The past year has been a challenging one for actor Brad Pitt at home and away from his movie-star career. His split from actress Angelina Jolie made headlines around the world, and the aftermath of the breakup was filled with rumors about a secret Hollywood affair and abuse allegations that led to an investigation. Now the 53-year-old actor has opened up about the divorce and how he wants to be a better father to his children. It sounds like one of the most painful parts of the divorce process was his uncertainty regarding the visitation of his kids. Check out what he said about it:
It was all that [I could think about] for a while. I was really on my back and chained to a system when Child Services was called. And you know, after that, we've been able to work together to sort this out. We're both doing our best. I heard one lawyer say, 'No one wins in court--it's just a matter of who gets hurt worse.' And it seems to be true, you spend a year just focused on building a case to prove your point and why you're right and why they're wrong, and it's just an investment in vitriolic hatred. I just refuse. And fortunately, my partner in this agrees. It's just very, very jarring for the kids, to suddenly have their family ripped apart.
The Courtroom is behind him, and when last we checked on Brad Pitt, people were questioning if and when the star of Netflix's War Machine would dive into the dating pool again. Although the GQ profile did not provide a direct answer to that inquiry, it did paint a picture of Pitt's current reality, which includes a lot of time focused on new labor-intensive hobbies, such as pottery and sculpting. Moreover, Pitt shared that he quit drinking because he doesn't "want to live that way anymore." These insights correspond with previous reports that the actor has lost weight and found a renewed sense of contentment. Secondly, they gently suggest Pitt is obtaining brightness in his life, which we love. In fact, Pitt touched on dealing with the formerly shadowy aspects of his life, saying,
I'm 53 and I'm just getting into it. These are things I thought I was managing very well. I remember literally having this thought a year, a year and a half ago, [when] someone was going through some scandal. Something crossed my path that was a big scandal--and I went, 'Thank God I'm never going to have to be a part of one of those again.' I live my life, I have my family, I do my thing, I don't do anything illegal, I don't cross anyone's path. What's the David Foster Wallace quote? Truth will set you free, but not until it's done with you first.
In other words, Brad Pitt is a complex, multilayered human being experiencing a mix of emotions, and he seems to be working through aspects of himself that perhaps helped to steer his marriage toward divorce. As difficult as everything has been for Pitt in recent times, it appears things are looking up. Sometimes, out of tragedy can come clarity and growth.
