Saturday, July 29, 2023


Randon Fuzzy

The Ines hard sell is not fooling anyone and their actions purposely encourage doubts.   So what is the ruse really trying to accomplish?  The People plant came just hours (July 27, 9PM) after the DM article (July 27, 12PM EDT) first appeared so it may be trying to preclude tabloid speculation that they are together -- which in fact they are.

TMZ's and DM's articles on the Case Management statements were plastered everywhere.  The wrangling had kept speculation at bay but the new articles could unleash them.  The uncharacteristic dating-via-press release, in the face of few and far between sightings with no signs of intimacy, flags the whole relationship as a publicity smokescreen.  Ines has been his beard to deter unwanted interest elsewhere.


It has also been suggested that the story would serve to divert attention from continued F1 filming and that the line
A source close to Pitt, 59, tells PEOPLE that he’s spent the summer in Europe, where he was filming a Formula One racing movie until the SAG-AFTRA strike forced the production to go on hold
is an easily exposed lie.  But it isn't in quotes and People is a tabloid and does not have the most accurate reporting.

In an interview in Hungary, Lewis Hamilton who is a producer said:
“Fortunately for us you can see the team is here, APX is here, and we’re still filming luckily with the drivers that we have,” the Mercedes driver told reporters at the Hungaroring on Thursday, July 20.

“So hopefully we can continue to still get some important parts of the filming done.”
They reportedly have retired race drivers working for them.

This has not been made into a big issue by other SAG members possibly given the unique constraints of filming on site in Grand Prix races that are only held once a year and no SAG member participated.


A Deadline report by Caroline Frost was posted a day later (July 29, 3AM) and quotes The Sun (UK)(July 28, 8PM):
The Oscar winner is currently in Europe filming Apex, but a source has told UK media that production has been cancelled.

...
Another source has told Deadline that the crew were scheduled to film at the The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps frequently referred to as Spa, in Belgium this weekend – with the country’s real-life Grand Prix taking place on Sunday – but this won’t now be happening.

The next planned dates for shooting are Las Vegas in November, by which time everyone involved is hoping for a resolution to the current impasse between writers, actors and studios.

The updated report in the Sun, which it billed as an Exclusive, had these quotes:
A source said: “Brad is arguably one of the nicest guys in Hollywood and this move seals that reputation.

“He has been filming Apex, his new Formula 1 film, for the past few weeks but has now pulled the plug.

“Brad agreed that they would finish shoots booked in but has postponed planned production over the next two months.

“The cast and crew of Apex have been filming in Budapest but Brad has called for the future dates to be put back, in solidarity with everyone striking.

“Everyone has been informed that there will be a two-month hiatus now.

“Conversations about when to start up again are ongoing but when they will be going to Las Vegas to shoot some scenes.

“Postponing the production was a massive call, especially financially, but Brad has listened to the concerns of the people he works with and wants to show his support.”

The quotes are problematic and highly suspicious for several reasons:

- It says "The cast and crew of Apex have been filming in Budapest". The cast would be SAG members and they could not work in Budapest because the strike took effect July 14 and the Hungarian Grand Prix was on July 23.  It is the reckless, ignorant statement that gives away an imposter.  A genuine inside source would not make the mistake of saying the cast was filming.  

- A true insider would not refer to the still untitled film as "Apex, his new Formula 1 film."  Apex is not even the name of his team -- it's APX.  Hamilton said, "the team is here, APX is here."  APX GP is emblazoned in their racing suits and garage, making it even harder to miss.   The faux insider is not only ignorant and was never near a filming site, he never even took time to examine the photos.





- This line "Brad agreed that they would finish shoots booked in but has postponed planned production over the next two months" does not make any sense. "Booked in"? Like booked in a hotel? What is the difference between shoots booked in and planned production?  At this stage all race shoots would have been thoroughly planned, prepped and ready to go.

- While they probably thought “Brad is arguably one of the nicest guys in Hollywood and this move seals that reputation." would be cloyingly gushing, it actually ends up implying that Brad is acting more to bolster his own reputation.

- If "Brad has called for the future dates to be put back, in solidarity with everyone striking" they would not have "conversations about when to start up again" because that will depend on the strike.  "A two-month hiatus" or  "it’s likely it will be in November" is plucked out of the air because no one knows how long the strike will drag on.  Studios are pushing back their films to 2024.


For all these reasons I am convinced that the quotes are bogus.  They are way too silly to be anything but a clueless and unscrupulous tabloid writer's concoctions.


