Are you long time tonight? Do you miss me tonight? Are you sorry we drifted apart? Does your man? Alright, welcome back to significant lovers. We're back. We are your host. My name is Mel. I'm Ko. And. And we're cousins. We're cousins and best friends. Ohh, and I'm drinking wine. I'm drinking a Margarita. Ohh I didn't know. Is it the canned one? Yes. Be careful Mel. Be careful. Only having one guys. These canned margaritas taste like juice and those are dangerous.
I had two like 2 weekends ago and I thought I was gonna. I literally. Oh my God. I didn't want to tell you this, but I I didn't end up doing it. But like, they have this service where you can pay like $200 for a nurse to come to your apartment and, like, hook you up to an IV. Oh yeah, I've heard of that. I literally scheduled that because I was like I cannot drink water, like I am going to die. But then they called me and said. Oh, we're too busy. Would you like to do it another
day? Like, no another day. Like hopefully. I don't need you another day, so. So you didn't do. It I didn't do it. I persevered and I finally was able to drink water and Gatorade and I survived. But it was tough. It was tough there for a while. Wow, I've heard that works, but. Yeah, it's a bit extreme it. Would have been embarrassing. It would have been a. Low point, but well, I'm so excited to be talking to you, Mel, and to everybody listening. Hello, this is a public episode
and this is a big episode. A big, big, big. This is probably one of the most famous breakups of all time. This is a flagship episode. That's a good way to describe it. This is a anchor, yes, it's a ship. Oh my God, it's a ship. I forgot to come up with my 3 words. I'm going to have to improvise. You have to do it on the spot to just well, first of all, who who are we covering today, Mel? We are covering Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt. Wow. Huge one and only.
But I guess I'm going to spoil it now. Just so you guys know, the next episode, which is going to be on our Patreon is going to cover the relationship of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. So in a way, these two episodes are kind of like a crossover event because the timelines for both of them will be brought up. So I'm going to talk a lot about Angelina Jolie in this episode and. Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, their relationship will be continued in the next one as well.
So like, if you want me to talk about like the two of them, how they are now, that's going to be in the next episode. I'm so excited. Oh my gosh. So yeah, Mel Mel's doing these episodes. I'm just chilling, listening. Was that hard to research the two relationships? You know what like I feel like? In my research they both just it's hard to separate the two. So I felt like, see, there was no way for me to not kind of have them back-to-back. Yeah, I feel like that's that's
really cool. We've never done that before. This back-to-back two episodes, but that happens sometimes. You know love triangles, Yeah. Leaving someone for someone else. I feel like I first imagined that we would, like, spread out his relationships, but I'm. So into this that we're doing it back-to-back. It feels necessary. And so basically, this episode will take more of a Jennifer Aniston perspective, and the next one will take more of a Angelina perspective.
Wow. And Brad is just along for the ride, so. We have covered Brad before. We did Brad Gwyneth Paltrow episode back about the I don't remember what number it was. I think it was in November or October, but so if you want to hear about before this. Yeah, that's a really good one, too. Like, that was a really big couple for its time, and that's a free episode. I'm pretty sure you already covered. Wait, the three words I would use to describe them, I would say.
Yes, flirty. Oh, flirty. 30 and thriving. Yes. Flirty. Oh, very public and idolized. That's definitely true. But you know what? Even though I feel like I know a lot about this couple, I really don't. I really don't. I don't know anything. That's how I felt. Yeah, like I've seen pictures of them, I've seen the tabloids at the supermarket and stuff, but I don't really know anything actually about their.
Timeline in their relationship. And me either, because I felt like as soon as they were on my radar, they had already broken up. Yeah. Like, I remember watching the movie. Rumor has it, you know. That. Oh yeah. With all the drama, she sleeps. She sleeps with a man who might potentially be her father, yes, but with my family when I was like I must have been in 4th grade or something and my mom says. You know what? She's actually very pretty.
And I was like, why? Like, of course she's pretty. I don't know why my mom had to say it like that, but I think it was because she was pitted against Angelina Jolie. And not that I think one is more beautiful than the other, but I feel like Jenna I, and is this weird for me to say. I feel like Jennifer Aniston has a more like approachable beauty to her, whereas Angelina Jolie has a more like mythical, like etheral, unattainable beauty to her.
Does that make sense? I feel, yeah, I feel like the press described Jennifer Aniston. At least my perception as being more like girl next door. Yeah, normal, You know, like there was a girl in your high school like this. Like, she's just a cool chick and she's pretty, but she's not like, I don't know, Jessica Rabbit or something. She's like the prom. Yeah, it was Angelina Jolie like, Oh my God. Angelina Jolie, like, might cast a spell on you or something?
It's very intimidating. That's not like offensive for me to say, but but it's it's like it's a different kind of beauty. And I feel like, yeah, Jennifer Aniston, I mean, she's like probably one of the most beautiful people in the whole world. But it's like. She feels more like a normal person, I guess. I don't know. It is. It is crazy how people compared them so much and. Then you have people doing the opposite where they're like, no, Jennifer is more beautiful, I prefer that type and.
Yeah, I mean. But I would like to get deeper than that, you know. I feel like it kind of played on people's fears of you could be as beautiful as Jennifer Aniston. And a man could still find somebody who's like, not I I don't want to say more beautiful because I don't think like one is more beautiful than the other, but like more unattainable in a way. I don't know if that makes sense. Yeah. I feel like Angelina Jolie. I don't. I'll get into it in her episode.
Yeah. I hope you guys understand what I'm trying to say. I do. I do, yeah. I was. I was trying to think of. What it is about like trying to describe in words what it is about Angelito Lee. Yeah. But we'll get. Even her name. Like, it's like Jennifer. Yeah. And like Angelina. Like, it's like there's something more like ether role about her. Yeah. Yeah. So who is Jennifer Aniston? We haven't covered her before. We haven't. I have a feeling this won't be our last episode about.
Yeah, I really like her. I think she's a very interesting person. She was born February 11th, 1969 in Los Angeles and she's a bit of an EPPO baby. Her father, John, he was a Greek actor, best known for being on Days of Our Lives and her mom? Did not know. That yeah. Her mom, Nancy, was also an actress and a model, and she had an older half brother, John,
from her mom's side. And Jen's family actually lived in Greece when she was in kindergarten and then moved to New York City when she was 6. And they lived on the Upper West Side. And she attended the Fiorello H LaGuardia High School of Music and Arts and Performing Arts. What? Very interesting because she also has says that her family was dirt poor growing up, but I wonder if like they were like they're poor. Yeah, yeah, they probably live paycheck to paycheck, but like.
That's because they have a lot of expenses, you know. Yeah. And did you say Upper West Side? Yeah, yeah. I mean, in New York you can be rich, but you still feel poor because your apartment is small and it's crowded and yeah, there's rats and stuff. So I can see why she would think that, even if she probably, they probably were making more money than someone, you know, out in the country. But.
That's so true. And at age 9, Jen came home from a birthday party and out of nowhere, she learned from her mother that her father had actually left her mom for another woman, which is kind of crazy that that's like foreshadowing her future in a way. And while he pursued that relationship, she didn't see her father for almost a year and. Her mother was a very classically beautiful woman, and ironically, she became John. She became known for her looks, like in her Rachel haircut.
But she claims that she grew up with a very big and frizzy hairstyle and that kids at school were really mean to her. And they called her chubby. But honestly, I was looking at pictures from when she was young. Maybe they're just not available. Like, she was never like, quote chubby. So I don't know if she's just like saying that. But I mean, I'll take her word for it, but she told Vanity Fair. I was a big fat was who liked Aerosmith? Big Fat was who liked Aerosmith.
So she's kind of like painting herself as, I don't know, Yeah, I guess more losers, Yeah, Yeah. The loser who turns pretty or something. And apparently in grade school, a group of kids actually dumped paint on her when she was entering the classroom. I know. What? She said. I guess it's possible. Yeah, that she was bullied. It's almost like she like claims to have like Monica's back story
from friends. Yeah. And she says that she turned to humor as a way to cope and that she was known as the class clown. In school she did Off Broadway acting and she worked part time jobs, the waitress and a telemarketer and a bike messenger. And then in 1998 or 1988 she started doing TV appearances and moved to LA and she landed roles in four very short lived TV shows, including a show called Malloy, a Ferris Bueller TV show.
A show called The Edge and another show called Muddling, Through, all of which were quickly canceled after either a few episodes or a season. So Jen was feeling really depressed, and she's 24 years old, and she pulls into a gas station on Sunset Blvd. And as she's getting out of her car, she looks and she sees Warren Littlefield, who was then the producer of NBC, and he was pumping his gas.
And she must have known him personally through her father because Days of Our Lives is one of the longest lasting. It actually is the longest lasting NBC show. So it's not like, you know, he was just some big producer and she walked up to him, but she walked up to him and said, is it ever going to happen for me? And he said that she shouldn't take it personally. And that we believe in you. I love you. I so believe in your talent.
I'm sure it will. And then a few months later, he gave her the script of Friends and she originally auditioned for Monica, but that they felt that Courtney Cox was the better fit. And so she landed the role of Rachel and the rest is history. She actually, at the same time, was also given the opportunity to be on Saturday Night Live like she was offered a role as a reoccurring. Cast Member there, but she decided to do Friends instead. That was. That was a smart choice.
