Brad Pitt Says ‘My Personal Life Is Always in the News’ and It’s an ‘Annoyance’ to Deal With While Filming: ‘It’s Always Been’ a ‘Nagging Time Suck’

Brad Pitt Says 'My Personal Life Is Always in the News' and It's an 'Annoyance' to Deal With While Filming: 'It's Always Been' a 'Nagging Time Suck'

Brad Pitt graces the latest cover ofGQ magazinealongside his "F1" co-star Damson Idris and producer Lewis Hamilton. The racing movie arrives in theaters this summer after a longer-than-expected production that got shut down for an entire year amid the Hollywood strikes. Pitt was alsosettling his divorcefrom Angelina Jolie as "F1" filming came to an end at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. "My personal life is always in the news," Pitt told the publication about filming movies amid public scrutiny. "It's been in the news for 30 years, bro.Orsome version of my personal life, let's put it that way." More from Variety Brad Pitt to Star in A24's 'The Riders' Adaptation From 'Conclave' Director Edward Berger Tom Cruise Says He and Brad Pitt Would 'Go Drive Go-Karts All Night' During Breaks From 'Interview with the Vampire': 'He's a Very Good Driver' David Fincher to Direct Brad Pitt in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Netflix Follow-Up From a Tarantino Script When asked if filming "F1" acted as a "refuge" from all the public attention around his personal life, Pitt responded: "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. So, it's always been this kind of nagging time suck or waste of time, if you let it be that. I don't know. I don't know." "Mostly I feel pretty… My life is fairly contained," Pitt added. "It feels pretty warm and secure with my friends, with my loves, with my fam, with my knowledge of who I am, that, you know, it's like this fly buzzing around a little bit." GQ then asked Pitt directly if there is "relief" now that he is "on the other side of the divorce finally being finalized," to which the Oscar winner answered: "No, I don't think it was that major of a thing. Just something coming to fruition. Legally." Pitt and Joliesettled their divorceon Dec. 30, 2024 after eight years of legal disputes. Jolie's lawyer, James Simon, said in a statement at the time: "More than eight years ago, Angelina filed for divorce from Mr. Pitt. She and the children left all of the properties they had shared with Mr. Pitt, and since that time she has focused on finding peace and healing for their family. This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over." The once-Hollywood power couple were at the center of global headlines in 2016 when an alleged physical altercation between them occurred on a private plane. Pitt allegedly "choked" one of his children, "struck another in the face" and "grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her," per Jolie's lawsuit against Pitt. She filed for divorce a few days after the alleged incident. In April 2024, Jolie's lawyer filed a claim that alleged Pitt's physical abuse"started well before"the 2016 incident. Pitt had accused Jolie in 2022 of violating "contractural rights" when she sold her half of their Château Miraval winery without his knowledge. Jolie's lawyers fired back at Pitt in their countersuit, accusing him of not allowing Jolie to sell her half of the winery unless she signed "a nondisclosure agreement that would have contractually prohibited her from speaking outside of court about Pitt's physical and emotional abuse of her and their children." With his personal life seemingly on more stable ground and "F1" arriving in theaters across the world in late June, Pitt seems reinvigorated as an actor. The Oscar winnersparked retirement rumorsin 2022 when he said he was on the "last leg" of his acting career, although helater clarifiedthat still meant he had many years left to explore his craft. "F1" proved to Pitt that retirement is certainly not imminent. "Man, I've been doing this for a while and was wondering: Do I have more stories to tell? Do I have anything to add to this? Is there still any excitement I can find from this?" Pitt told GQ. "[This film] just reinvigorated the whole thing again for me." Pitt's acting career will continue not only with "F1" this summer but also future film projects such as "Heart of the Beast," a Navy SEAL drama that reunites the actor with his "Fury" director David Ayer, and a "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" sequel in which Pitt will reprise his Oscar-winning role of Cliff Booth for director David Fincher and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino. Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

byRobert Mejias

in

May 28, 2025

Brad Pitt Says ‘My Personal Life Is Always in the News’ and It’s an ‘Annoyance’ to Deal With While Filming: ‘It’s Always Been’ a ‘Nagging Time Suck’

Brad Pitt Says 'My Personal Life Is Always in the News' and It's an 'Annoyance' to Deal With While Filming: 'It'...

