it.”
Pretty vague, pretty broad, but at least all positive.
In a pre-taped sit-down with George Stephanopoulos on GMA, Jolie mostly uttered the same banalities.
But she did at least touch on Pitt himself briefly.
When asked whether she still thinks of Pitt as a “wonderful father” and as “part of the family,” Jolie replied: “Of course.”
She then expounded a bit as follows:
“We will always be a family, always… We are focusing on the health of our family, and so we will be stronger when we come out of this because that’s what we’re determined to do as a family.”
Ultimately, the FBI closed its case against Pitt, choosing not to file any charges.
Pitt was also cleared of child abuse allegations by the Los Angeles Country Department of Children and Family Services.
Jolie cited irreconcilable differences in her divorce filing last fall.
On January 9, Pitt and Jolie released a joint statement saying they were working with a private judge to resolve their divorce and would “act as a united front” moving forward.
The couple shares six children:
- Maddox, 15.
- Pax, 13.
- Zahara, 11.
- Shiloh, 10.
- Twins Knox and Vivienne, 8.
Angelia would like primary custody of the kids, while Pitt is seeking joint custody.
During her interview with Good Morning America, Jolie also opened up about that viral video of her and her children eating bugs in Cambodia while working on the aforementioned movie.
“They’re used to eating scorpions, especially Shiloh,” she said. “Loves a tarantula, loves a bug. They can eat a bag of crickets like a bag of chips.”
Jolie and Pitt adopted Maddox from Cambodia and the former says her son was heavily involved in creating this new movie.
“I was very, very nervous. It’s an honor to be allowed to come into a country which is not your own country, and to tell its history,” she told Stephanopoulos.
“I talked to Maddox about this film, and about doing it. And it was him, in the final hour who said he was ready. He wanted to understand more, and he wanted me to make it.”
We continue to simply hope that Jolie and Pitt remain on amicable terms, keeping their children first and making sure they are happy, safe, healthy and comfortable with whatever divorce deal gets finalized.