Like, I can't really picture her on SNL as a cast member. I know. I don't know. Like, she's funny. But, like, I'm not, like, falling out of my chair. Yeah, humor. I agree on SNL. Some people become stars, but some people just kind of, I don't know, fall to the wayside a bit so. I don't know. There's just no knowing what would have happened if she did that. But friends, Oh my gosh, that's like one of the most famous shows of all.
Oh yeah. It was like at one point, I think the highest watch show on television. Yeah. I would describe her as a hard worker, a mediator. She's always looking to make other people laugh and to relieve tension. Oh. It seems like she avoids conflict at all cost, and she really tries her best to be strong. Just from her interviews, I feel like she forces herself to look on the bright side and to spend things as positive to not seem like they affect her.
Even when things are incredibly dark and very hard, she always, like, tries so hard to not peer, bitter or resentful. And like, sometimes I think she goes a little bit too far. Interesting. Like when she was describing her dad leaving unexpectedly, she was like, you know, it's almost for the better. It was like ripping off the Band-Aid. OK, no, you can just say, like, it was really hard. You don't have to. Like, don't. You don't have to act like.
It was like, yeah. And like when she was describing how so her mom was very beautiful and her mom would pick on Jen's appearance. And she said in. An interview with Diane Sawyer. Like, you know, she was helping me out. She was doing me a favor. It's like, no. Like, you know how to give, like everybody, the benefit of the doubt? I don't know. Wow. It it's that's sad, though. It's like she feels like she can't be upset or express discontent in any way.
Yeah, that's interesting that you picked up on that. Oh, definitely. And it definitely I think. He's going to come up with her divorce because something that people are very much expected to be bitter and resentful for. I feel like she tried very hard to, like, make it seem like she didn't like obviously she cared, but like, she wasn't mad at Brad
or something, you know? But yeah, like, you already covered Brad. So I won't really get into his back story, but as a little refresher, he was born in Oklahoma, full name William Bradley Pitt. His father owned a trucking company. His mom was a guidance counselor. They moved to Missouri. He dropped out of college after two weeks. We talked about this. No, with two weeks left. Oh, two weeks left. I'm sorry. Yes, two weeks left and before graduating. And then moved to LA to take
acting lessons. Not even like he had a part. Like he just moved there to take lessons. And then he became a breakout star after appearing in Thelma and Louise. And yeah, I recommend people check out. Our Brad and Gwyneth episode for a little bit more about his back story when it comes to relationships. Before Jen, a little summary he Before being with Jennifer Aniston, he had been engaged
twice. Once to Gwyneth Paltrow and once to Jill Scholand. He popped the question in 1989 and they were engaged for three months. Yeah, he was against to her, then Gwyneth. He said Gwyneth was the love of my life. So the love of my life. Guess that wasn't true. What is true? That's deep. But so yeah. So how did they meet? They met in 1994. Jen was 25. He was 30. Both of their managers were friends with each other and introduced them.
And around this time, Brad was still dating Gwyneth, and Jen was dating actor Tate Donovan and yeah. Wait, I'm sorry. He was on the OC. Oh yes, that's who it is. Well, at this point he wouldn't have been on the OC yet, but when he's older he's on the OC. Yeah, but he was on Friends too. OK. Yeah, that makes sense. Anyway, they look like a cute couple. Maybe we could cover them someday. Yeah, that. Would be cool. He dated Sandra Pollock. Right. Yeah, I feel like Tate Donovan,
I don't know. He's one of those guys that surprisingly dated a lot of like a list women and then kind of went back into the shadows. Yeah, maybe. Anyway, he just, like, went through too many. I feel like it would be so awkward in Hollywood. Like, it's such like you have to run into these people all the time. I know, And that will come up.
But yeah, so Jen later told Rolling Stone in 2001 about her first impression of Brad. She said he was just the sweet guy from Missouri, you know, a normal guy. And then years later, Brad and Gwyneth were engaged like we said, but then broke up in 1997, and Jen and Tate broke up in 90. 98 And sometime that year they were set up on a dinner date, I think by their agents again in West Hollywood. And Jen was actually asked about this date on Diane Sawyer, and
that's the first clip. You knew right away. Yeah, we both did on our first date. It was weird. Did you say it or just? No, no, thought it. I thought it. That's weird. That was a really easy evening. That was really fun. That was. Strange. But her saying like I thought it. I don't know. Just the way she was talking and motioning her face, it was intense. Honestly, Diane Sawyer is like, creepy to me. Like, I don't know the way she,
like, interviews people. Like, she's so serious and I feel like it makes everything maybe. It seems serious, yeah. It feels like, cryptic, like even though it's like just about Jennifer Aniston, it still feels like it's like a murder mystery, you know? Yeah, yeah, I feel like I was picking up on that. Mmhmm. But wow. OK, they felt it. Yeah. And so then in 1998, both Brad and Jen's careers, they are on
fire. At this time, Friends had the second highest ratings on TV, just behind ER, and Brad was in high demand as a movie actor. He had only just recently been nominated for an O2 years earlier and was working on Fight Club, which is arguably like one of his biggest films.
And then we're In 1999, after a year of dating, they made their first public debut as a couple at the Emmy Awards, where Friends was nominated for the best Comedy series, and they walked the red carpet together and Friends lost to Ally Mcbeal. But people suddenly were obsessed with this new hot couple, and according to Jen, they were bonding a lot about their music tastes. And they both listened to a lot of Radiohead at the time. I like that detail, yeah.
That's something I want to moving forward, always kind of figure out with couples is like what is it about each other that they were attracted to? Yes. Yeah. Like what? What is like what their conversations about? Yes, yes, Yeah. I think music was a big thing that bonded them. And so then in November, they attended a Sting concert in New York City, and they got on stage with Sting. And while he was performing, Jen lifts up her hand to show off her engagement ring.
And then together, they sing the lyrics to Sting's song, fill her up into the microphone. Which are we're going to Vegas, We're going to get wed. So fill her up, son. Don't be staring. Yeah, that's a real diamond she be wearing. Oh my God, this was like after a year of dating or so. And because this is such a public display, like I feel like this made people so obsessed with them. Makes sense. Brad kind of freaks me out with how easily he proposes to people. Oh yeah, this is his third
engagement. His third engagement. I mean, he's only like like 30-4 or something, yeah. I feel like if I was going to be like, what the hell, I know, OK? Anyway, I know it's like, I don't really know that many people from real life probably like, maybe like one person who's been engaged and then broken it off. It's like kind of a big deal, you know? That must be that must be tough for him proposing too, when it's like I have been through this before.
Yeah, like getting on one knee, being all heartfelt about it. Like, will you spend the rest of your life with me? Like, that's just crazy that he's already done that. I know. But we've talked about this before and like with celebrities, like everything is so exciting for them that like, I feel like they kind of have to do stuff like that pretty early on to get like that high because like. They have to take it to the next level. Because otherwise life is
boring. Doing exciting things all the time. Yeah. And like, you know, they have the means. Like, I know some people were like, they're just like saving up to get a ring. You can go like if you can buy like. I know, Yeah, really expensive. Like several $1000 rings. Like, it's no big deal. Like, why don't you? You know. I feel like that's so true, like so many normal people getting
married. Something you really have to work for and wait for, like paying for the wedding and the ring and like hopefully honeymoon or something. Like they can just do it so easily. So if you're in love, then like, yeah, let's do it. Yeah, exactly. It's like no big deal. Like they don't have to worry about any of the logistics that go into it. Yeah, that us normal people think about. And I feel like the logistics makes you. Really think about is this
really the one? Because I'm about to spend a ton of money on this. That's so. True. So I'm only doing this once. Like, is this really my soul mate, you know? Whereas like a celebrity, I feel like, doesn't quite have to question it as much because it's easy. Oh my gosh, that's so true. Yeah, it's like no big deal. Like, because that would be a huge mistake to spend. Like, I know and like, people make it and it's like, Oh my God, I just got like $30,000 for a wedding.
And all their friends and family that have to pay for gifts and stuff and they can't really afford it. Like, it's just, it's a lot. It's a pressure that celebrities don't understand. Yeah, yeah. So they just, they're in love. Let's get married. Like, let's do it. Yeah. And they did it. It's 2000, July 29th. She's 31. He is 36. They got married on the coast of Malibu at the estate of TV producer Marcy Carsey, best known for producing The Cosby Show, Roseanne and That 70s Show.
And Jen walked down the aisle in a glass bead low back gown by Lawrence Steele, and the couple reportedly both received brother and sister highlights, according to Bride magazine, to their hairs ahead of the ceremony. Yeah, I think it's weird. It's called matching Matching highlights, yeah. It's kind of cute, yeah. And we talked about this in the Brad and Gwyneth episode that, like, he always makes his hair and style match his girlfriend. I forgot.
About that he does. He always matches the hair. He like neighbors them. It's a lot. Brad's an interesting fellow. He is, yeah, and there were 50,000 flowers present because Brad wanted the wedding to look like a Zen garden and the the bridesmaids wore pale green
dresses for their first dance. They danced to The Way You Look Tonight and they had live performances by a Forty person Gospel Choir and Melissa Etheridge and Greek Buzuki band and a 13 minute fireworks show to close out the evening. Wow. Yeah, a normal person could not drop money like that Willy nilly. That's. Like, she just married Gadsby or something. I know. Yeah, very extravagant. And there was lots of paparazzi overhead, taking aerial shots of the venue like this was.
