CULTURE

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie To Divorce, But You’ll Be Fine

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s romance, one that often played out in the pages of W, has come to an end.


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Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are reportedly divorcing. It is the end to Hollywood’s most A-list of couplings and the kind of tabloid news that will cause a million little tweets declaring that “love is dead” and a surge of “If they can’t make it work, what hope is there for the rest of us?” Facebook updates.

Take a deep breath. It’s fine. They’ll be fine in the end. They’re Hollywood royalty after all. You’ll also be just fine in the end. This really has nothing to do with you or the state of your love life. Everything will be fine. It’s just that sometimes two adults, even when they’re rich and famous and gorgeous and the vessel through which many dutiful American tabloid readers channel their most fanciful romantic fantasies, decide to end their relationship. Love isn’t totally dead. It’s just that theirs seems to be.

According to TMZ, no interloping party or infidelity is suspected to be at play. While “irreconcilable differences” are given as the official reason in the legal filings, the gossip site claims that Jolie was “extremely upset” with Pitt’s parenting methods. She’s enlisted Laura Wasser, the high-powered attorney who became Hollywood’s “divorce queen” after Jolie previously hired her to handle her divorce from Billy Bob Thorton, to handle her side of the case.

And it’ll all be fine. They’ll still have the memories, and because they’re a celebrity couple, you’ll also have their memories. Because if all romances are a storybook, then Pitt and Jolie’s was one that was often serialized in W magazine.

In 2005, the couple infamously collaborated with photographer Steven Klein for a shoot reenacting the highs and lows of a classic suburban American family to promote Mr. and Mrs. Smith. At the time, the couple weren’t yet public with their romance, and Jennifer Aniston had only filed for divorce from Pitt months before.

Domestic Bliss: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at Home

On her: Vintage dress from the Attic, Las Vegas; Mikimoto earrings. On him: Jil Sander cotton suit and leather belt; Alexander McQueen cotton shirt. Timex watch; Polo Ralph Lauren socks; Kenneth Cole shoes.

Steven Klein

On her: Yves Saint Laurent embroidered astrakhan and wool cape. David Yurman ring; Harry Winston wedding band. On him: Original Penguin cotton poplin shorts. Vintage shirt from the Attic, Las Vegas; Cartier wedding band; Persol sunglasses.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Narciso Rodriguez wool and silk crepe dress. Ciner earrings; Lee Angel brooch. On him: Thom Browne wool pants and silk tie; Trussardi cotton shirt.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Luisa Beccaria silk satin dress. Harry Winston earrings; D&G shoes. On him: Thom Browne wool suit.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Luisa Beccaria silk satin dress. Harry Winston earrings; D&G shoes. On him: Thom Browne wool suit.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Alberta Ferretti silk chiffon dress. La Perla silk bra. On him: Thom Browne wool pants. Dsquared belt.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

Eres black lace-trimmed silk jersey slip.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Alexander McQueen mohair sweater and silk dress. Cynthia Wolff earrings. On him: Alexander McQueen cotton shirt.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Vintage white dress from The Attic, Las Vegas; LaCrasia gloves; Christian Roth sunglasses; Van Cleef & Arpels watch from Kenshire Galleries; Miriam Haskell earrings; Christian Louboutin shoes. On him: Original Penguin’s mulicolored cotton jersey sweater, at Original Penguin, New York, www.originalpenguin.com; Thom Browne’s gray wool trousers, at Bergdorf Goodman and Feffrey, New York; Ron Herman, Los Angeles. Makins hat; Omega watch from Aaron Faber Gallery.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Vintage gown from The Attic, Las Vegas; Harry Winston wedding band.On him: Vintage shirt from House of Style, Las Vegas; Makins hat; Polo Ralph Lauren socks; Versace shoes.

John Currin’s Healthcare Worker, 2003, ink and gouache on prepared paper, from the collection of Rosette Delug, courtesy of Gagosian Gallery, Los Angeles.

Beauty Note: Simmer down with Estee Lauder After-Sun Rehydrator for the Body, a cooling treatment that not only soothes skin but also prolongs a tan.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Vintage white dress from The Attic, Las Vegas; LaCrasia gloves; Christian Roth sunglasses; Van Cleef & Arpels watch from Kenshire Galleries; Miriam Haskell earrings; Christian Louboutin shoes. On him: Original Penguin’s mulicolored cotton jersey sweater, at Original Penguin, New York, www.originalpenguin.com; Thom Browne’s gray wool trousers, at Bergdorf Goodman and Jeffrey, New York; Ron Herman, Los Angeles. Makins hat; Omega watch from Aaron Faber Gallery.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Alberta Ferretti’s silk chiffon dress, at Maxfield, Los Angeles; Mix, Houston. On him: Thom Browne’s wool pants, at Bergdorf Goodman and Jeffrey, New York; Ron Herman, Los Angeles, DSquared belt.

Beauty Note: A swipe of winged eyeliner manages to look seductive every time. Dior Style Liner packs a sexy, retro punch.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

White vintage Gottex swimsuit from The Attic, Las Vegas.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Cartier earrings. On him: Vintage hat.

