Brad Pitt is Proud to Provide His Brood With a 'World View'

Limelight

After traveling across the globe with his partner Angelina Jolie and their six children — Maddox Chivan, 8, Pax Thien, 5 ½, Zahara Marley, 4 ½, Shiloh Nouvel, 3, and fraternal 1-year-old twins Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Léon — actor Brad Pitt tells the Times Online that their experiences are priceless. “Everywhere is interesting in its own way, each place has its own feel and something to offer: you pick up something, the kids pick up something,” he explains.

“They have this world view which we are very proud and happy that we are able to provide.”

Constantly gracing the covers of countless magazines, Brad admits both he and Angelina see “no point” in browsing through the stories. However, the same can’t be said for the couple’s children, who have slowly grown accustomed to their parents’ celebrity status. “We’re still trying to negotiate how we explain to them what we do,” he shares.

“It’s not strange to them that their parents will come on television. And it’s not strange for them to walk outside and for there to be a photographer. They just think if there is printed material hanging around, their parents might be on the cover.”

While escaping the glitz and glamor — and the paparazzi! — is far from easy, Brad reveals that the family has managed to dodge the spotlight more than once. “Oh, we get peace in our lives,” he says. “We’re pretty good at it. You carve out that time for the family.” That said, while their vacations offer a temporary respite from fame, as the 45-year-old actor jokes, they have yet to include much tranquility.

“Do we get a little silence with the kids? No, not that kind of silence — silence is over at home, but we like that chaos…”

Source: Times Online

– Anya

Comments

lucky guy, a good family , a sex- symbol woman….

- niko on August 6th, 2009

I think having a good world view is important. As a child I lived in 3 different countries (now on my fourth) and we went to quite a few different countries on holiday (I think it also helped that our family lived abroad to us as well). And I feel that that exposure to different cultures and those expeiriences really helped my siblings and i grow into well rounded and open minded people.
If you can expose your children to different lands and their cultures then I think its an important thing to do.

- Sophie on August 6th, 2009

Some guys have all the luck!

- 12 Weeks Pregnant on August 6th, 2009

I just love hearing him and Angie talk about their home lives with their children …. it makes you realize their not that different than us especially when it comes to their home life with their family.

- Bancie1031 on August 6th, 2009

It must be great to be able to travel around the world with your family without worrying about finances, the kids education, etc. It’s wonderful that these people love their children; however, I am so OVER Brad Pitt! He seems so full of himself and just icky!

- Jazzie on August 6th, 2009

I like him. He seems like a guy you could take a beer with. His family is adorable. I think his kids will grow up to be very interesting and compassionate.

- Jade on August 6th, 2009

I hate how these two brag and act all smug when they have films to promote and then demand privacy for their family when they don’t. Brad comes off so full of himself in every interview and Angie so pretentious, like because they take their kids on trips, this makes them so important.

However, I mentioned once that you never see them with all 6 kids and there were photos the other day, so I will give them that much that they do spend time with all of the kids together.

- Mary-Helen on August 6th, 2009

I think he seems like a good dad but I always enjoy it more when Angelina speaks about her family life, she seems more “real”, if that makes sense.

Either way, doesn’t really matter, I’m glad that they have one big happy family!

- kayleesmom on August 6th, 2009

I’m so happy for him + Angelina Jolie. They have big family with a lot of love. There are a lot of great quotes from the Times Online article + PARADE where he talks about Angie + the kids. Brad Pitt calls Angie his “soul mate” and he talks about his kids, “I don’t know who or what is meant to be in my life, but this is certainly where I want to be. Here with them. I think this is the pinnacle. Even as I’m bound to this thing, in a way I’m freer than I’ve ever been.” (Reminds me of a Tyler Durden quote from Fight Club lol).

- Mia on August 6th, 2009

I love how everyone whines about them bragging and yet – we haven’t seen hide nor hair of them or those kids in months beyond airport sightings. I’m sorry that they have to promote a movie – oh wait, that’s part of their job! Give me a break. I hate how everyone rags on Brad and Angelina for stuff they have no problem with other celebrities’ doing.