Highly anticipated and it's crazy we even know this much information about it, but it was huge. It's fun, I know. And noticeably absent from the wedding was Jen's mother, who one year earlier had actually written an unauthorized tell all book about raising Jen against her wishes, which made Jen feel exploited. And she cut her mom out of her life.
So I guess that's a little contrary to what I said earlier about, like always looking on the bright side, but even like talking about it. Like when she gave interviews, like she said, like, you know, I was really hurt. I felt like she took advantage, but she still doesn't really like bad mouth her mom. She's like, I just need space. I'm sure in private she does get upset, yeah. Go off on people, but she publicly doesn't want to for whatever reason. That's really upsetting.
That would be very painful, I think. Yeah. And she. Before she like a betrayal. Oh, growing up, she was very, very close with her mom too. So wow, this was a huge blow for her. And yeah, that would be very. I'm trying to imagine like my own mom doing something like that. I would. I would be so upset because it's your mom. Like, it's like, that's the person who's supposed to protect you the most. That's so sad because nobody wants to cut out their mother, you know, Exactly.
That's so painful. That's just, yeah, I mean, it's such a huge betrayal of trust and it's, I don't know if it came from like her, like mom's insecurity about finances from when they were younger or something. I think Jen maybe said that like her mom was always worried about like money, so she saw this as an opportunity for herself. But it's pretty bad. Still, I'm sure Jen could have given her money, I know. If she really needed it, yeah. Like, why is that the way to get it?
Yeah. And Jen legally changed her last name to Pitt and they did not sign that. Yeah, they didn't sign a prenup. And this is my question for the audience, Like, what do you guys think of prenups? Like, do you think it's less romantic to sign one, or do you think it's like just a necessity, especially if you have that much money? That's a good question. I feel like I don't know too much about them and like how it
works. I think it's like you're deciding before you get married how you would divide your assets. Is it only an event of divorce? I think so, yeah. Not death, I don't know. That's probably more of a will than, yeah, I think that's a. Will. Yeah. It Yeah. I don't know. It does seem very unromantic to me. I don't know, I guess, but some people have different definitions about why they're getting married. Like, I don't know, I it is odd to me.
It's it's it's very weird, I think to think, like, if this doesn't work out, I don't know. But it's weird because Jen and Brad didn't sign a prenup. But it seems like their divorce was actually not that complicated. And not to spoil anything, but like, Angelina and Brad signed a prenup and they're still not legally divorced. Like they're still fighting about. So maybe it doesn't even help. Yeah.
I mean, I feel like it's based off of, I'm pretty sure this might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure it's based off of like your assets at the time you get married, if you've been married to someone for a number of years and then like buy properties and like. To build wealth together. I don't know like how that's accounted for. And it was just way jumping ahead. But I know that Brad and Angelina like owned a vineyard together and that caused a lot of problems, right?
Because they're self she tried to sell. Yeah, she tried to sell her shares to other people or something. I don't know. I'm very excited to get into that and the next step. So that will be fun. Well, I mean sad for them. It's a family, of course, but yes, fun to talk about, I guess. I'm a terrible. It will be. It'll be interesting. Yeah. But we're not there yet. Yeah, we got a long ways to go.
So then for their honeymoon, the newlyweds took a private trip to the island of Seychelles, which is located in the Indian Ocean in the East Coast of Africa. And I don't think any paparazzi found them there, which is nice. And they made their first debut as a married couple once again at the Emmy Awards. That's a big place for them. And later in 2004, Jen said that the first year of marriage was both the hardest and best year
of her life. And that she said it's just getting used to the idea that you're married and am I ready? There's always that. Am I ready? Question. I don't know. I thought I was ready. That's weird. I know it's kind of cryptic. I thought it was that implies like trouble in paradise, kind of. It does. It does. And in 2001, in June they purchased a 12,000 square foot home with six bedrooms in Beverly Hills for $13.5 million, which they would spend the next three years renovating.
That was like a big part of pretty much every interview I read about them was like talking about them working on their home. And I think that did maybe cause a bit of tension between them. Some disagreements about like style choices or, you know, just like little things that couples might bicker about. But not nothing like that. Too serious. You know, Charlie and I totally bicker about that. I think it's a common thing. I remember it came up in the James Taylor and Carly Simon one
about the pool. When she put in a pool without asking, it's pretty bad. But you would think as a celebrity, like you have so much money that doesn't really matter but. I know. We were wondering what's about why doesn't he want a pool? Like, I feel like if you had that much money you would assume like, well, why wouldn't we have a pool? I know, Yeah, that's just like buying toilet paper at that point. Yeah, for them.
No, it's it's. I think he had a problem with them having a pool, like when they live so close to the beach. But you know what? Best of both worlds. I know. So then it's yeah. Then in September, Jen does an interview with Rolling Stone and gives us insight into their married life. She says that her friends originally expected Brad to be conceded, but that they came around to see that he's a great
person. And she also said that being married is like, you know, well, she said about being married. You know, if there's an argument, it's not like you can go screw you. I'm out of here. You're there for the long haul. It's a beautiful thing to actually realize that for the first time, to have that knowing it takes the heat and the weight out of things, which I think is true. Like, that's kind of why I like
the idea of marriage. It's like it is harder to break up. And I know that might sound like, almost like you're a hostage in a way, but like, I think if you really care about a lifelong partnership and commitment, it's nice to have that certificate to make it just, yeah, harder to break up in that way. Like, you have to really question, like, is this what I really want to do? And you know that, like, I
really made a vow. So like, I'm going to actually put in more work to work on the relationship. I agree. The way I see it is like you're they're becoming your family. They're not blood related to you, but they're becoming your family. Exactly. It's kind of like no matter what, you can never make your sibling. Not your sibling or your parent. Not your parent. And like, I guess you can. Yeah, you can make your spouse,
not your spouse. But that's kind of the idea is like, we're becoming more than just dating, you know? This is like, you're my family now. Yeah. We we are together. That's why I feel like divorce must be so traumatizing. Because it's like going back on something that you owe one point thought you would never, ever do. Like otherwise you wouldn't have gotten married in the first
place. Yeah, sad. So Brad in November of that year guest starred on an episode of Friends where his character hates Rachel. I feel like people love that. I to be honest with you guys, I have seen several episodes of Friends, but I've never really watched it. Like, oh, really? Like, I know enough about the show. Like, I've seen episodes here and there, but like, I've never watched like it consecutively. I I did. And I remember that episode and he's very cute.
Yeah, I love that episode. Yeah, I watched the whole thing in order in college and I love it. And I think it's great and I get annoyed when people hate on it because I feel like it got just like too overexposed. Maybe. But it's. I don't know. I like it. Such a big part of TV history and it's like such a cultural phenomenon. Gen. X, yeah, it's what a different time that like a sitcom on network TV could be like the most watched or second most
watched TV show in the country. And now it's like nobody even watches those shows anymore. Unless they just, like accidentally leave the TV on after like the news or something. I know, kind of stuff. Maybe it'll come back someday. Yeah. I hope. Yeah, I hope so. Anyway, anyway, so then it's 2003 February, Jen does an interview with W magazine, and she's asked what it's like to have found the love of her life. And she answers.
Is he the love of my life? I think you're always sort of wondering, are you the love of my life? I mean, I don't know. I've never been someone who says he's the love of my life. He's certainly a big love in my life. And I know that we have something special, especially in all this chaos and this nutty, brilliant, wonderful, hard business that we have. It's nice to have somebody who's anchored and knows you, really
knows all of you. Wow. That's interesting, especially since Brad is the kind of person to call someone the love all my life. Wow. It's just so interesting because I feel like so many women and men too, probably think that Brad Pitt is so attractive and Oh my God, I wish I could be with him. It's it's just very interesting
to hear her say. She won't even say that he's the love of her life, I know, but I want to give her the benefit of the doubt and I feel like she just like kind of hates being asked stuff like that and is. I do think it seems like even though she is very public about things like is also a little bit afraid to be vulnerable with the press and doesn't like want to give people her power of like saying like, Oh yeah, I'm in love with him. I don't know.
I think it's like less about him and more about like she doesn't want to like, say something that vulnerable. And I do think by the time you're 30 or whatever and she's had other relationships, I don't know, the concept might be a little less simple than it maybe would have been. Yeah, exactly. It is quite a heavy question to ask somebody SO. Yeah, I think maybe she's just like being philosophical. I know. Like, what is that? Do that. Yeah. Oh God, that reminds me of
questions. Prince Charles. Oh yeah, Charles? He was asked. Charles, are you in love? Yes, whatever love is or whatever. Like Charles, this is not the time to be called something cool. Whatever. Love is trying to have like a I totally, I totally think that's what he was doing though, because I I don't know, I just got obsessive with Charles and Link read so much about him and he totally was just being like a philosophical prick and was trying to be trying to question. That yeah. Yeah.
