Hollywood icon Brad Pitt graces the latest cover of GQ magazine alongside his co-star, Damson Idris, and producer Lewis Hamilton. The much-anticipated racing movie, titled “F1”, is set to hit theaters this summer after an extended production period that faced a shutdown for an entire year due to the Hollywood strikes.
As filming wrapped up at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, Pitt was simultaneously navigating the complexities of his divorce from Angelina Jolie. Reflecting on his tumultuous personal life, Pitt remarked, “My personal life is always in the news,” acknowledging that it has been a topic of public interest for three decades. He continued, “Or some version of my personal life, let’s put it that way.”
When asked whether working on “F1” provided a sense of refuge from the scrutiny of his personal life, Pitt candidly replied, “It’s been an annoyance I’ve had to always deal with in different degrees, large and small, as I do the things I really want to do.” He further elaborated on the impact of media attention, describing it as “this kind of nagging time suck.”
Despite the challenges, Pitt expressed a sense of security in his life, stating, “My life is fairly contained. It feels pretty warm and secure with my friends, with my loves, with my fam, with my knowledge of who I am.”
In a direct inquiry about whether he felt relief following the finalization of his divorce, Pitt stated, “No, I don’t think it was that major of a thing. Just something coming to fruition. Legally.” The divorce was officially settled on December 30, 2024, after eight years of legal disputes.
Jolie’s attorney, James Simon, commented on the long process, saying, “More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt. This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago.”
The former power couple made headlines in 2016 following an alleged physical altercation on a private plane, leading to Jolie filing for divorce shortly after. Allegations included Pitt allegedly “choking” one of their children and “striking another in the face.” In April 2024, additional claims emerged that suggested Pitt's abusive behavior had begun long before the 2016 incident.
In 2022, Pitt accused Jolie of violating their contractual rights related to the sale of their shared Château Miraval winery. In response, Jolie’s legal team countered that he was preventing her from selling her share unless she signed a nondisclosure agreement regarding his alleged abuse.
As “F1” prepares for its release in late June, Pitt appears revitalized in his acting career. Rumors of his retirement surfaced in 2022 when he mentioned being on the “last leg” of his acting journey. However, he later clarified that he still has plenty of stories to tell. “This film just reinvigorated the whole thing again for me,” Pitt shared with GQ.
Looking forward, Pitt will not only star in “F1” but also in upcoming projects like “Heart of the Beast”, a Navy SEAL drama that reunites him with director David Ayer, and a sequel to “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, where he will reprise his Oscar-winning role of Cliff Booth.
