Brad Pitt has ‘awkward’ meeting with Angelina Jolie’s family amid contentious custody battle
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Brad Pitt had an ‘awkward’ meeting with his former wife Angelina Jolie’s father and brother during a gallery opening in Beverly Hills.
The ‘Fight Club’ actor recently attended the opening of an exhibition by his ‘Moneyball’ director, Bennett Miller at the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills. The upscale gathering was attended by Jolie’s father, Jon Voight, and her brother, James Haven as well.
Citing the enclosed as not a ‘big space’, a few insiders noticed Pitt chancing upon with his former in-laws. Needless to say, the witnesses saw the awkwardness.
Witnesses say ‘They were mostly stood apart for the duration’
Other people who were present at the event witnessed the situation shared with The US Sun on Tuesday, January 16, that despite the awkwardness they acknowledged each other.
One of the tipsters shared, “Plenty of people noticed how awkward it was that Brad was in the same room as [Angelina’s] family, and it’s not a big space.”
The spy continued, “I’m told James was amicable and acknowledged Brad, but I didn’t see them talking,” per Page Six.
They continued, “They were mostly stood apart for the duration of the event, speaking with friends.”
The source added that the accidental run-in gained quite a traction among the other attendees as they whispered about the same. It is also presumed that the ‘Babylon’ star was oblivious to Voight and Haven attending the gala.
Nevertheless, the ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ star and his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, both were allegedly “polite and acknowledged” the star’s former in-laws.
'I want to be there for them'
The surprise run-in happened just a few days after Haven, 52, claimed in a podcast interview with 90who10 that following Pitt and Jolie’s contentious divorce, he felt ‘protective’ about his nephews and nieces.
In the interview, when he was asked about his views on his sister’s highly publicized split, Haven stated, “That's where it all started, it started with the protection of her and then of her children, my nieces and nephews,” per Daily Mail.
Claiming, it ushered a new phase in his redefined relationship with his sister, Haven reflected about Jolie’s children, "Those are massively formative years, they're becoming young adults in their early 20s."
Jolie ad Pitt share six children together including Maddox, 22; Pax, 20; Zahara, 18; Shiloh, 17; and twins Knox and Vivienne, 15.
'Monster's Ball' star continued, “That's so crazy thinking that, but yeah, I think it's just very natural [to feel protective] and I just want to be there.”
“Very much like my mom. Anytime I'm blessed to be in their presence, I want to be in their presence,” noted Haven.
He concluded, “I set my life up so I can be present with whatever the situation. The formative years, the young adults they're going to become, I want to be there for them — or for her — whatever she's going through.”
'I pray for the guy'
Despite the contentious battle between Jolie and Pitt, the 48-year-old actress's father said during an interview stop with The US Sun in 2021, “He [Brad] has had some difficulties with alcohol."
He continued, "I hope that he takes care of things and I pray for the guy.”
In 2017, Jolie opened up about Voight's role in his grandchildren's life after the acrimonious split.
The 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' star said to Vanity Fair during that time, “He’s been very good at understanding they needed their grandfather at this time. I had to do a therapy meeting last night and he was just around."
She added, "He knows kind of the rule — don’t make them play with you,” before sharing, “Just be a cool grandpa who’s creative, and hang out and tell stories and read a book in the library."