What is love? I really don't think he was trying. It still came off like an asshole. But I think he wasn't trying to shade Diana. He was just yeah. Trying to be deep. That's kind of what I think Jen was doing too. But of course, like you read that in a magazine, it does raise some eyebrows. Wow. And Jen is asked if they fight, and she says that they do, but that they're more like discussions and that she's not a fan of yelling.
She also adds that Brad is very kind, which is very different from her upbringing where her parents would fight. And around this time, Jen is being taken more seriously as a film actor. She starts receiving Oscar buzz for her role in the drama The Good Girl and starts doing more and more films. Then in 2004, it's January and Jen does a sent down interview with Diane Sawyer.
I already showed you guys part of this interview before and she just talks really in depth about her life and her marriage with Brad. It's a very long special and I think big part of it is because Friends is ending soon. So there's just like a lot of buzz. I bet Jen's like managers and agent like agents. Like it does seem like they were doing like everything possible.
It's like make the world kind of obsessed with Jennifer Aniston and she was just this big star and I think it's like a 60 Minutes interview or something like that. Like it's a big interview. It feels very serious and. She talks about their big house and says that even though they have more rooms in their new house, they're still always in the same room. And Diane? Diane asks who is more jealous and Jen says I think jealousy is healthy to a point, but no, we've worked on that one.
We've knocked that one out, but no. I feel like Jen's like speaking patterns sometimes. They're like she never really uses like. Verbal clutter, the way I'm using, you know, like, yeah, in a way she sometimes feels like she's acting when she's giving an interview. Well, that's what I felt in that first. Diane saw her interview. That's why it kind of freaked me out. It seemed like she was acting. Yes. No, that's like, like, I often feel that way.
And I that makes me wonder, like, is she being genuine? Or maybe her acting is very true to her, how she is in real life, I don't know. It's like she feels like her characters, maybe. So I'm going to show you more of that. So Diane asks about the Brad quote in the W magazine, saying that she was unsure if he was the love of her life. And I'll play that. Or you can play. It's at 2102.
It's very interesting because at one point somebody asked you recently, I think W magazine, if he was the love of your life and you're hesitated. No, I didn't hesitate. That was something that I hated reading. I can't imagine being with any other human being. I married him because he was the love of my life. And you know, he's the most fun I've ever had.
So when these things are written in magazines and taken out of context and it's so frustrating because people then take it and run with it. Or if you don't, God forbid, think I'm at a. An award ceremony. I mean Jesus. We were divorced and moving into different homes. Yeah, the way she's talking, maybe it's not her fault, maybe Diane Sawyer is creating this atmosphere, but it just feels really dramatic. Yeah, it is interesting that she's like, oh, I hated that.
Like he is the love of my life. Like they took it out of context. But that's the quote. Like, I don't know, like you did say is he the love of my life? Maybe we have to hear how it was phrased, but I love that this this really reminds me Charles. I love this, bringing his way back to that, because I think he did the same thing like damage control kind. Of yeah, it does suck when you say something, but people interpret it wrong. Yeah, and it does. It is hard to explain what you
meant. Sometimes happens even on the podcast. So Oh yeah. Oh yeah, yeah. Anything I said. Upsets anybody. I didn't mean it. Yeah, yeah. So in the same interview, she talks about how Friends is ending soon and she says pretty adamantly that they would like to start having kids soon. And that's in a lot of interviews. Like it's and it's a theme kind of that Brad says he wants to have a lot of kids and she says like, oh like you know, two or three. Like it's like a kind of a
running. Gag that like they're fighting about, like how many kids they want. Wow. And the public seems like very eager. The public and the press are very eager and excited for like when they finally start having kids still. Yet literally still, they're hung up on it. And I feel like I have thoughts about that that I'll get to later, OK. But so it's January 23rd, and the last episode of Friends was
filmed after 10 seasons. And friends of Jen were shocked that Brad did not attend the final taping. However, Jen defended this to reporters by saying that he was busy working. But later in magazines it will say stuff like, well, a star that big could have gotten time off, you know? So people think that that's kind of like a crack in the glass, you know, that's what you hinted that last week. I mean, that's a pretty big. Moment in Jen's life and I think she was pretty like bereaved
about the end of this TV show. Like I mean it was her whole life for 10 years and it's like a family in a way and I think it would came with a lot of emotions. I actually saw a keychain that said friends 994 to 2004 on my backpack. Yeah, I mean, I'm just like even even thinking about like. Yeah, you used to dance growing up. Like, when that ended, like it did feel like a death in a way. Like, I'm sure that was like,
hugely significant. So she's interviewed by the Guardian and she opens up more about their plans to have kids soon. She says it's time. It's time. You know, I think you can work with a baby. I think you can work pregnant. I think you can do all of it. So I'm just truly looking forward to slowing down. And she also reveals that there. They just had finished renovating their multimillion dollar mansion. Someone to talk about this
house? I know, literally it's like in every single magazine, but it's like the thing like their divorce was so public. But I do think a lot of that they inadvertently brought on themselves by making their relationship so public, which maybe is why couples are a lot more private now. Like they're talking to us about like having kids. And I think that makes. People at home feel so invested in their lives, like almost the way an aunt or uncle is like in a niece and nephew's life.
Like they're just like, when are you having kids? When are you going to do this? And, like, people care way too much, but it's because they kind of play into it. So then when they break up, like, it's just going to be a lot more devastating for people because they felt like they were invested in it, you know? True. It does seem so shocking that they would break up because it's like you were just talking about a family, like what happened? You know, what happened? What?
Well, so the story goes, it's May, and the filming of Mr. and Mrs. Smith begins in California. You guys know the stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and this is a sexy film. Sexy spy film. I've never actually seen it, but it looks like they have a lot of good chemistry. They do. I watched it last year with Charlie and it's it's a fun movie and they have a lot of chemistry. It's palpable. It's very. Sexy energy don't lie, right?
And at this time, Angelina is recently separated from her husband Billy Bob Thornton, and there's growing rumors of intimacy between the two stars, and it's become a hot topic in a lot of the tabloids. It's just a rumor, but it's picking up steam in the press, I would say. However, the affair seems to be disputed when Brad and Jen walk the red carpet at the Troy premiere in New York City. So. By all accounts, it seems like they're still doing well. They're still making public
appearances together. And then the last episode of Friends comes out on May 6th, which was very difficult for Jen. And then later on, her real life friends will tell the press that she had hoped to lean on Brad for support during this time, but that he was growing more and more emotionally absent. No. Why? He was busy filming Mr. and Mrs. Smith. So then it's June and Brad is profiled by Vanity Fair. And in this article he talks about how there's a lot of hard edges and their new Beverly
Hills mansion. Well, they've lived there for three years, but this mansion keeps coming up and that Jen has been making a lot of nervous comments about having to baby proof the house. And to that he shrugs and says, I have a different theory. You got to fall down. You got to learn. And he says that he'd consider
moving again. And the interviewer picks up on some apparent restlessness that he has that like, especially like with the house, like now that like they finished, he kind of doesn't even really want to, like live there, you know, man. The interviewer prize further about their plans to have kids and he says. It will happen when it happens. I've got friends with kids and I've got nieces and nephews and they just bring out a joy, a joy I've gotten from few things.
I am selfish so I worry about having to give up my time, but I got to go see what it's about. I think I've got a lot of stuff to tell them and the idea of being responsible and setting someone loose in the world sounds really fulfilling. And he says when asked about how many kids he wants, he says I'll go till someone says to stop. I would love all girls. Guys. I know they're going to be pissed off at me. I know I'll fuck them up
somehow. And in this article, he opens up about how in the past he seemingly suffered from what he calls a congenital sadness, especially in his earlier relationships, but that he's better at keeping it in check. It is interesting. I feel like that kind of goes with, like, the restlessness in a way. Like he's always trying to fill some void in his life. Yeah, I'm puzzled. I'm just puzzled about what's going on. I know, And about Jen, he says.
Her emphasis is the home, friends and family we all kind of crowd around her like Moss to the flame. She's like a magnet. She brings a lot of people together that way. Jen's fireplace, she provides the warmth. That's nice. Yeah, that's a really sweet thing to say. It does seem like he does have a lot of love and admiration for her and he's asked how they feel about the media attention on them as a couple and he says. Neither of us wants to be the spokesperson for a happy marriage.
For a couple of them, I'll tell you what I despise. This too becomes one thing where you lose your individuality. We don't cage each other with this pressure of happily ever after. You figure it out as you go along. We feel it out rather than setting policies and rules. Jen and I always made a pact that will see where this is going. I'm not sure it really is in our nature to be with someone for the rest of our lives just because you made that pact.
You keep going as long as you keep growing. When that dies, we do. But it constantly surprises me just when you think we've gotten. All you can get out of it, you get knocked upside down the head. It's good fun. We still have that friendship. We still have a good laugh, which can go in and out depending on the dynamics and outside influences. It's complicated, but that's what keeps it interesting. We're good at getting shit on the table. Then she tells other people, and
I get mad. What? A lot to break down there kind of goes. Against what we were saying earlier about like why we think marriage is kind of romantic. Like it's it is odd for me to hear someone say, like we'll see where this goes. Like I don't think most normal people when they get married have a like, let's see where this goes. Like he said. Did he say we're both people that wouldn't be with someone for the rest of their lives?