- Ryo on August 6th, 2009

Maybe I’m missing where he sounds smug or pretentious. He comes across as a contented family man and general, decent guy. He has to promote his movie or else a pretty hefty lawsuit would be landing at his door. All I’ve ever heard he and Angelina ask for is some space when they are out with their children; they accept that the paparazzi will take photos but ask them to keep their distance. Sounds fair enough to me. It even sounds decent. If it was me, I’d be knocking paparazzi’s down with my handbag and telling them exactly what I thought of them and their ‘job’.

I like them. They live the life they want, marching to the beat of their own drum and it’s clear that their children come before everything else in their lives. They don’t owe anybody anything, let alone faceless posters on a website.

- Amanda on August 6th, 2009

Thank you Amanda, exactly my thoughts.

- ana on August 6th, 2009

Good post, Amanda!!

I love this Parade interview. Brad sounds like a very contented man who adores his family. How that makes him sound “full of himself” is beyond me!! Oh well!! Can’t please everybody!!

- mslewis on August 6th, 2009

I am so OVER Brad and Angelina. I agree with the posts above about him sounding smug and pretentious. I read another article about him and he just comes off wrong to me now. I used to love him and wanted to read everything but after I read the article where he does not believe in God my whole attitude changed about him. He just icks me out now. Why would you brag about being an aethiest.

- Shannon on August 6th, 2009

I think he sounds so happy and he clearly loves life I semi-agree with Shannon in the way that he seems to blame every religious person in the world for Prop 8. I’m religious and I believe God wants us to not judge people just because they’re gay. Brad comes off as smug in that way.

- Natasha on August 6th, 2009

Being an atheist is nothing to be ashamed of. He has every right to discuss his beliefs as the next person and considering how horrible religious people treat those they deem less than like Blacks (love how they use the bible to justify slavery) I can understand his point of view though I may not agree with it. Can’t wait to see Inglorious Bastards. Love Tarantino. I don’t believe he and Brad worked together since True Romance.

- aroundtheywaygirl on August 6th, 2009

Brilliant. Now we can’t speak about being atheist. It’s okay to broadcast being a Christian or a Catholic, but how dare you even say that you don’t believe God exists? Well I’m an atheist and I don’t give two hoots who knows it. One thing I share with Brad and Angelina is that I will be damned if I allow my children to grow up with the ignorant and intolerant views that are being broadcast on this website (and society as a whole) on an almost daily basis.

Now I’m off to start a website: Atheists United.

- Amanda on August 6th, 2009

I liked the atheism comment very much! I appreciate the honesty and clarity of his words.I think many actors would not say such a direct and honest thing out of fear of rejection and criticism for being the big bad “A”.

I notice how public persons get praised and admiration for raising a religious family, a spiritual family and so on but atheism is a big no-no. Good of Brat Pitt for answering truthfully.

He’s not smug or full of himself, at least not in my opinion, he just says things directly and without frills, people usually can’t handle this personalities. Yes!I cannot wait for this movie!I am a comic book geek and this one should be fun!.

- eva on August 6th, 2009

Maybe I’m the dense one, but the man didn’t say he was an Atheist. He said 20percent atheist, 80 percent agnostic. Call me crazy but how does that work out to being an atheist. You either believe in god or you don’t, and mathematically he believes in some higher power. I don’t care what he is, but I hate when people try to ‘get one on their team’. Plenty of people reject organized religion(my own fiancee for example) without giving up belief in a higher power(whatever that power is).

- Elzbieta on August 6th, 2009

and I’ve never found him to be smug or pretentious at all.

- Elzbieta on August 6th, 2009

actually, I did a little googling (Atheism vs. Agnosticism) and now i’m more confuse than ever. I’m not sure if he’s a Agnostic theist or an agnostic athiest. Oh nos. Good thing I stopped caring.