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Meghan Markle Gets Real About Money and the 'Guilt Mentality Surrounding Having a Lot'

Meghan Markle Gets Real About Money and the 'Guilt Mentality Surrounding Having a Lot'

SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Meghan Markle discussed how women are taught to talk about finances on her podcast,Confessions of a Female Founder,with Sara Blakely The Duchess of Sussex said, "We're taught to not even talk about money, and there's lots of guilt mentality surrounding having a lot" Meghan and Prince Harry have previously spoken about the importance of them earning money to pay for their family's security after stepping back from the royal family Meghan Markleis talking about a taboo subject: finances. In the season finale episode of her podcast,Confessions of a Female Founder, which dropped on May 27, the Duchess of Sussex welcomed Sara Blakely, whobecame a billionaireafter creating Spanx. Blakely, 54, encouraged listeners to become more "self-aware" and ask themselves questions like, "What's my mindset on money?" "A lot of people don't even realize they have not great narratives around success or around obtaining a lot of financial freedom and money for themselves," she added, saying she wanted to invest in herself. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, replied, "But that is so hard to understand because, I genuinely believe, I would love to adopt that level of a mindset where as you're talking about even, for a lot of people, not being able to buy into the hope or the promise of something more for themselves in financial freedom." "I think so many women, especially, we're taught to not even talk about money, and there's lots of guilt mentality surrounding having a lot," Meghan continued. "And at the same time, there's a scarcity mindset that it's easy to attach to, of like, 'I'll never have enough.' " Blakely added, "I always tell women, in particular, I say: 'Money is really fun to make, really fun to spend and really fun to give away.' I think money makes you more of who you already were." Jemal Countess/Getty Before meetingPrince Harry, Meghan was a working actress, most notably appearing on the first seven seasons ofSuits. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were working members of the royal family after their 2019 wedding, but they announced in early 2020 that theyintended to step back from their royal rolesand "work to become financially independent." Speaking withOprah Winfreyin a tell-all interview the following year, Prince Harry said the royal family "literally cut me off financially" after their step back, adding that he had the money left to him by his late mother, Princess Diana. "Without that, we wouldn't have been able to do this," he said, referring to the family's move to California, where theybought a home in the Montecito neighborhood. The couple signed deals with Netflix and Spotify, but Harry said in the same interview that "that was never part of the plan." The Duke of Sussex added, "From my perspective, all I needed was enough money to be able to pay for security to keep my family safe." In addition to a solo Netflix show,With Love, Meghan, and her podcast, the Duchess of Sussex launched her lifestyle brand earlier this year, releasing the first products for As ever in March. The batchsold out in under an hour, but PEOPLE understands that they will be restocked soon. She previously hinted that she'sinterested in expanding into home goods. "My heart is very deeply in my home," Meghan toldFast Companyin an interview released on May 27. "Everything comes from being rooted in the love story of your home and garden, and then you can imagine different verticals coming out of that." Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! She also didn't rule out the possibility of a clothing line in the future. "The category of fashion is something I will explore at a later date, because I do think that's an interesting space for me," Meghan said. Read the original article onPeople

byRobert Mejias

in

May 28, 2025

Meghan Markle Gets Real About Money and the 'Guilt Mentality Surrounding Having a Lot'

Meghan Markle Gets Real About Money and the 'Guilt Mentality Surrounding Having a Lot' SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Meghan Markle ...

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Hoda Kotb Responds to Rumors She's Replacing Kelly Clarkson on Her Talk Show

Hoda Kotb Responds to Rumors She's Replacing Kelly Clarkson on Her Talk Show

Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty After leaving theTodayshow in January, Hoda Kotb returned to the NBC morning show on Wednesday, May 28 During her appearance, Kotb answered a question about rumors that she is replacing Kelly Clarkson on the singer's self-titled daytime talk show Kotb noted that there's no truth to the story, explaining that if she ever returned to TV, it would be onToday Hoda Kotbis setting the record straight. After leaving theTodayshow in January, the mother of two returned to the NBC morning show to discuss her new wellness venture, Joy 101, on Wednesday, May 28. While Kotb, 60, was in Studio 1A, herTodayreplacement,Craig Melvin, didn't pass up the opportunity to question her about some recent rumors. Referencingrecent reportsthat Kotb was set to replaceKelly Clarksonon her self-titled daytime talk show, Melvin, 46, asked his former colleague if there was truth to the story. "Do y'all think — I want to ask y'all a real question — do you think if I ever came back to TV, do you know where the only place I would ever come back to is?" Kotb then asked her former co-anchors. "Right here. This is the spot." Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty In direct response to the rumors, Kotb said, "Delete, not true." Savannah Guthrieteased her pal, saying, "I thought you were because I know you've been playing your guitar and singing a lot lately, and I thought you were ready for some Hodaoke," referencing Clarkson's popular "Kellyoke" segment. But Kotb assured her that wasn't the case. While noting that she will be on Clarkson's show next week, she said it will be "just for fun." Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Although she's not returning to TV, Kotb does have a new business venture — her wellness company, which includes an app, live events and a subscription newsletter centering around themes of joy, mindfulness, meditation and wellness. "I'm starting a new business," Kotb shared onToday. "I'm putting all my time and effort into what I hope will make people feel better, which was my favorite part of the show anyway. How can we lift people up? How can we lighten the load? What can we do?" Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty In herexclusive cover story with PEOPLE, Kotb revealed that she stepped down as co-host after her daughter, Hope, 6, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2023. As a result, being totally available for her daughter became non-negotiable. The news personality said, "I really wanted to and needed to be here to watch over her. So, whenever she needs anything, and it can happen at night, multiple times, I'm up — I'm up up up." She also talked about her new approach to life, which includes more time spent with her daughters, including Haley, 8. "It's really cool to just realize that there's so much more to life," Kotb said. "I wasn't able to bear witness to my kids' daily lives because of what I was doing. I got to see Haley sing 'What a Wonderful World' at 9:15 a.m. — I would have missed that. I used to think life was the big things, but it really is all the stuff that happens in between." Read the original article onPeople

