Random Fuzzy
Stephanopoulos' aside that Brad was "of course a part of the family" made it a two-part question but it is clear that the main question was if she still believed he was a wonderful father, and her response was "of course." In saying "of course" emphatically even without elaborating she gave him a strong endorsement as a father. So it would be reasonable to conclude that one of the reasons why they are and will always be together and a family is because she still believes him to be a wonderful father.
Stephanopoulos noted, as we did, her use of "family" in her initial statement which was a big hint that she was also looking after Brad.
The GMA interview followed the BBC interview. Unlike with a face to face interview, a satellite interview always involves a split second lag and it somewhat affects the flow of the interview and our perception of her reaction to the question.
BBC: We know that an incident occurred that led to your separation. We also know you haven't said anything about this. Would you like to say something now?
AJ: "...Only that...I don't want to say very much about that...except to say it was a very difficult time. And, and we are a family and we will always be a family, and we will get through this time and hopefully be a stronger family for it,
BBC (audio) : Because you haven't said much actually, the tabloids have been doing all the talking for you. And you haven't said anything at all.The point of the first part of her answer above is one she frequently makes when asked about how she copes -- whether its taking care of six children or her many commitments or her health -- that her position isn't unique or even exceptional. That she wasn't the only one in a difficult position, they all had a hard time and many other people have to cope with similarly difficult family situations.
AJ: And I won't.
BBC: Can I ask how you are coping?
AJ: "I'm, I'm...Many, many people find themselves in this situation and this kind of...my whole, my family… we're all, we’ve all been through a difficult time. It's not ...My focus is my children, our children… and it is...and my focus is finding this, this way through. And as I said we are..we are and forever will be a family and so that is my...that is how I am coping. I am coping with finding a way through to make sure that this somehow makes us stronger and closer.”
BBC: What do you really want to do when you wake up first thing in the morning?It's been a difficult few months but now she can say she's having a wonderful time. And I made the point in the previous post that part of the reason is because those latter thoughts are directed at the people in the room and indicate Brad is there and alternates with her in making pancakes. Needless to say, she did not bring the dogs and hamsters to Cambodia and they are not taking over the hotel kitchen to make pancakes. She is talking about their home life. While there are again no photos of Brad, the family has been away from L.A. for at least a week and Brad would not want to be apart from them that long. As with Crested Butte they would have found a way for him to slip in and out quietly. Angelina herself seems to be traveling quietly as there are no airport photos of her.
AJ: "Get through the day. It's been a difficult few months. Right now, I’m going through a moment where there's just everybody’s in my room. Two dogs, two hamsters and two children at the moment. It’s wonderful. But, usually, I just wake up trying to figure out who’s going to get the dog out, who’s going to start the pancakes and did anybody brush their teeth.”
GS: You filed for divorce, you said, for the health of your family. Is your family healthier now?
AJ: We are..we are ..... focusing on the health of our family, and so..and so we will be. We will be. We will be stronger when we come out of this because that's what we're determined to do as a family."
GS: In the past you described Brad often as a wonderful father, of course he's part of the family. Do you still believe that?
AJ: Of course. Of course. We will always be a family. Always.
She gave what looks and sounds like a sigh of relief. She had a fleeting hint of a smile before she composed herself and proceeded to answer deliberately. She searched to find the right word and seemed to start to say "working" but shook her head and chose "focusing." Unlike "working," "focusing" doesn't necessarily connote any action on their part. So while she may have declined to say so at this time, they don't need to do anything more to be a healthier family. She paused but did not sigh when responding to the question about Brad.
"When (they) come out of this" will be when their legal path is cleared, "this" being the dissolution petition. Being legally married turned out to provide valuable protection for the children because the divorce petition served as an umbrella under which legal safeguards for the children's recovery could be put in place and enforced by the court. It's a benefit of being legally married that Angelina never imagined she would need.
Her answers became firmer and more definite. She went from, "We will get through this time and hopefully be a stronger family" and "make sure that this somehow makes us stronger and closer" to "We will be stronger when we come out of this because that's what we're determined to do as a family."
She was consistently firm and resolute in saying "we are and forever will be a family" and "We will always be a family. Always."
******
"...get through .... come out... stronger... closer...."
She didn't use any of the key words from past statements -- healing, recovery, reunification. Or delicate and sensitive. We know she wouldn't be talking about getting through and coming out of this unless they were in fact already through and out of it. The children have recovered. The family has healed and they've been reunited. They are back to being a family. A healthier family.
They are all visibly happy and relaxed -- including Brad before Jan. 25. Her face hasn't been this full in years so she has been eating well. In her interviews she was often lighthearted and playful. She is clearly in a very happy and jovial mood.
The family is already stronger and closer so she can confidently say they are, always and forever will be a family. She didn't say they have always been a family. She is saying now and in the future.
-- Fussy
******
EW
Angelina Jolie made an appearance on Tuesday’s Good Morning America, where she addressed how her family is doing in the wake of her filing for divorce from Brad Pitt last fall.
“We are focusing on the health of our family, and so we will be, we will be stronger when we come out of this,” Jolie told ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos during the interview, “because that’s what we’re determined to do as a family.”
She added “of course” she still thinks of Pitt as a wonderful father and part of the family. “We will always be a family, always,” she said.
Jolie spoke to GMA from Cambodia, where she has been promoting her latest directorial effort, First They Killed My Father. The film, which will be released on Netflix, is based on author and human rights activist Loung Ung’s book of the same name recounting her suffering under the horrific regime of Khmer Rouge.
“This country means a great deal to me. This country has been through so much,” Jolie said. “Forty years ago this war affected every single individual here, and I wanted to understand [it] myself. I don’t know much of my son’s [Maddox] birth parents, but I believe they would’ve gone through this war. I wanted to understand him and his culture in a deeper way, and I wanted to bring this story to this country in this country’s language, and I wanted to tell the story of Luong Ung, who’s a dear friend of mine.”
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