- Elzbieta on August 6th, 2009

On the topic of religion/or belief-All Brad Pitt said, was he doesn’t like the aspect of organized religion because how it seems to persecute anyone or anything that is out of this “ideal persona” of what somebody should be or should do, and if you don’t do that-you’re automatically wrong + evil: Like there is a quote in that interview where he says “A reverend on TV said Me + Angie were a bad example because we were raising a family out of wedlock..etc.” -Maybe so, but the most important thing is they are a very loving + nurturing family, and those kids have parents that truly love each other + love being parents more than any movie role they have ever done. Brad Pitt showed his ultimate commitment to Angie when he offered to adopt Maddox + Zahara, in most other situations, that is the equality of an engagement + marriage.

And if you ever read info about Angelina Jolie + Brad Pitt, they both have a lot of faith + celebrate all types of religions, ceremonies + ideas, they share them with their kids, so they can make their own decisions later on. I think Angelina Jolie said, last year,”Brad got me the best gift, it was a book shelf with books on every single religion in the world, and I think that’s how the world should be”..etc.

I personally do not believe in organized religion. I think organized religion segregates people more than it brings people together + that’s not how things should be. I am very faithful + believe very much in God, personally, but not in some “by the book” form and definitely not on some belief that there is any right way or wrong way to live life, life is life-simple as that.

- Mia on August 6th, 2009

@Shannon – He was asked a question about his religious beliefs. He answered a very simple question with a very simple answer. Can you explain to us how you came to the conclusion that he’s BRAGGING? I honestly don’t see it.
-
@Amanda – THANK YOU! Perfectly said.

- Allie on August 6th, 2009

I have to laugh at these comments. Brad is just stating he’s happy and expressing his political views. He isn’t saying anything different from what other celebrities have said yet he’s smug and bragging? I haven’t heard Brad and Angelina demand privacy. What they have said is they hate the way the paparazzi treat their kids(screaming at them, shoving cameras in their faces) and trespassing onto their private property. I’m baffled that people think they are wrong to feel this way.

- Amy on August 6th, 2009

i agree with mia

- Kay on August 6th, 2009

Taking the whole complete comment I understand it as something different, he doesn’t care about religion or God:

BILD: Do you believe in God?
Brad Pitt (smiling): “No, no, no!”

BILD: Is your soul spiritual?
Brad Pitt: “No, no, no! I’m probably 20 per cent atheist and 80 per cent agnostic. I don’t think anyone really knows. You’ll either find out or not when you get there, until then there’s no point thinking about it.

I just wanted to recognize his honesty.I am a member of an organized religion,so it’s not like we navigate on the same boat but I have much respect for these honest opinions as opposed to elaborated bullshit.

- eva on August 6th, 2009

Honestly, I do find this guy insanely pretentious. I grew up travelling all over the globe and I dispute that it makes you a “more well rounded person” or anything else. These kids are not putting down roots, or being influenced by the cultures they whip past for a film promotion, they are tourists spewing out carbon and destroying the planet. I know lots of amazing people that grew up in on eplace and went on to contribute mightily to the planet. Compassion does not grow from repeated use of VIP airport lounges. I think they display a shallow form of snobbery.

R

- deedot on August 6th, 2009

I’ve never not believed in god, but I’ve questioned organized religion for a longtime. Theres this quote from einstien that I identify a lot with:

“I’m not an atheist. The problem involved is too vast for our limited minds. We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many languages. The child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangement of the books but doesn’t know what it is. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of the of the most intelligent human being toward God. We see the universe marvelously arranged and obeying certain laws but only dimly understand these laws”

I’ve ALWAYS felt that way, but was never able to vocalize the way Einstein did(i guess that makes him the genius huh?). Also while I do believe in god, I’m not sure if I believe in the afterlife.

- Elzbieta on August 6th, 2009

I think he has his head on straight and I respect him and his family. I’m baffled as to how when other celebrities do interviews to promote their films they’re not called smug or are accused of bragging or have it implied that they’re hypocrites but when Brad and Angie do it the same negative people always come out of the woodwork with their usual blah blah blah. Oh well I can’t wait to watch this 80% agnostic; 20% atheist hunka burning love on the big screen later this month.

