Random Fuzzy
As Whodunit pointed out, the story below disappeared from People's home page within hours of its posting which obviously suggests that Brad strongly objected to it. People would not otherwise want to bury such a high interest, click-bait story that it touted as an "exclusive."
A report that claims to give an update on his personal life based on info from an "industry source" should be suspect. It indicates that they couldn't get this info from anyone closer to him -- no "source close to", "friend" or "rep" was willing to talk. The specific ID is an admission that the source is outside his trusted circle because an "industry source" could be anyone -- including those who may not even know him personally. It is perhaps notable that Mary Green was not involved in writing this story although she co-wrote the one earlier about Vivienne's "upset tummy" timed for the UNCA gala.
The post as a whole was innocuous, regurgitating past interviews and reports and largely dwelt on his efforts to address his problems. I would guess that what Brad objected to were the quotes from the industry source purporting to give info and insight on his life. For one, the lead quote -- "In a sense, this split was good for Brad because he sized himself up and realized there had to be changes" -- portrays the split as having been a wake up call that galvanized him to make needed changes. A true insider would have referred to "the events that led to the filing" as the catalyst for change, the split being just one of the offshoots.
The events forced him to make long overdue changes but it is insensitive and inappropriate to refer to an event that caused severe trauma on the children as being "good." Brad is no doubt happy that he was eventually able to turn things around but he would certainly not say that the events were "good" for him. The quotes thus betray a lack of knowledge of the events and a lack of understanding of their sensitivity. It exposes that the "industry source" is not a qualified informant. Only a strong objection directly from Brad, probably through his manager, could have made People quickly bury the post and forego the traffic it would have generated.
This isn't the first time People was forced to bury a post. They also had to do it last April when they ran a previous dating story with remarkably similar quotes: "The actor, who split from wife Angelina Jolie last September, “has been dating a bit,” a source tells PEOPLE. “It’s not anything serious,” the insider adds, however. “He doesn’t have a girlfriend. It’s more of a way to get out and be social.”
In addition to making People bury the post, they also denied it via ET.
This time, the quote from the industry source was: "He’s also been “casually dating,” according to the source. “He has been going out but there is nothing serious in the dating area at all, nothing to speak of at this point,” adds the insider.
Two People posts with very similar click-bait dating claims, both unsubstantiated and qualified but with high traffic potential, both buried almost immediately.
Brad evidently strongly objects to any claim that he is dating -- not "a bit," not "casually," even "not seriously."
As noted previously, they likely jettisoned earlier this year the publicists they hired to deal with the "emergency" because they felt it didn't work out the way they wanted. That left just their long time reps who are used to being tight lipped in the face of intense interest surrounding them. People likely received another terse statement, perhaps another "It is completely false."
*****
I would guess they left NYC to celebrate his birthday where they could not be followed and photographed since there have been no sightings since the 16th.
-- Fussy
Brad Pitt Turns 54! How He's Changed His Life Since Angelina Jolie Split https://t.co/2Ar5Jtgjt8— People (@people) December 18, 2017
One year older, one year wiser.
Brad Pitt celebrated his 54th birthday on Monday, and a source tells PEOPLE the actor is doing well and taking better care of himself since his split from Angelina Jolie in September 2016.
“In a sense, this split was good for Brad because he sized himself up and realized there had to be changes,” an industry source tells PEOPLE.
While his divorce from Jolie is not yet final, the two are moving forward amicably and coordinating schedules so both can spend time with their six kids.
“Brad and Angie are doing OK, working out time for him to be with the kids which he treasures,” says the source.
He’s also been “casually dating,” according to the source. “He has been going out but there is nothing serious in the dating area at all, nothing to speak of at this point,” adds the insider.
Pitt previously opened up about how he’s moving forward since announcing the end of his 12-year relationship and two-year marriage with Jolie. The War Machine actor said he’s been spending his time “keeping the ship afloat” and “figuring out the new configuration of our family” these days.
“Kids are everything,” he said of his six children — Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 10, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 8. “Kids are your life. They’re taking all the focus, as they should anyway.”
And in a candid interview with GQ in May, the actor spent much of the chat talking about his transformation since his split from Jolie – including his healthy lifestyle changes.
“I was boozing too much,” he shared. “It’s just become a problem. And I’m really happy it’s been half a year now, which is bittersweet, but I’ve got my feelings in my fingertips again.”
He added, “Truthfully I could drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka. I was a professional. I was good.”
When asked how he simply stopped drinking, the Allied star said, “Don’t want to live that way anymore.”
Pitt recently wrapped shooting the science-fiction thriller Ad Astra, opposite Tommy Lee Jones. In his spare time, the actor has also been trying his hand at sculpting. The solitude allows him to reflect and “try to make sense of where we are at this time,” he said.
“I remember literally having this thought a year, a year and a half ago; someone was going through some scandal,” he told GQ. “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.’”
Meanwhile, Jolie has spent her fall promoting her third film as director, the Cambodian Netflix drama First They Killed My Father (it was recently nominated for a Golden Globe), as well as the Globe-nominated animated film The Breadwinner, which she produced. She’s also been busy supporting her philanthropic causes. On Friday, the actress brought along four of her children to accompany her to the 2017 United Nations Correspondents Association Awards at Cipriani Wall Street, where Jolie was honored as the 2017 UNCA Global Citizen of the year.