Beauty Note: Capture a great hair moment with L’Oreal Studio Line Fast-Forward Hairspray, which freezes styles in place without any stickiness.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Cartier earrings. On him: Vintage hat.

Beauty Note: Capture a great hair moment with L’Oreal Studio Line Fast-Forward Hairspray, which freezes styles in place without any stickiness.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

Trussardi’s gray plaid wool pants, www.trussardi.com. Makins hat.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Miu Miu’s cotton slip, at select Miu Miu stores, 888.977.1900. On him: Burberry London’s wook pants, at select Bloomingdale’s stores; Burberry, New York and Los Angeles, 800.284.8480. Vintage shirt from House of Style, Las Vegas; Omega watch from Aaron Faber Gallery.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Vintage dress from The Attic, Las Vegas; Mikimoto earrings. On him: Jil Sander’s cotton suit and leather belt, at Jil Sander, New York, 800.704.7317; Alexander McQueen’s cotton shirt, at Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman and Alexander McQueen, New York. Timex watch; Polo Ralph Lauren socks; Kenneth Cole shoes.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Vintage dress from The Attic, Las Vegas; Mikimoto earrings. On him: Jil Sander’s cotton suit and leather belt, at Jil Sander, New York, 800.704.7317; Alexander McQueen’s cotton shirt, at Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman and Alexander McQueen, New York. Timex watch; Polo Ralph Lauren socks; Kenneth Cole shoes.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Alberta Ferretti’s silk chiffon dress, at Maxfield, Los Angeles; Mix, Houston. On him: Thom Browne’s wool pants, at Bergdorf Goodman and Jeffrey, New York; Ron Herman, Los Angeles, DSquared belt.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Giambattista Valli ostrich feather and silk velvet and tulle dress. Christian Louboutin shoes. J. Medel’s mink coat. Harry Winston earrings. On him: Alexander McQueen wool suit; Dior Homme cotton shirt. Dior Homme shoes. DSquared tie.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Giambattista Valli ostrich feather and silk velvet and tulle dress. Christian Louboutin shoes. J. Medel’s mink coat. Harry Winston earrings. On him: Alexander McQueen wool suit; Dior Homme cotton shirt. Dior Homme shoes. DSquared tie.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Michael Kors’s cream silk charmeuse blouse, at Saks Fifth Avenue; Bergdorf Goodman and Michael Kors, New York; Ralph Lauren’s black wool skirt, at Bergdorf Goodman, New York; select Ralph Lauren stores, runway.polo.com. Christian Louboutin shoes. On him: Alexander McQueen’s white cotton shirt, at Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman and Alexander McQueen, New York; Thom Browne’s gray wool pants, at Bergdorf Goodman and Jeffrey, New York; Ron Herman, Los Angeles.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Michael Kors’s cream silk charmeuse blouse, at Saks Fifth Avenue; Bergdorf Goodman and Michael Kors, New York; Ralph Lauren’s black wool skirt, at Bergdorf Goodman, New York; select Ralph Lauren stores, runway.polo.com. Christian Louboutin shoes. On him: Alexander McQueen’s white cotton shirt, at Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman and Alexander McQueen, New York; Thom Browne’s gray wool pants, at Bergdorf Goodman and Jeffrey, New York; Ron Herman, Los Angeles.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Michael Kors’s cream silk charmeuse blouse, at Saks Fifth Avenue; Bergdorf Goodman and Michael Kors, New York; Ralph Lauren’s black wool skirt, at Bergdorf Goodman, New York; select Ralph Lauren stores, runway.polo.com. Christian Louboutin shoes. On him: Alexander McQueen’s white cotton shirt, at Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman and Alexander McQueen, New York; Thom Browne’s gray wool pants, at Bergdorf Goodman and Jeffrey, New York; Ron Herman, Los Angeles.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

On her: Narciso Rodriguez wool and silk crepe dress. Ciner earrings; Lee Angel brooch. On him: Thom Browne wool pants and silk tie; Trussardi cotton shirt.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005
Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

Alberta Ferretti’s silk chiffon dress, at Maxfield, Los Angeles; Mix, Houston.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

Vilebrequin’s multicolored polyamide canvas swimming trunks, at Vilebrequin, New York, www.vilebrequin.com.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005

Eres’s black lace-trimmed silk jersey slip, at Eres, New York, Palm Beach and Los Angeles, 800.340.6004, www.eresparis.com.

Photography by Steven Klein July 2005
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The couple would not publically acknowledge their relationship until early 2006 when Jolie confirmed she was pregnant with Pitt’s child.

In 2008, Pitt also published personal photographs he had taken of Jolie in the magazine as well.

The couple didn’t officially get hitched until 2014, and the divorce filings come just months after their second anniversary.

Which seems sad, but, again, it’ll be fine. It’s probably best for everyone involved, and we’ll all survive this together.

Update: Pitt has released the first official statement from either side. “I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well being of our kids. I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time,” he told People.

More important than you, or Brad or Angie being fine, is that the kids are fine, and hopefully they will be.

Watch Brad Pitt take Lynn Hirschberg’s Screen Test.

Lynn Hirschberg’s Screen Tests: Brad Pitt