I don't know if it's in our nature to be with someone, so I don't know if he's talking about them as two people or humans, humans in general. Still, still, I would not want to hear my husband say that, No. Yeah. Publicly. Oh, you know, we're just having fun and seeing where it goes. Yeah, I don't know if humans are meant to be 1. Person, excuse me, I mean, in just knowing what we know now that like at this time his attraction for Angelina Jolie was probably a huge taking up a
huge piece of his mind. That is very interesting that it's almost like he has one foot out the door, you know, and is contemplating. He's trying to explain it away, saying like, well, I don't know if people are even supposed to. And it's like. Because he thinks what he's saying is, like, so romantic in a way. He's like, we have a pact. Like we have a mutual understanding for each other that like, we're just gonna keep going until we can't go any further. Really. Yeah, I don't know.
I mean, to each their own. But and the way he even says, like, outside influences, Yeah, I guess that could be the press. But also another woman. If I was Jennifer's friends right now, I'd be freaking out. Me too. This is not good. Like, I don't. Doesn't sound good. No, I guess like, I mean, it's good to not see marriage like a end all be all if it's very unhappy and miserable. But it's a bad sign when they're
saying like, yeah. You know, this might not be it for everything, but but he does end this interview by saying that he's happier than he's ever been. OK, but is that because of her? I know. Or because of Angelina. That's so true to the outside world, though you would think it's because of Jen. A couple weeks later he went on the Oprah show and he's asked about this article and we have a clip. This is the home. This is a quote, you say.
Friends and family, we all crawled around her like moths to the flame. Yeah, she's she's very. She's one of the warmest people I meet and we all. You say she's the magnet. We do all crowd around her. She's like that, that fire. We all crowd around for warmth and she's no, I'm not this is this is genuine. It's truly genuine. She's there's not a ill intentioned bone in this woman's body. She's really, she's really extraordinary that way and she's
taught me a lot that way. She brings people together. I just saw the other day at the Bel Air Hotel. We're talking about, you know, friends, the same thing and all that. Okay. So let's roll just a little bit of that. You know, your husband's going to be on. I have to interview him next week. Did You Know? That I'm so jealous I can't be in Chicago and be there. So what should I ask him? Oh. Anything you possibly can. Have you seen the movie? I have and it's fantastic.
It's exquisite, It's epic. It's huge. And he's a badass. You you look at the camera and say something to him for me you want to say because we're going to air this when he's on. Oh, you are, Yeah. Where's which camera? That one right there. Hi baby. I love you. I feel you wouldn't suspect if you're just like an outside person who's really invested in this couple. You wouldn't answer. Yeah, you would think that they're more in love than ever. You know you would.
Especially because they're on something like the Oprah show, like. You know, people stay at home moms and stuff, they're home. They're like they have that on TV while they're like folding their laundry and watching it.
Like, I feel like especially like at that time, not that daytime talk shows like aren't still really big, but like they it just they felt very significant to me, like growing up like even like on 1/2 day like they were on TV and I don't know, I feel like tabloids were even bigger back then and like they were just like in your living room. So do you felt like you knew them really well? And they were huge celebrities. And so that summer, I mean, they
still are, obviously. But that summer the filming of Mr. and Mrs. Smith is further underway. Obviously people believe that Angelina and Brad had an affair while they were filming it, and they both later on had denied this. And Angelina had said that she would never be attracted to a man who would cheat on his wife. And I do believe that they maybe didn't cheat. I mean, I don't know. I could go either way.
Where do these rumors come from? Just people assuming something's gone because they were so sexy in the movie. Yeah, and then like, is that the only reason? Well, and because also he got together with Angelina, like right after the divorce. So it just seemed like obviously something must have been going on.
But in 2006, Angelina gave an interview about their relationship and she said I didn't know much about exactly where Brad was in his personal life, but it was clear he was with his best friend, someone he loves and respects. And so we were both loving, I suppose. We were both living, I suppose, very full lives. I think we were the last two people who were looking for a relationship. Like, no shit, Obviously if you're married, you're not looking for a relationship.
Yeah, but she said I certainly wasn't. I was quite content to be a single mom. Brad was a huge surprise to me. I, like most people, had a very distant impression of him from the media. And she said because of the film, we ended up being brought together to do all these crazy things. And I think we found this strange friendship and partnership that kind of just suddenly happened. I think a few months in I realized, God, I can't wait to
get to work. Anything we had to do with each other, we just found a lot of joy in it together and a lot of real teamwork. We just became kind of a pair. It took until really the end of the shoot for us, I think, to realize that it might mean something more than we'd earlier allowed ourselves to believe, and both knowing that the reality of that was a big thing, something that was going to take
a lot of serious consideration. Which I believe, like I do think like if they were very attracted to each other but then also had to be intimate for their job. Like you literally do have to do like sex scenes with this person. It would be very hard to like resist your desires because like it's not like you can be like, you know what, I'm married. I need distance from this person because it's your job, you know. That is crazy. Wow. Like I think in real life someone might be able to.
They might be tempted by other people or feel attracted to people, but they're able to create more clear boundaries in order to protect their relationship. But like, if you're filming a movie with someone where you do need to have chemistry, it's almost like it would be bad for your job to, like, not continue to, like, explore it. That's wild. So I feel kind of like, you know, people obviously hate Angelina, and I feel like maybe we should get more into that in the next episode.
But I kind of understand it. Like, it does seem like they weren't trying to fall in love, but they just happened to and like, what are you supposed to do? Kind of. Yeah, I wonder if him and Jennifer's relationship was breaking down already in some ways, because I don't know. I do think even though he maybe was attracted to her, and yes, they have to. Make out and pretend to have sex and stuff like that. When the movie ended, I feel like you should have still been
able to walk away, yeah? But, and I don't think he did, they did remain really good friends while taking a lot of time to deeply consider and contemplate what they should do with their connections. Like at that point, it kind of is an at least an emotional affair. If you're like talking with the other person about potentially leaving your wife for her, like, yeah, that is kind of cheating.
That is emotionally cheating. I know some people debate like if that's really cheating or whatever, but I don't know. If that is a type, I think it is that it is. But I do think like it's it's I think would be traumatizing to experience as being on the receiving end is Jennifer Aniston. But I guess at some point, some people do have to experience that. Like, you really did feel like you loved somebody else even
though you were married. Like, you do have to consider it. Maybe if you feel like, oh, shoot, am I with the right person? I don't know. I feel like it's romantic to call your partner, like your best friend. But it does appear to me like maybe with Jennifer and Brad. Obviously this is speculation, but like, they're very heavy on the friendship thing at this point in their marriage. Publicly. That, yeah, makes you wonder if, like, it feels more like a friendship than a relationship.
It that's what I was thinking. It was odd to me, hearing that phrase a couple times, like maybe that the excitement of, you know, a new relationship had worn off, obviously. And so, like, everything with Angelina was just more thrilling. But you can't chase that forever. No, it's going to wear off with any everybody. Yeah. And I feel like a mature person probably knows that when they get married. But do people stay hungry for that? I don't know.
It's kind of scary. I think you just have to realize that it's just a distraction in a way. Well, that goes. That goes with his restlessness. Yes, Yeah. I don't think he's someone who might be content with just like a peaceful marriage. So then what Mel? So again, still to the public, it seems like Brad and Jenn are still going strong.
They walk the red carpet once again at the Emmys that year and OK, then it's December 27th and Brad and Jen leave for a two week getaway to Ann Gilla for a New Year's Eve with Courtney Cox and David Arquette like a vacation and paparazzi snaps photos of them on the trip together and they look very in love. And on this trip he's wearing a tshirt on the beach that says trash. And I don't really know like if that. Has anything? Yeah, just like trash on his
tshirt. And but there's a photo of them kissing on the beach, and sources on the island say that they seem very in love. And one restaurant owner told Us Weekly that they were all over each other like a rash. They had their paws all over each other. And on New Year's Eve, witnesses said that his arm was around her
the entire night. And then it's, you know, New Year's Eve. It's January, it's now 2005, it's a new year, and on the last full day of their vacation, the couple release a joint statement to People magazine. They say we would like to announce that after seven years together, we have decided to formally separate. What the hell? They're still on vacation.
For those who follow these sort of things, we would like to explain that our separation is not the result of any of the speculation reported by the tabloid media. This decision is the result of much thoughtful consideration. We happily remain committed and caring friends with great love and admiration for one another. We ask in advance for your kindness and sensitivity in the coming months. I don't understand how this is possible.
I know, and on the flight back to California, both Jen and Brad are still wearing their wedding rings, and an editor for Us Weekly, Janice Min, says that the couple took this vacation knowing it was going to be the end of their marriage. One that's freaky. I have to ask you guys, if you know that a breakup is imminent, is it a good idea to end it with like one last hurrah? Like one last romantic guy I. Could not. I couldn't.
I mean, maybe if I'm the one that decided it, but if I'm the one being dumped, no, you're fucking way you're smelling. Get your cake and eat it too. And no, but also I I don't know, I did go on like this weekend trip where I feel like I'd, you know, bleep um, where I knew that the relationship was like ending. It was pretty obvious, but like, it was horrible. Yeah, I feel like you were like, I don't want to be here. It was absolutely awful, the worst trip I've ever been on in my life.