The Sun is one of the most notorious of the UK tabloids. The article includes a photo of someone on the picket line who bears some resemblance to Brad 
With the caption "Brad Pitt has cancelled the production of his blockbuster to support the current strikes Credit: Getty."   It is emblematic of the article's attempts at deception.  The photo does not appear in a search of Brad or "SAG strike" in Getty.   I believe the whole Sun article is a complete fabrication.


Deadline routinely gets big industry and casting scoops (usually by Mike Fleming) and with Jerry Bruckheimer, Joseph Kosinski, Plan B, and Apple involved it surely could find many sources close to them.  Caroline Frost writes mainly about the UK and she may not have such access -- but she apparently reads the Sun.  Despite the Sun's notoriety, she gave the article a higher profile and some semblance of credibility and herself a nice click bait.  

Frost did not give a direct quote from her own source.  She wrote, "Another source has told Deadline that the crew were scheduled to film at the The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps --  but this won’t now be happening."  The last part may not have been from the source but added by Frost based on the Sun's report.  She also repeats info from the Sun about filming resuming in November in Las Vegas.


The Deadline article could be viewed as their apparent response to scab talk.  Ines de Ramon is their response to DM and TMZ's settlement headlines.  With both F1 filming and Ines, the door is wide open for deniability.

But I am not convinced that they were behind the Frost Deadline / Sun article.  Hardly anyone was talking about crew filming in GP races.  The article only served to call attention to the fact that if he had the power to halt production, he didn't do it as soon as the strike took effect.  

Deadline/ Frost's source did not clearly say filming was being halted.  If it were true, a production source should have been happy to be quoted on the record.

If there is any sign of APX or filming in any of the succeeding races while the strike is on, there will be several thousand witnesses tweeting about it.  Deadline can point to the Sun, the Sun has been caught making things up so often it won't care.  But after headlines blared that he was acting to show solidarity with the strike, Brad will take the hit.  He may be better off without this.


I don't think halting or continuing production is Brad's call.  As the star and a producer he would have a voice but he can't call it on his own.  He is not directly involved in those crew shoots.  Hamilton and Bruckheimer have a bigger say but it's ultimately the studio's -- Apple's call.  IF they were willing to halt production they would have done it from the start.   Recall that Hamilton said, "hopefully we can continue to still get some important parts of the filming done.”   A direct, authentic quote from a producer.











Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon are enjoying a romantic summer together.

The pair were first spotted together eight months ago, and an insider close to de Ramon, 32, tells PEOPLE the relationship is still “going very strong.” The source also added that “they are doing great” and have spent quality time in Europe.

“The two have been spending a lot of time together this summer as they truly enjoy each other's company and are very into each other,” the insider says. “It's apparent to anyone who sees them together.”  😁

A source close to Pitt, 59, tells PEOPLE that he’s spent the summer in Europe, where he was filming a Formula One racing movie until the SAG-AFTRA strike forced the production to go on hold.

“He still keeps a residence at Chateau Miraval and has been spending a lot of time there and elsewhere in Europe,” the source adds. “And Ines has been flying in to see him several times."

The two have been seen together at several events, including the Los Angeles Babylon premiere party and Pitt's 59th birthday party at a Hollywood restaurant, both in December. "They were very cute and flirty. You could tell that she makes him happy," a source told PEOPLE at the time.

Pitt and de Ramon then went on to usher in 2023 with a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where they spent New Year's Eve and the following days.

On Valentine's Day, the jewelry designer was photographed in Los Angeles carrying a large bouquet of pink peonies, as reported by the Daily Mail.

A source confirmed to PEOPLE in February that Pitt was indeed the one behind the romantic delivery to his lover.

Although Pitt was not there in person for the holiday — being busy in New York City filming his latest movie Wolves — jewelry designer de Ramon seemed more than delighted with the sweet gesture.

She flashed a smile as she cradled the blooms, and also carried an extra-long baguette tucked under one arm to round out her slate of Valentine's treats.



"The relationship is going perfectly well," a source close to the actor tells The Messenger of the pair, who were first spotted together in November 2022.

According to another insider, Pitt has been spending "all his time" in Europe, where he was filming an F1 racing film before the SAG-AFTRA strike put everything on hold.

"Now that he is on strike with his film in the UK, he has been spending more time at his residence in France with his girlfriend Ines," the insider shares. "She joined him recently and they have been having a relaxing summer and have been traveling around Europe together. They are still going strong and Brad really cares for her."

"It has been a very seamless and easy relationship for him, and she has helped keep him in good spirits," the insider continues. "Brad wants Ines to move into his new Los Feliz home after the summer. He has offered and she is excited about the idea of moving in. Nothing is set in stone and they are going to see how the rest of the summer pans out."

....

The Messenger has reached out to reps for Pitt for comment and attempted to reach de Ramon as well.

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