byRobert Mejias

in

May 28, 2025

Hoda Kotb Responds to Rumors She's Replacing Kelly Clarkson on Her Talk Show

Hoda Kotb Responds to Rumors She's Replacing Kelly Clarkson on Her Talk Show Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty After leaving theToday...

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Kevin Costner sued by 'Horizon' stunt performer over 'unscripted, unscheduled' rape scene

Kevin Costner sued by 'Horizon' stunt performer over 'unscripted, unscheduled' rape scene

Kevin Costneris being sued by a stunt performer who alleges he blindsided her with an unscripted rape scene on the set of his film "Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2." Devyn LaBella, 34, filed a lawsuit against the actor and director on May 27, accusing Costner of sexual discrimination and harassment, according to a copy of the complaint viewed by USA TODAY. The suit alleges that LaBella, who worked as lead stunt double for actressElla Hunton the Western film, "was the victim of a violent unscripted, unscheduled rape scene directed" by Costner. USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Costner and Hunt for comment. According to the complaint, the incident occurred on a day when LaBella was scheduled to perform as a double for Hunt in a non-intimate scene. When Hunt arrived on set that day, she learned that Costner had requested new scenes be shot in which actor Roger Ivens would climb on top of her, "violently raking up her skirt," per the lawsuit. Hunt became upset by the "ad hoc and violent nature of the sudden script change request" and failure to have an intimacy coordinator present, so she walked off set and refused to film the scene, the complaint says. Costner then allegedly asked LaBella, who said she was unaware that Hunt had walked off the set, to stand in for the actress. But LaBella received no instruction that her "involvement in the impromptu shot would go beyond standing in as a standard body-double," the suit claims. "She was not warned or prepared for Mr. Ivens to perform or engage in any action on top of her and first learned that Ivens would mount her and violently pull her skirt up when he was already on top of her doing so," the complaint says, going on to allege Costner directed Ivens to "repeatedly perform a violent simulated rape" on LaBella "without proper notice, consent, preparation, or appropriate safeguard measures in place, such as the project's intimacy coordinator being called in." Kevin Costner'snew 'Horizon' movie: Why he needs 'Yellowstone' fans, John Dutton's money The "unscripted" and "unrehearsed" scene allegedly involved Ivens mounting LaBella, miming the unbuttoning of his pants, "forcibly pinning" her down, and "violently" rustling her skirt up. Costner provided "no clear direction of when the scene began or ended," the suit alleges, which LaBella says increased her stress and confusion. She says she was "never given the opportunity to prepare for or consent to participate in this scene, much less to object to it." An intimacy coordinator was allegedly not advised that a scene calling for her presence was going to be shot. LaBella's personal undergarments were exposed during the filming of the scene, which the lawsuit says was "especially humiliating" to her because "she was menstruating at the time, compounded by the fact that between takes, Mr. Ivens' hands rested on top of the bundled-up skirt above her vagina." The complaint points to actors' union SAG-AFTRA's guide to scenes involving nudity and simulated sex, which states a performer's "performance or depiction in a scene requiring nudity or simulated sex acts is conditioned on their prior written consent, which should take the form of a rider attached to their contract," and that this rider must be provided at least 48 hours prior to call time. "In this case, production failed to provide Ms. LaBella any notice of the simulated sex act she was expected to perform, much less the contractually required rider," her suit says. The complaint additionally objects to the fact that the scene was "broadcast publicly on monitors for the entire crew to witness," whereas the "set should have been closed" given its sensitive nature. A day prior, a scripted rape scene was shot, which the suit points to as standing in contrast to the unscripted scene. The earlier scene was "thoroughly choreographed and rehearsed" to ensure LaBella "knew exactly what to expect," whereas with the unscripted scene, "none of these safety protocols occurred." 'Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2'sets premiere date after scrapped theater release LaBella experienced "shock, embarrassment and humiliation" after the incident and began going to therapy after production wrapped to "address symptoms stemming from her traumatic experience" on set, her lawsuit alleges. "Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2" is the second part in a planned four-part Western film series directed by and starring Costner. The first part hit theaters in June 2024, and "Chapter 2" was originally set to debut in August 2024, but the sequel was pulled from release last year. "Chapter 2" premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in September, but it does not have a theatrical release date set. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Kevin Costner 'Horizon' stunt performer sues over rape scene

byRobert Mejias

in

May 28, 2025

Kevin Costner sued by 'Horizon' stunt performer over 'unscripted, unscheduled' rape scene

Kevin Costner sued by 'Horizon' stunt performer over 'unscripted, unscheduled' rape scene Kevin Costneris being sued by a st...