So I don't understand. I mean, I guess they're just really chill. Or I don't know. I don't understand how they were like all over each other and just having a good time. Supposedly it's like they were like in the pictures in denial. I feel like sometimes people maybe do that with like they have sex like one last time but like, but that's like stupid like I. Didn't think I could do that. That's going to make it only. If it was only, if only. See, it's like kind of
narcissistic, I think. But like only if it was my decision. I feel like could enjoy that, but like if if I'm the one who didn't initiate. The divorce or the breakup, like that would just be tragic. Well, here, you know what I think? I think for the person who decided it, it's selfish because it's like, Oh yeah, Like, it's almost like when you take your, like, you know you're going to put your dog down.
And so you give them like one last day where they get to eat like a McDonald's cheeseburger or something. Like that's what it's reminding me of. But, like, I feel like for the person who's getting broken up with, I wonder if for them, they almost think it's like one last chance to, like, convince the person like what they're going to be missing. You know that's true, which is stupid. It's stupid because it's like it's the person has already made-up their mind.
You're just making it harder for yourself because you're reminding yourself what you're going to lose, you know? I mean, if anyone can pull that off and do it and enjoy it, like all props to them, that's. Great, but that just seems so awful. Seems like it's prolonging the sadness. Also weird that they did it with like another couple. I know. Oh my gosh. I wonder what Courtney Cox and David Marquette thought. Yeah, like, this is awkward.
I wish I wasn't here because they must have known about it like they probably were working on their statement, right? Yeah. Gosh, I don't. Know celebrities? So weird, I know. Also, like, cut the crap. I hate those statements about, like, we remain committed friends to each other. Like, I'm sorry. Like, you're not going to be committed friends to each other anymore. Like, you don't have to pretend like this is, like, a happy thing. They always do that.
Like, just say, like, we're breaking up. Give us our privacy. They always act like it's for no reason to. I know people don't get divorced for no reason. No, and that doesn't make any sense. They always act like it's like we just mutually came to the decision that this was best. We lovingly decided to break up. Like, no. There's probably a little animosity there if you want to break up in the first place. We love each other so much that we're sending each other free. Yeah.
What? No. Like you would still be married if you loved each other that much. And I don't know. I just don't like that they do it like that. Because, yes, it probably makes it better for themselves. But for us normal people who are, like, so distraught about breakups, it's like, wait, is this easier for everybody else? And no, they're just pretending. I know. I do hate that. I mean, yeah, I guess some people are just really chill or maybe they're just heartless, I
don't know. But I do sometimes compare myself to people that are seemingly able to, like, be in the band with their ex or, you know, be best friends with their there's significant others, X or whatever. And I'm like, what the heck? Why aren't I able to do that? Yeah, and it's like, is there just pretending. I know, like it's there's something wrong with me that I feel like I'm going to throw up just by the mention of their
name. Yeah, I'm sure it's a spectrum and some people really are a lot chiller than I am, but I have to believe that most celebrities are faking it. Me too. I think they are. And of course everybody is shocked. I mean, this was a couple that seemed like they were just making out on the beach. Like, what happened? Yeah, and tabloids. Yeah, literally. And tabloids are initially reporting that it's because Brad wanted kids, but Jen wasn't ready.
I've heard that, but still. It's rumored that the real reason is, of course, Angelina Jolie. But Brad, who at this time makes $200 million per movie, has a lot to lose if he goes through a messy divorce. And I'm going to read an excerpt from this editor Joe Dulci of Star magazine, he wrote. These guys careers are based on their saleability which is based on their appeal and their attractiveness to the public and that has to be maintained.
If it came out that Brad was having an affair cheating on his wife, there might be a couple years where Brad couldn't open a movie depending on what that movie was. You know, if this main draw was, if his main draw was women and women are angry at him for messing around on his wife with another beautiful, gorgeous Hollywood starlet, they might vote with their daughters and not go see the next movie, which
is really interesting. And we have to keep in mind that a big star like Brad has a lot of pull with reporters. He has the best publicist in town. And so stories like that, like he wanted kids, but Jen wasn't ready. You kind of do have to question, like, where are they coming from? Because it does seem like it's not a noble reason to leave your wife, but like something that people might be more sympathetic to, you know? Yeah, that's so true.
But it's stupid. I feel like what you're talking about. Like, I don't know, the typical housewife at home with the daytime TV on or something. Like she would turn against Jen for that reason. Yes, that's so true. You know, and these are the people that were attached to them because they're like on Oprah and Diane Sawyer and stuff. But it's so hard to believe because I feel like a man usually doesn't leave his wife because she's not ready to have
kids. I mean, I'm sure it happens, but like, they don't have that, like time limit the way a woman does. So it's not like I. Know I find it hard to, hard to believe, Yeah, it's not like he's like, I'm in a rush like. I've never heard of that happening. No. I mean, maybe since he does have that restlessness, he was, like, eager for the next step. But I don't buy them. Maybe we're already talking about having kids anyway, Like, I I just don't think that that's
really true. I know, I I don't know. I've. I guess I only know my own experiences, but I've heard of the reverse happening and had a sexual relationships where the woman wants to have a kid and man doesn't and so she leaves him. But I've never heard of the opposite, yeah. Sure, it has happened. But. And it's just interesting because, like, he leaves her for someone who, like, already has a kid and is like, in the process.
Like, Angelina at this time had adopted a baby boy like a year before, and she's in the process of adopting a daughter. So, like, he's leaving her for someone who's like, very motherly, you know? So now it's March, March 25th. Jen officially files for divorce, and ironically, around this time it's announced that Jen will star in the romantic comedy The Breakup. And she's asked about that in an interview and she says, well, you know, I just figured sees
the moment. I don't think I've seen that movie, but I would like to. I've never finished it. I've started it like 10 times. I've really, it's not that it's a bad movie, it's just like for some reason I've never watched it all the way through. I see. I see I should one of these days.
So it's April and paparazzi photos come out of Brad and Angelina on the beach in Kenya playing with her son Maddox, and like they just look like a happy little family together, and one of Jen's best friends from high school, Andrea Bennetwald, told reporters. It was extremely hurtful to Jen that he was seen with another woman so quickly after they were separated. Man. Which I think a lot of Jen's close friends seemingly talk to
the press. And it like if her mom telling an unauthorized story, like selling a story, was so upsetting to her, it does kind of make me think that Jen kind of authorized her friends to, like, tell her side of the story without having to do it herself, you know? That's such a good point. Like they do it a lot. And I feel like it's like her way of throwing him under the bus but not coming across as bitter or resentful. That's her way of putting her feelings up there, exactly.
And so the public starts being really sympathetic. For Jen, a very popular Hollywood boutique called Kitson reported that it's Team Aniston tshirts were out selling the Team Jolie shirts 25 to 1. Wow. A cultural phenomenon. Really. Really. Yeah. Seriously. Everybody loves a love triangle. It's very salacious. And it it sells. People love to be able to pick between two options. Yeah, they really do. And they love to be passed included. Yeah, yeah.
So then in May, Brad broke his silence on the breakup to GQ. He said we've done it our way and I love her for that. We've kept the love we have for each other. It's talked about like it failed, I guess because it wasn't flawless. Me, I embrace the messiness of life. I find it so beautiful. Actually, the idea that marriage has to be for all time. I don't understand. Like, shut up, Brad. OK. Oh, my God. Yeah. I hate how he's like, trying to make it seem like it's noble. I know.
And I think if someone had just left me for another woman and he said I like to embrace the messiness of life, I would be so mad, yeah. Like, this is my my, my masterpiece of life. I know, Crazy. Like, let me write that in your diary. Don't tell the world that. That's like what helps you sleep at night, sure, but like, keep it to yourself. Yeah, you like to embrace the messiness. What about your ex-wife? Yeah, Like, what about the
people left behind? Yeah, especially because, like, she actually, like, didn't want the divorce. Yeah, it was his idea. What is the mess? It's like it's other people. I don't know. It just seems disrespectful. And also like him saying, like the idea that marriage has to be for all of time. I don't understand that. Then like, why did you get married? It does. Yeah. Then why did you?
Yeah, it does seem like to him. Maybe that's why he was proposing left and right to people, because it didn't mean that much to him. He's a charming guy. He is attractive and he seems friendly and stuff, but he seems very weird. Yeah, I don't know if I could be happy with him. I don't know if he would treat me right. Probably not now. Probably not. Probably not.
So then it's July, and Brad accompanied Angelina and her son Maddox on a trip to Ethiopia, where she adopted her oldest daughter, Sahara. Which that is really intimate, Like, you're going with her to get a child, a new family member. Like, that's pretty serious. Yeah. And Brad and Angelina did a 60
page photo spread. For W magazine, obviously, like in the anticipation for Mr. and Mrs. Smith, where they are photographed as a 1960s couple with five kids and the feature was titled Domestic Bliss, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at home. And I sent you photos from that which bad time pages. Oh yeah, I've seen this. They're very, very beautiful pictures. But yeah, that is that would be very upsetting. It's so insensitive that they would do that.
