Brad Pitt Is Fooling You

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In a recent interview on “Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard”, Brad Pitt enters casually, displaying a familiar charm. His short, gray-blonde hair brings back memories of his days in “Troy” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”. He dons light-washed jeans and a soft baby-blue cashmere shirt from his brand God’s True Cashmere, which receives a detailed mention. Pitt reflects on early career struggles and adapting to a changing Hollywood environment. They delve into the topics of “truth” and “honesty”, as well as his time in Alcoholics Anonymous (the two first met at a meeting in 2016). At around the 46-minute mark, Shepard asks, “I’m hesitant to ask this, but here goes… Have you ever heard the Cary Grant quote, ‘Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant.’ Do you relate to that at all?” Pitt pauses briefly, looking up at the ceiling, “Perhaps in the initial stages. I’m not sure. I don’t spend much time thinking about public image anymore.

However, despite Brad Pitt’s meticulously planned promotional tour for “F1: The Movie,” it seems to convey a different narrative. Working with crisis-management publicist Matthew Hiltzik, who has also represented Johnny Depp, Donald Trump, and Justin Baldoni, Pitt aims to reassert his image as an authentic, unadulterated movie star with a subtle touch of vulnerability. Despite past battles with alcoholism, he has managed to rise above it. His new partner, Ines de Ramon, is portrayed as easy-going and accommodating, in stark contrast to his ex-wife one might want to forget.

At the London premiere of “F1,” Pitt rekindled his friendship with his “Interview with a Vampire” co-star, Tom Cruise. This was their first public appearance together since 2001, a strategic move designed to evoke nostalgia. The overall impression created by “F1” and its promotional tour is a finely tuned charm offensive intended to soften, if not entirely hide, the reported details of his conduct toward ex-wife Angelina Jolie. Pitt’s successful rebranding effort has led many members of the public to be unaware of what exactly he is trying to repair his image for.

Reminding myself of some past events, I recall allegations made against Brad Pitt back in 2016. According to court documents, an incident occurred during a flight on their private plane where he is said to have physically abused Angelina Jolie by throwing her against a wall, shaking her violently, and pouring alcohol near her while she was trying to sleep. The children tried to intervene, but Pitt allegedly responded by physically abusing one of them as well. Five days later, Jolie filed for divorce, which was finalized in December 2024.

Since then, Pitt has won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2020 for his role in Quentin Tarantino’s film “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.” However, his subsequent films like “Bullet Train” (2022) and “Wolfs” (2024) didn’t receive the same level of acclaim. The promotion tour for “Bullet Train” included an awkward encounter with Bad Bunny where Pitt seemed to be attempting to portray the epitome of Hollywood cool, but it fell flat. “Wolfs,” a collaboration with his “Oceans” franchise co-star George Clooney, was another attempt to revisit past glory, but unfortunately, the film was a critical and financial failure. Interestingly, during both press tours for these films, no one asked Pitt any questions about Angelina Jolie.

Brad Pitt’s team appears to be savvy enough to grasp the transformation in the celebrity market landscape. It’s no accident that, during the promotion of F1: The Movie, Pitt has opted for less traditional press engagements, such as Shepard’s podcast, which offers a more casual, conversational setting where he won’t be pressed to discuss sensitive personal or professional topics. Recently, he playfully read thirst tweets with his co-star Javier Bardem, and before that, he exchanged humorous banter over British idioms with Damson Idris. In his latest magazine profile for GQ, Pitt comes across as candidly open, despite not being questioned about Angelina Jolie or the estrangement from some of his children who are reportedly seeking to remove his name from their legal names.

Brad Pitt candidly spoke about his past struggles with alcoholism and joining Alcoholics Anonymous, stating that he was desperate and trying every possible solution during a difficult time in his life. He acknowledged the need for change and admitted that he no longer wanted to live that way. This has been a recurring theme in many of Pitt’s interviews, including his 2017 GQ profile where he admitted to being a ‘professional drinker.’ However, when asked about the specific reasons for his decision to quit drinking or what exactly he was seeking penance for, Pitt did not provide details. Some interpret this as an indirect suggestion that he has addressed and moved past any personal issues contributing to his divorce from Angelina Jolie. In conversations about his recovery, Pitt seems more focused on affirming his transformed image rather than sharing the specifics of his healing journey.

As a cinephile, I’ve got to admit: The press tour for F1: The Movie seemed like a gamble, but it appears to have paid off! This film harks back to the golden age of cinema, where a star’s charisma could carry an entire blockbuster. Over the weekend, it notched up the biggest box office opening of Brad Pitt’s career – a feat that speaks volumes about its success!

In this movie, Brad Pitt portrays Sonny Hayes, a once-promising F1 racer from the 90s who faced a tragic accident that derailed his career. Now living in a camper van, somewhat disconnected from society, he’s been divorced multiple times and has gone bankrupt due to his inherited gambling habits. He exudes a rough yet endearing loner vibe. His old friend and team owner, Ruben Cervantes (played by Bardem), tries to reel him back in as they both yearn for an F1 victory. The film often focuses on the promising Joshua Pearce (Idris) but consistently shifts the spotlight towards Sonny. Despite the film’s playful jabs at Sonny’s (and Pitt’s) age, it frequently emphasizes his attractiveness. The movie positions Sonny as an underdog yet treats him anything but. When Sonny starts winning races, a Formula One commentator exclaims joyfully, “Someone call the 90s. If you missed him, he’s back!” This statement applies not only to the character Sonny Hayes but also to the film’s star, aiming to transport us back to the era when Pitt was synonymous with effortless charm.

When an actor links their recovery to a hit movie, it can be challenging to distinguish the art from the artist, as their on-screen role influences their off-screen image. The off-screen persona is also a form of acting, used to promote values and sometimes products like cashmere sweaters or phone plans. Pitt has consistently marketed a specific vision of American white masculinity, characterized by charm, resilience, and effortless self-assurance. His skill in downplaying the specter of violence in his own story is a reflection of how violence against women is often accepted as normal. People may not doubt what happened to Jolie on the plane, but they might choose to disregard it.

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2025-07-03 15:54