Brad Pitt

ANOTHER FAKE ROMANCE FOR BRAD PITT?

Listen, times are tough in the gossip world – many celebrities are isolating, so all we see are the occasional masked celeb at a supermarket or bike riding. Gossip is HARD to find! So we’re not surprised that Us Weekly has devoted their last few issues to a new Brad Pitt “romance.” He’s been spending time with actress/artist Alia Shawkat, 31, who happens to live ten minutes from his home in Los Feliz – she’s been seen biking to his house. Alia was on the series Arrested Development, and has even had her art shown in Paris. They both share an interest in art, architecture, and film, and they have FUN together. Mutual friends in the art world introduced them, and sources INSIST they are just friends. Why do we believe they are just pals? Brad has always been attracted to beautiful women – whether they were actresses or waitresses. Alia is cute, but her buzz cut and baggy clothing indicate she is NOT on a man-hunt. Also, she says she is bisexual, and her best friend is Ellen Page. Odds of this relationship turning romantic are slim, but never say never…

NICOLAS CAGE IS PERFECT CASTING TO PLAY JOE EXOTIC

When you think about it, Nicolas Cage IS almost the perfect choice to play Joe Exotic in an eight episode series for CBS. (Just the perfect touch of crazy – right?) The script is based on a story that appeared in Texas Monthly last year (before Tiger King) about how Joe Schreibvogel amassed his private zoo in Oklahoma and feuded with Carol Baskin and Jeff Lowe. The story will also explain how ordinary Joe made himself over to become Joe Exotic. This is the first time Nicolas has done TV, but we imagine he’s very excited to play this character. Joe Exotic recently said he’d like to see Brad Pitt play himself and we think it would be too painful to watch Brad torment animals, while Nicolas can pull it off more easily…

HGTV’ S DREW AND JONATHAN SCOTT GOT LUCKY WHEN BRAD PITT SAID YES

As much as we love the dependable HGTV, we are not particularly fond of Drew and Jonathan Scott– the twins are just a tad too egotistical and confident for our taste. But they got REALLY LUCKY when Brad Pitt agreed to appear on their new show Celebrity IOU. Besides Angelina, who doesn’t love Brad Pitt? And the fact that Brad remodeled his longtime makeup artist’s modest garage home into a comfy guesthouse just makes you love him more. A longtime fan of architecture, Brad designed the interior himself and we are eager to see his taste. Of course, we’re HOPING for an absence of those everpresent candles, bric-a-brac, and throws so dear to HGTV… but that might be too much to ask of the twins.

WAKE UP! JENNIFER AND BRAD ARE NOT GETTING BACK TOGETHER!

Okay, let’s get this Brad Pitt/Jennifer Aniston “reunion” nonsense out of the way, right now. Sure, they bumped into each other at the SAG Awards and were very cordial. There is NO reason for them NOT to be friends! When they were married, Brad did NOT cheat on Jen with Angelina Jolie! Period. Jen told Brad she wanted a divorce and had started the process BEFORE he started filming Mr and Mrs Smith with Angelina. Brad was sad and Angelina sensed his vulnerability – she set her sights on him, but did NOT break up their marriage. It was already OVER. Ironically, years later, Angelina divorced Brad for many of the same reasons Jen did – he became a boring couch potato who smoked pot all day. Brad admits, and is now addressing, his flaws – he IS basically a nice guy. (Certainly Brad has a new appreciation for the tactful way Jen handled THEIR divorce – no nasty accusations.) Brad and Jen are happy to be friends again – but NOT interested in a repeat performance.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

BRAD PITT ISN’T TAKING ANY CHANCES

Right now, the world simply cannot get enough of Brad Pitt. He was the talk of the Golden Globes – and not just because Jennifer Aniston was there also. During his acceptance speech Brad thanked co-workers but deliberately NOT his kids. He knows that any reference to them will increase press curiosity and make them vulnerable. (Angelina, on the other hand, definitely does NOT mind being seen with the kids.) Brad reportedly did not drink at Globes parties – he’s in an all-male AA group and finds it inspiring. All-male is an excellent idea – that’s not a smart place to find romance.

Above, Brad in New York on his way to the Film Critics Awards dinner.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

BRAD LEARNED A FEW THINGS FROM JENNIFER

Golden Globe winner Brad Pitt was radiant on the red carpet – he barely missed bumping into his ex-wife Jennifer Aniston, who was equally radiant. (They absolutely cannot be photographed anywhere NEAR each other because they will be accused by tabloids of reconciliation – and we can’t blame them.) Brad and Jen DID share a red carpet beauty tip- they both got fake tans before the event. And both looked amazing. Whether tanning bed or spray tan, Jennifer has been doing this for years, and Brad started to do the same when they were married. When he was with Angelina, Brad chose to appear as pale as she was.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

BRAD PITT: CAUGHT IN THE ACT

Brad Pitt has a rep for being one of the nicer guys in Hollywood, but even HE has his flaws – as his two ex-wives are bound to remember. Smoking too much pot slowed him down considerably and indulging in too much alcohol was another problem. He’s given up a lot, but Brad still smokes cigarettes – more than ever. His kids worry because they know how unhealthy it is. Brad tried vaping without success and now he tries to keep his smoking undercover. Above, Brad entered the back door at The Arclight Hollywood where he did a Q & A.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

BRAD PITT HAS REDEEMED HIMSELF!

Brad Pitt looks truly grateful and happy at the premier of his new astronaut film Ad Astra at the Venice Film Festival, where he’s the toast of the town. Brad got great reviews for the film and his role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood already has Oscar buzz. After a few years of being humiliated by his nasty divorce, he has quietly worked his way back into the hearts of Hollywood. Meanwhile his ex Angelina Jolie continues to be photographed EVERYWHERE with her kids – from Petco to South Korea where she dropped off Maddox at school.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

QUENTIN TARANTINO’S INSPIRATION: BURT REYNOLDS!

Here’s something we didn’t know about Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: the friendship between Leonardo DiCaprio’s actor character and Brad Pitt’s stuntman character was based on the lifelong friendship of Burt Reynolds and his stuntman Hal Needham. Burt and Hal had matching egos and machismo (not to mention gold chains and chest hair) and they were inseparable friends. Hal even lived in Burt’s guesthouse free for twelve years until he got married again. Hal died in 2013, and Quentin wanted Burt to appear in his movie, but Burt died last year.