Yeah, like it's in promotion for a movie and like they're playing characters in the movie. But like if you're already rumored, heavily rumored with photographic evidence to have just left your wife for another woman. Like, wow, Another like, playing house. Yeah, that'd be devastating to see. Oh my God. And apparently the concept was Brad's idea, and he even retained the rights for the photo shoot and thus profited off of the magazine sales.
So it's not like the photographer, like, pitched it. Yeah, I had to. Yeah, no, that just shows like to me, like a callousness to him and like lack of consideration. Like, I feel like if if he really like, loved and respected his friend Jen. He would maybe be a little bit more private about, like, not like being so in your face, but it also like, plays into the rumor that like, oh, he, you know, he's just like noble guy, like just like looking to start a family. You know, it does, Yeah.
I mean, the cover is literally him in the backyard with like four of their sons or fake sons in the kiddie pool. It literally plays into that rumor. Yeah. And I think that's the idea, but it's kind of obvious how many do it is. And like, there's a lot of photos like this. Must have been like, multiple days of Wow photo shoot, yeah? Damn. So then at September and Jen is interviewed by Vanity Fair in an article titled The Unsinkable Jennifer Aniston. Her people are really.
Working overtime, I think to like, make her the hero of this story and succeed. Like people are more in love with Jennifer Aniston than ever before. And she's America's sweetheart. She really is, and the interviewer writes that at 36, Jen had originally expected to get pregnant. This past year, she's asked about the rumors that their marriage ended because he wanted to start a family, and she didn't. And she says a man divorcing would never be accused of
choosing career over a child. That really pissed me off. I've never in my life said I didn't want to have children. I did and I do and I will. The women that inspire me are the ones who have careers and children. Why would I want to limit myself? I've always wanted to have children and I would never give up that experience for a career. I want to have it all. And that, like, makes me really sad because I feel like the
press. After that was like very invasive regarding Jen's like fertility and whether she was going to have kids. And like every time she dated someone, it was like, will this finally be her baby daddy? Yeah, I think A. Part of that might be people projecting their own fears of like the possibility that like you might not get everything that you want in life and like
it's is kind of sad that like. She said she really wanted to have kids and then through no fault of her own, like was blindsided by the end of this marriage with this person who she thought she was going to have kids with. And like, people can understand that fear of like, oh, I invested so much time in this and then it didn't work out. And then something I really wanted might not come to fruition anymore. So, like, I feel like it comes from a place of empathy for people.
But like, it did cross the line. It definitely did. I remember so many magazines, like anytime she'd be on the beach or something that they would be like she's pregnant or, I don't know, just overanalyzing how her stomach looks that day. And it was so invasive, yeah. And it's quite annoying if it's because Brad's PR put out way back in the day that that she didn't want to have kids and. I know, yeah. Yeah, like the damage that, like they did with that.
Yeah, if that's true. But I I think, like, I hate to say it, but like, I feel like in a way it comes from a a good place where people just like, love Jennifer Aniston and like really wanted her to get everything that she wanted. But it's like, yeah, I do think so. It's invasive and I think it also like a lot of people would interpret it as, oh, like it's people saying that, like women are like worthless unless they have children.
I really don't think it. I know that that's often times a part of it like, but I think people just like wanted Jen to be happy and like they saw that as like something that she like lost as a result of the end of this marriage. So yeah, I I get what you're saying it. It really is like the aunt or uncle that you know does just want their it needs to be happy and like they do cross the line, but. Yeah, it comes from like everybody, like just like loves her and like wants her.
But yeah, especially because later she revealed like she had fertility issues too. And like, obviously it's like she was worried about this, like other people don't have to worry about it on her behalf. So yeah. That only very private. Yeah, I think unfortunately the fact that they had been so public, I don't think they realized that they would be like. Paying the price. And really Jen would be paying the price for that so many years later.
So Jen's close friends tells reporters, the reporter Leslie Bennett of this article that Brad could have done more to refute the rumors, but that they think he didn't because it made it seem as though he left her for a noble reason, to leave her for Earth Mother Jolie, which is kind of funny. She really is like, she does seem like Mother Teresa, like adopting these orphans and. Yeah, and a friend says when Brad and Jen were in the marriage, having a baby was not
his priority ever. It was an abstract desire for him, whereas for Jen it was much more immediate. So is there a part of Brad that's diabolical? Did he think I need to get out of this marriage? But I want to come out smelling like a rose, so I'm going to let Jen be cast as the ultra feminist, and I'm going to get cast as the poor husband who couldn't get a baby. And so I had to move on. Oh my God.
I believe that because like in that article before, she was the one talking about baby proofing the apartment or the house. And he was the one that was like. I think I want kids. Yeah. Like eventually I do want kids. Like, I'm ready for that next step. It seems fulfilling to, you know, teach kids what you know, you know? But it was self like, I don't know. I mean obviously I don't know them. I don't know. I wasn't there. I wasn't in the room when all this went down.
But just from what I'm picking up, I if I had to guess, I feel like it had nothing to do with kids whatsoever. I feel like he was just into Angelina Jolie and he seems very restless and he was just moving on to the next thing. Exactly. And like, the only reason kids are even brought up is because Angelina has two kids. Yeah. And it's very unfortunate that, like, they're even, like, wasting time on any other
things. But you know, once someone like, gets in trouble and they really do everything they can to, like, divert attention and like, make it about something else, Yep. So in this article it's revealed that it was Brad's idea to separate and that Jen did not want to, and that she had suspicions that it was about Angelina, but that he denied it. And when the interviewer asks her about that, she says what we
said was true. As far as I knew, we wrote it together very consciously and felt very good about it. We exited the relationship as beautifully as we entered it, which again is like, I feel like she's always trying to like be positive, but the way she says what we said was true, as I knew, I think is her admitting that like, he might have cheated on me? I don't know. Yeah, that. Maybe at the time she didn't
know everything. She's then asked about the pictures of Brad and Angelina on the beach with Angelina's son. And like, and about that being so soon after their breakup. And she says the world was shocked and I was shocked. And she describes the process of the breakup as a grieving journey and that her friends make comments about how they're all amazed by her strength. And she says, I felt, I feel like I'm nesting. I love being home.
I have friends that come over at my girlfriends I've had for 20 years. When things happen, the tribe gathers around and lifts you up. I've had lonely moments, sure, but I'm also enjoying being alone. There's no question it takes getting used to. I'm a partnership person, and if something happens, your instinct is to share it, but you're no longer part of a couple. I definitely miss that. Sort of like Bambi, like you're trying to learn how to walk. You're a little awkward, You
stumble a little bit. The things you would do with your partner, you don't do. It's unchartered territory, but I think it's good for me to be a solo person right now. You're forced to reconnect yourself and take it to another level. If you can find a way to see the glass half full, there are the moments when you learn the most. I've had to reintroduce myself to myself in a way that's different. I think that's really well put.
Yeah, I think so too. I mean, you can tell like someone who says something so eloquent like that, like they're journaling. They're like reading self help books, like they're like going to therapy, like they're doing everything. Yeah, she's obviously going through a lot to come to those realizations, but I think that it is true. It really is true. I feel you do learn the most about yourself going through loss like that so. Yeah, I will say I'm pretty sure
she wasn't like totally single. I think she was dating Vince Vaughn. Who she started with. But I don't think it was that serious of a relationship. And the fact she's saying all this, like, it really makes you wonder. Like, were they just kind of like pretend dating, You know, so it looked like she was moving on and I'm not sure. Maybe so on. This is a very long article and very revealing.
Like it's. I don't think stuff like this is really ever written nowadays, where like the biggest celebrity you get like all these pieces of juice. What is it? Well, so she just like they talk. Like the whole interview was basically about the divorce and on the idea of being left for another woman, she says. I would be a robot if I said I didn't feel moments of anger, of hurt, of embarrassment. And, she adds, I don't feel like a victim.
I've worked with this therapist for a long time, and her major focus is that you get one day of being a victim and that's it. Then we take responsibility for our own input. To live in a victim place is pointing a finger at someone else, as if you had no control. Relationships are two people. Everything is accountable. I kind of hate when people say stuff like that. In terms of cheating though,
because it's like it's. It's still never really your fault to get cheated on. I don't know it's not. But it it can be helpful in a way to recognize like maybe I had low self esteem or something and I I knew that he was kind of shifty and I but like I had to stay with him because he's Brad Pitt and now I need to recognize that I don't need to be with somebody. That's very gorgeous because blah blah blah, you know what I mean? Yeah, like I'm better off. I thought that person.
Anyway, yeah, I think it is good to put some power back in your hands. Exactly, yeah. I agree with that and learn from it. I do think that if you stay in that place of like woe is me, like I was cheated on like it's going to be hard to. Never move on because you'll feel like you're owed something that you're not going to receive from somebody else. So. And you cannot control anybody else. Unfortunately, it's true. It's true. And she's asked if she believed
that. Brad. Didn't cheat, which like I feel like, like, like I said nowadays. Like reporters like are not that like upfront, I know. And she said I chose to believe my husband at this point. I wouldn't be surprised by anything, but I would much rather choose to believe him. That's hard, I know. The interviewer brings up Brad's new bleach bond hair and Jen says Billy Idol called. He wants his look back. So she's like something like
kind of flirty I feel. And she's asked about the W magazine photo spread and she says I can also imagine Brad having absolutely no clue why people would be appalled by it. Brad is not mean spirited. He would never intentionally try to rub something in my face. In hindsight, I can see him going, Oh, I can see that was inconsiderate. But I know Brad. Brad wouldn't say Brad. Brad would say that's art. Yeah, I'm sure he was like, obviously it wasn't mean spirited, but like be a little
bit smarter. Like, I feel like, honestly, I feel like the lack of intent is like worse. Because it's like you weren't thinking about that at all. I don't know. Brad. Brad. Brad. I know she goes on to say that her idea of marriage is that it's not perfect, but when things get tough, it could be an amazing moment of deepening and enlightenment and connection. But then she lights a cigarette, which I didn't know she was a singer, and adds. That's not Brad's view of it.