- someday mom on August 6th, 2009

The reason that the travel and world view comments come up again, and again, and again, is because interviewers ask Brad and Angelina about it again, and again, and again. In the full article the writer spends a lengthy paragraph detailing the how much travel it seems the couple does, and then puts it to Brad that it must be it must be exhausting. His comments above are just a response to that.

People talking about their parenting choices are not automatically bragging or pretentious. If you had a friend who sent their kid to a Montessori school because they believe in that method of teaching, and someone asked them why they chose to do that, if they answered with their genuinely held beliefs about why Montessori schooling was important for their kids, would you then accuse them of bragging? If the subject came up often, would you say that they’re pretentious, or harping on about it?

The same goes for any parenting choice: co-sleeping, non-vaccinating, different discipline methods, and frequent travel. If it’s an unusual choice, of course people are going to ask about it. He’s not trying to convince you that YOU should hop on a plane and take your kids to France next week, just that it’s something, in his particular (and highly unique) situation that’s important to him.

- actualsize on August 6th, 2009

Mia- ITA (about the comments Brad and Angie have made, that is)! Angie also said that they plan to expose their kids to all sorts of religions, and then let them choose which one or ones they want to follow once they are adults. Therefore, Brad’s comment about being atheist doesn’t surprise me. I also don’t see anything wrong with it…and that’s coming from someone who’s a devout Christian herself!

Amanda- I couldn’t agree more!

actualsize- I agree completely! I also want to point out that, for at least the last half a year, if not longer, the J-Ps haven’t been doing that much traveling. They’ve been staying in on place for several months at a time. For example, they were living on Long Island from about the end of January to the beginning of June while Angie filmed Salt. Last Fall, they were in Berlin for several months while Brad filmed Inglorious Basterds. Before that, as we all know, they were in France for basically the entire summer while Angie went through the last few months of her pregnancy, gave birth to the twins, and then recovered.

Most recently, they have been staying in LA (with the exception of a few quick one or two day trips, such as when Angie and Maddox went to Iraq a couple weeks ago).

Anyway, my point is that the J-Ps haven’t exactly been hopping from country to country lately. All of that said, I think those kids are very lucky. They are getting to see places that most of us can only dream of going, and are even learning some foregin languages (Angie has said that French is practically the family’s second language, and, per a comment Angie made to HELLO last Fall, Shiloh apparently knows a little German as well! Plus, although I’m not sure if he still does, Maddox used to have a tutor to teach him Khmer, Cambodia’s native language. Likewise, they had a Vietnamese-speaking person around after Pax’s adoption to help Pax retain his native tongue. Like with Maddox, I’m unsure if he still has that tutor.)!

I also don’t think Brad and Angie sound at all full of themselves. They just, as another poster pointed out, tend to give very direct answers, and Angie is also extremely open.

- CelebBabyLover on August 7th, 2009

Oh, and on a lighter note, I can’t wait to see Knox and Viv again!

- CelebBabyLover on August 7th, 2009

What’s funny is that in the same interview he said quality of life in France is better than in the US and had someone else said that everyone would be shouting “anti-American” and other unmentionable names. Since it’s the beloved Brad, who is half of “America’s Golden Couple,” all is forgiven.

I like what he and Angelina have done for various charities even though they must insist on advertising all their good deeds, at least it’s getting done.

I do think Brad has come off as smug and pretentious in the last year or two.

- Minka on August 7th, 2009

i am raising my kids without religion, i won’t call them atheists because i don’t believe kids should be labeled and that they should make up their own minds. but my husband and i are open about our personal views when they ask us and we explain that we’re not religious and we don’t believe in any god but we respect that people have different beliefs.
and i totally agree that it is absurd that many celebrities get praise for raising their kids with a religious background but if one them has the guts to stand up and admit they are an atheist (not talking about BP specifically here) they are criticized. i know this is worse in america and as i live in europe it seems even more perplexing.
i often see kirk cameron being praised for his religious background, i personally find many of his views, particularly towards gay people despicable. but no one talks about that. personally i don’t feel that someone who is intolerant is a person who should be admired.
and i am proud to say that my kids have been exposed to and respect people of different cultures, beliefs and sexual orientations.

