Brad Pitt’s Hollywood presence has become synonymous with controversy. The Fight Club actor has left a lasting mark on pop culture with his work in the film industry and continues to do so at present. However, all formalities aside, Pitt has yet to adapt to post-divorce life in L.A. for one tragic reason.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Mr. & Mrs. Smith [Credit: 20th Century Studios, Summit Entertainment]

After decades of living with Angelina Jolie and co-parenting a family of 6 children, it not only came off as hurtful but shocking to learn that 4 of them are officially removing Pitt from their surnames. After the Jolie-Pitt children further refused to reconcile their broken relationship, the A-lister had no choice but to face the demons of his past.

Brad Pitt Leaves His Tortured Past Behind in L.A.

For an actor worth his salt, Brad Pitt sure leaves a controversial image behind as far as his personal life is concerned. Pitt now maintains a somewhat stable appearance than most extravagant actors, preferring to lavish his income on vineyards and chateaus in the South of France. However, a life of that scale had come with his family of 8, which included himself and Angelina Jolie.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in By the Sea [Credit: Universal Pictures]

After spending 16 long years together and trudging through a bitter divorce, Pitt seems to have spent way too much effort trying to appear presentable and normal to the world outside. Yet, controversies continue to circle the actor as cases involving the FBI and an airplane incident revealed by Jolie mars the actor’s reputation, leaving him with virtually no friends outside the industry.

Moreover, the memories that the city holds, including the time spent with his family have made Los Angeles a difficult place to live in. According to an insider close to the actor:

In L.A., Brad was haunted by being so close to his kids and yet so far. He’s now saying a change of scenery might be what his mind needs, at least until they start wanting to spend time with him again.

In this case, “they” include Pitt’s children whose effort to cut him out of their lives has left the A-lister heartbroken enough to make him flee the country entirely. Now, Pitt can be found seeking refuge in the French countryside in the company of his girlfriend Ines de Ramon and best friend George Clooney.

Angelina Jolie Wishes to Escape Her Life in the US

If the divorce has left Brad Pitt with the desire to move to the South of France, it has filled Angelina Jolie with a desire to travel the world again like she used to before settling down with Pitt and their 6 children. Jolie’s incredible travels took the actress to vast corners of the world, with the actress even establishing a home in Cambodia.

Angelina Jolie at the 81st Venice International Film Festival [Photo by Harald Krichel licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons]

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal in a December 2023 interview, Jolie admitted, “It’s part of what happened after my divorce. I lost the ability to live and travel as freely. I will move when I can,” referring to spending more time in the Southeast Asian nation.

Moreover, in an August 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actress divulged:

I grew up in this town. I am here because I have to be here from a divorce, but as soon as they’re 18, I’ll be able to leave.

When you have a big family, you want them to have privacy, peace, safety. I have a house now to raise my children, but sometimes this place can be … that humanity that I found across the world is not what I grew up with here.

I’ll spend a lot of time in Cambodia. I’ll spend time visiting my family members wherever they may be in the world.

The bitter divorce proceedings also affected Jolie and her children due to the long and drawn-out custody battle over their children and dispute over the ownership of their French winery, Château Miraval which Pitt intended to leave as a legacy for his children. Angelina Jolie ended up selling her stake to a third-party buyer, no longer making the winery a family-owned business.