We believe in different things. I guess you can't force a relationship, even if it's your view of how you would like it to be conducted, which is very true. So chill like the cigarette. I know you know what that's balls like. That's like that's hot. It is so cool. It's like kind of like she lights a cigarette and she's like, but say Lovey, I love it. You can't control people, and her same high school friend from
before, Andrea says. He wanted to figure out who he was and what he wanted, but he seemed to want to do it without being married. She wanted him to figure out what he wanted and stay married. He didn't think he could do that. So at this point she was like, OK, go figure it out. What a good friend, But what? What is going leaving one person for another? How was that like even exploring yourself or learning what yourself? I know, yeah, just going right
into another relationship. Yeah, that's not really exploring yourself, that's exploring somebody else. I feel like Brad has some issues. I mean, I do think it's like. How do you explain that, though? Like it's it would be painful to hear. Like, I just fell in love with somebody else. Like, I know it's it kind of. It lessens the blow to say like I'm exploring myself. I know people. People totally do that. I've done it too. Yeah, it's, yeah. There's no way to make it, like,
less painful for the person. I don't mean I haven't left someone for someone else or haven't cheated on someone. I just meant that you say things to make it sound. Better 100%, but like a lot of that is oftentimes coming from a caring place because you don't want to hurt the other person. And like, if the person loved you, it almost hurts more to
like become. A bad guy in their eyes, because it's like probably would be painful for Jen if she began to believe that this man she loved was like the type of person who would do something malicious or bad, you know? So I can see why she's, like, still defending him, probably giving him a little bit too much mercy. Yeah, And so she reveals that she's still in contact with Brad's mother and that she hopes that her and Brad can be friends
again someday. And that same month, she appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and she appeared very strong and insightful after the divorce. And that is my final clip. I don't believe that you call things into your life and then things happen as as they should. When? When you're ready for it, that's what happened. What would be your big lesson from this whole? This whole thing, besides wanting more publicity, I just felt like I was not getting enough publicity. You know, I think there's
probably so many reasons, but. You know, the other the other day I was doing yoga and with my girlfriend and we were, we finished, we were sort of sitting there just sort of stretching and I looked over at her and I said, you know what I have to say? I'm feeling a feeling I have. I don't know if I've ever actually felt before, and that is that I don't want to be anywhere other than where I am right now sitting across from. Me. You know. I'm not.
I'm not sitting somewhere dwelling on the past or I'm not fretting or, you know, obsessing about something in the future or something that was, you know, it's just, it was a feeling of total peace and. I love that. How did you, how did you get there? Because you had to have, you had to shed some tears. You had to have some moments where you were like, Oh my gosh. Me not shed a tear. Yeah.
Please. Yeah. So you know, although I did not burst into tears at the opening of that article, by the way, I'll just say that. But anyway. So you shed some tears. You shed some. Tears but meaning you know it was it's sort of that the the the living in the moment in the in the now as they say and all the self help books because if I had a dollar for every book that was sent my way I could have probably paid for the studio but you know I we needed. $2.00.
$2.00 for every book. But we had $2.00 for every book. So, but yeah, you can read the book. You can read them and you can sort of intellectualize it. But the truth is, and you sit there going, well, how do I do that? You know, and you're frustrated and then you get down on yourself because you're not
there yet. And then you just realize one day it's just, it's happened, it's collected in your, you know, your your your cellular memory and and that's and then one day you're sitting there with your friend doing yoga and you go, oh, I get it, I'm OK. I get it. I'm wondering if it's not impossible when. It's not my fault. I wonder if it's not impossible. When you're in a relationship that's so high, profile not to in some way lose yourself in that. Did you? Did you lose yourself?
Sure. I mean come on, it's sort of like because it's so big and it's so much information and you're it's almost like you're trying to. Kind of navigate through through all of it, through the truth through the bull through the you know stuff that's not that's mean that's everything that you kind of you do. I don't know when it happens. You just kind of go, geez, what's where do I begin and that stops. It's but you know it's it's not easy. Wow. Yeah, I feel like that, kind of.
That reminded me of like one of your breakups where you read The power of now and like gained such a. Yes. Enhanced sense of being present and like understanding what it means to be a peaceful person. Yes, Oprah. Oprah kind of. I mean, I had heard of Eckhart Toy before, but Oprah kind of reintroduced. Really. To me Eckart, totally the power of now and New Earth and I love those books and thank you Oprah and. Yeah, that was. I know to hear that she was
talking. About that's why I hate when people shit on Oprah, because I'm like, she really like, has inspired people. She helps. People, Oprah has genuinely helped me. No, like so I feel like she's literally like gave me such a spiritual like. In his spirituality and like sense of peace I don't know. Me too. I feel like. Jen seemed a bit more chill, laid back in the interview at some point. She still sounded a little bit like she's acting, but yeah, she
seemed a little bit looser. A lot looser than the sorry. There's like like a mariachi band or something outside. Cool, but. Yeah, no, yeah. A lot chiller than the Diane Sawyer interview. And it's like, but you can really tell that like she's really like done the work, as they say, like healing from this breakup. And it's kind of like the total opposite of what it seems. Brad is where he's again, like, restless. No, he's chasing something and
like someone who's like that. They are not focused on being in the present moment and like appreciating what's right in front of them. I mean, we we don't know. But, like, she could have come out of this feeling much more at peace than him, even though she was the one that was broken up with, yeah. Because like, she was the one that actually had to, like, do the active healing.
Like when someone like breaks up with someone and then jumps right into a relationship, they're actually not doing like, all the reflecting. And like, yeah, self growth that the other person is doing. So like, I feel like they actually get like less out of it in the long run. Wow. And I like that. Yeah, I like that. She said all that, though, because it's really inspiring because she's like, when am I going to feel it? Like, when am I going to feel
better? And then she's like, and then you just do for anyone who's like, you know, going through it like it's like, just wait. You will like at one point feel better. It'll like sneak up on you. Patience. Patience is the hardest thing. It's it's sometimes you just have to remember. That word just be like patience, exactly. It is. It's so awful. Like time really is the only cure for things like that. And it's like, it sucks to hear that. It's so infuriating, but you just have to keep.
Going Yeah, It's a journey. And then in October, the divorce was finalized. It was pretty simple, like Jen got their $25 million home and kept a minor stake in their joint company, Plan B. Their production company. Yes, while Brad became the sole owner, now he's the owner. And it was worth about $50 million at the time. And because they didn't sign a prenup, Jen technically was entitled to 50% of Brad's earnings because he still made more than her according to the California State law.
But she wasn't really interested in that, so I don't even think she, like, accepted it. She really, she really just, like, wants peace with everybody, it seems. Yeah, yeah, I feel. Like you can do that. Weren't they making a million? But they're making a million in. Episodes. Yeah. Yeah, she was fine. Like, he made more than her, but, like, barely. Yeah, she'll be OK. Like, yeah. And I'm going to leave off
there. And then next episode, we'll continue the timeline and we'll take a little bit more of Angelina Jolie's perspective. And we'll still, but we'll still keep Jen. Like, keep giving you updates on like where Jen and Brad stand through it. So if you're still interested in this couple, they'll continue in the next episode. Should we do custody Battle I. Think most people would pick Jennifer Aniston, I would say.
Yes, I would do. Not to jump ahead, but it's so funny because like now, years later, like, I feel like now that he's not with Angelina, people still like a fantasize about. Jen and Brad getting back together, but it's like. Yes, we do. He's not the prize. Like, I don't. I don't know. I would not want to get with somebody years later after they left me for somebody else and had six kids. No, like she's the prize. He doesn't get to win her in the end, I don't think.
That is still on the cover. It's great that would. Be honestly a bummer. Like 20 years, 20 years, It's not deserve basically. If I believe that if someone forces you to read the power of now or like any self help books like. They don't get to get back together with you. Thanks, Mel. It's a good book. Yeah. Yeah. You know, I don't have to go through a breakup to. No, but I feel like you have to go through something to want. Exactly.
Otherwise you're kind of like OK, this is annoying, but yeah, if you're like at your width and I. This is very fun. I can't wait. I mean, it's very sad. Divorce is very sad, but I can't wait for Part 2. I'm excited too. Thanks guys for listening. And Yep, Part 2, when Brad Pitt Met Angelina Jolie will be, I guess maybe we'll say when Angelina Jolie met Brad Pitt will be available on our Patreon and. Get back together then. Bye. Is your heart peeled with pain?
Shall I come back again? Tell me dear, how are you, long term turn? Ah.