Jen and Brad are “closer than ever”
As Jennifer Aniston works with Brad Pitt again, insiders reveal their friendship is back on and even stronger than before
Fans went into a frenzy last week when it was announced that Jennifer Aniston and her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, were reuniting on screen for the first time since Brad appeared on then-wife Jen’s show Friends nearly 20 years ago. Along with Julia Roberts, Morgan Freeman and Matthew McConaughey, they were set to take part last week in a charity all-star table reading of hit ’80s movie comedy, Fast Times At Ridgemont High.
Now, insiders reveal that Jen, 51, is once again “closer than ever” to Brad, 56, despite briefly drifting apart when he and his estranged wife Angelina Jolie made amends in May.
The warring exes were said to have reconciled for daughter Shiloh’s 14th birthday, as well as twins Knox and Vivienne’s
12th birthday celebrations in the summer. But their divorce saga reportedly soured again, when Brad accused Angelina of stalling proceedings after asking for the private judge overseeing their case to be removed.
Last week, reports claimed Brad was ready to “fight back” after believing Angelina had gone “too far” after trying to get the judge assigned to their case removed, claiming he had “failed to make timely mandatory disclosures of ongoing business and professional relationships” between himself and Brad’s legal team. And now, amid claims the actress wants to relocate to the UK with their six children, pals say Jen has once again been supporting her ex.
“There’d been rumours the move might be on the cards for a while,” says the source. “Brad wasn’t sure he’d hear from Jen, so he was really touched when she called. She knows him better than most and knows how stressed and upset he’d have been by the bombshell. They’ve been spending time together amid Jen’s effort to help lift his spirits and be a source of comfort when he’s admittedly feeling defeated and hopeless about Ange’s shock move.
ADOPTION ADVICE
“They have an unbreakable bond of friendship and Jen will always be there for him. It doesn’t take much
for them to be closer than ever again and they were stoked to be working together.”
Closer also recently told how Brad had been offering advice to Jen amid her reported plans to adopt a child from Mexico. And while his support stalled while relations thawed with Angelina, he’s back onside. His role as father to Maddox, 19, Zahara, 15, and Pax, 16 – who were adopted from Cambodia, Ethiopia and Vietnam – has left him well versed in the complex process.
MUTUAL SUPPORT
The source says, “It’s been very up and down with Brad and Ange and while initially he was very active in supporting Jen on adoption, it stalled a little. But now they’ve grown closer again, they have spoken more regularly, especially around how long the process takes and the frustrations around that.
“Brad knows Jen’s also had a difficult time and he’s been helping her navigate some of the logistics of the adoption process, which has served as a great distraction for them both.”
Following Brad’s split from Angelina, 45, in 2016, and Jen’s divorce from Justin Theroux, 49, in 2018, nostalgic fans have been desperate for the pair to reunite. Millions went into meltdown when they were snapped looking close at the Screen Actors Guild awards in January – the first time they’d been seen together for over 15 years.
And now, pals say that Brad – who credited actor Bradley Cooper for helping him get sober following his struggles with alcohol – has also been adopting her mindfulness techniques to keep up his spirits.
The source says, “Jen swears by Pilates, yoga and daily meditation to stave off anxiety and stress, as well as taking extended technology breaks – something she joked is like taking ice cream away from a toddler with Brad!
“He’s admitted he’s benefited from her ‘self-care sessions’ as Jen calls them, as well as hikes with her dogs, Clyde and Sophie, near his Malibu home, and having that familiar source of comfort to talk to.
“The kindness and love Jen’s shown him over the last few months has further cemented his love and adoration of her and, after seeing the sparkle back in Jen’s eyes, it’s clear that the feeling is mutual.”
THEY HAVE AN UNBREAKABLE BOND… THEY WERE STOKED TO BE WORKING TOGETHER