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JoJo Siwa, Chris Hughes and when it's time to leave celebrities alone

JoJo Siwa, Chris Hughes and when it's time to leave celebrities alone

What in the world is going on between JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes? If you're an avid pop culture watcher, you might find yourself asking that question daily. And if you aren't, let's catch you up. The former "Celebrity Big Brother" castmates have posted tender photos onInstagramin recent weeks, fueling more fan speculation that they're more than just close friends. Siwa hasdeniedthat Hughes is herboyfriend, butpeople are raising eyebrows anywayand aren't satisfied; she alsofurther fueled speculationat a recent London show. "I am so obsessed with Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa like can someone help," oneX user wrote. Anotheradded: "Starting to think JoJo Siwa & Chris Hughes are actually soul mates cause nobody on this earth could've predicted that."Othershaven't been askind: "JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes…publicity stunt right?" "JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes have great chemistry, just like water and oil." This all comes amid accusations from Siwa's most recent ex,Kath Ebbs, that sheemotionally cheatedduring their relationship. Siwa, 22, hasn't exactly shied away from the spotlight − or controversy − since her "Dance Moms" childhood days. She even once claimed to haveinvented gay pop. But Siwa now appears to be happy and healthy, so maybe it's not our place to know or understand everything about her relationship − even if it's taking place in the public eye. "Obviously, a fascination with celebrity relationships is nothing new," says Amy Morin, psychotherapist, author of "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do" and the host of apodcast. "But we pay extra attention when we're trying to get clarity of make sense of something we don't understand. People often treat celebrity relationships or issues like a mystery and the public looks for clues to help them draw certain conclusions. That seems to be the case with JoJo as people try to understand what they're seeing." Did you read?JoJo Siwa, the 'Big Brother' scandal and what happens when child stars grow up before our eyes It makes sense why we care more about celebrities like Siwa now than we have before. You're probably reading this article on your phone, and social media is just a quick swipe away. "In the past, there was a more distinct boundary between celebrities and everyday people but since the 24/7 news cycle and living in a digitally connected world, ourparasocial relationshipswith them are blurred and enmeshed," saysChase Cassine, licensed clinical social worker. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JoJo Siwa (@itsjojosiwa) And Siwa has garnered attention since she was a kid. Melvin Williams, associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University, holds a more skeptical view of Siwa's latest headline-making news. "Love or hate her, JoJo Siwa knows how to keep a television camera in her face and the audience engaged." Not to mention, she hasnew music out. But even if she's leaning into the interest in her love life, is it our place to engage to the point of ridicule, or mocking? In case you missed:JoJo Siwa faces rejection from LGBTQ+ community. Why? Some of those reactions might be coming from a place of confusion. Hughes and Siwa have previously called their relationship a friendship and Siwa has been open abouther evolving sexuality. "We really like labels because labels help us make sense of what we're seeing," Morin says. "And when people don't fit into the labels we have for them, it causes some discomfort." For someone like Siwa, who audiences have watched closely since herchildhood, any type ofgrowing upor changing is bound to stir up emotions. "When people change the labels we place on them, other people often want to examine more closely," Morin adds. "Have they changed? Did their original label not fit? Where they lying about that original label? Are they trying to redefine what the label means? This is true whether we're talking about someone's relationship status or their sexual (identity)." If and when Siwa and Hughes define their relationship, fans will have a lot to say. AsDavid Schmid, associate professor of English at the University at Buffalo, puts it, "the average person needs distraction and escape more than ever, and celebrities and their love lives will continue to fill this need." But maybe it's an opportunity for people to self-reflect instead. "It can be helpful for us to check in with ourselves when we find ourselves very much so interested in or engaged with the media story of the day," saysJanelle Peifer, associate professor of psychology at the University of Richmond. "What does that tell us about our own longings? What does that tell us about our own needs? How can engaging with those impulses help us recognize if we're looking for fun, distraction, escapism, or something deeper?" Contributing: Taijuan Moorman This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:JoJo Siwa, Chris Hughes relationship rumors: Why do we care?

byRobert Mejias

in

May 28, 2025

JoJo Siwa, Chris Hughes and when it's time to leave celebrities alone

JoJo Siwa, Chris Hughes and when it's time to leave celebrities alone What in the world is going on between JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes? ...

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