- JM on August 7th, 2009

What’s funny is that in the same interview he said quality of life in France is better than in the US and had someone else said that everyone would be shouting “anti-American” and other unmentionable names.

Why would they shout anti-American? I don’t understand that. “Quality of life” isn’t necessarily a subjective measure, so comparing the quality of life in different countries doesn’t mean you’re making some political (or anti-country) statement. I’d hope that no one would accuse someone of being anti-American just for saying that… even if they are one half of America’s golden couple.

- actualsize on August 7th, 2009

Love this family and their world view. Though it seems as if we agree on most issues, what I really love about them is the obvious love they all have for each other. I can also appreciate the fact that they both speak honestly wo regard for public scrutiny. On a side note I continue to be amused by those who are religious yet intolerant of those who are not? I can appreciate the beliefs of others even if I do not share them.

- brannon on August 7th, 2009

I wouldn’t disagree that the quality of life in America is worse. Americans a lot of them are treated like work horses, no vacation, no healthcare! This isn’t the fault of Americans but the govt and the societal structure.

I am I guess what they would call a lapsed catholic, I was baptised but never confirmed. I can’t say that I’m raising my daughter catholic but she has been baptised and we have been to church a few times. As she gets older we plan on exposing her to other religions not so she can “pick for herself” necessarily but so she won’t end up misguided about other faiths. Me and my husband agree that all religions are just a means to an ends( even hindus recognize jesus as a prophet of sorts and many religions share similar stories even the ‘tribal’ faiths).

I know athiests, and I have some friends who are athiest, but its a topic I avoid a lot. I’ve never met an athiest that wasn’t really aggressive about their choice or didn’t want to subtly ridicule me for my choice in “believing in something as real as the boogie man”. I lost a boyfriend over it. I’m sure that isn’t every athiest but everyone I’ve experienced thus far.

Oh and I love that Einstien quote.

- gaia's mom on August 7th, 2009

Interesting discussion. In the 70′s actress Marlo Thomas wrote a book entitled, “Free to Be You and Me.” It was a positive message to children about the virtues of equality, kindness and self-determination. This is the message Brad & Angelina are teaching their children and why I have so much admiration for them as parents. Are they perfect? No, but none of us are.

- Faye on August 7th, 2009

a question to gaia’s mom, not being critical or antagonistic here i promise, i was just wondering whether, if you say you will expose your daughter to other religions, you will also expose her to the idea of atheism, so that she receives a truly balanced view and has all the evidence to make an informed decision? i am only asking because i know a lot of people who are happy to expose their kids to other types of religion but somehow draw the line at evidence and arguments for atheism. it would just interest me to know what someone who is raising their child with a religion thinks.

- JM on August 7th, 2009

Its hard to say JM. I feel like, its my parental obligation to try and give my daughter all sides of the story. I really just want her to be somewhat knowledgeable so she doesn’t give into stereotypes. On the otherhand as someone who does believe in a hight power, it would bother me if she decided to become an athiest, but hiding the option of atheism would be stupid.

After posting, that comment about exposing her to other religions, it occurred to me that I wasn’t intentionally exposed to other faiths as a child. I’m not sure how practical and effective that is. Growing up, I took it upon myself to learn about other faiths (specifically about islam because my grandmothers family are muslims) and atheism(after reading about Carl Sagan).

So, I’m not really sure how I’m going to go about this.

- gaia's mom on August 7th, 2009

I think when he said “Quality of Life” in France he just meant the family can have a normal/everday life in France, with privacy + can walk around France without being bothered. They (either Brad/Angie + the kids) walk around here at home in the U.S, esp. NYC or L.A, and they are mobbed, cameras in their face + everywhere…etc. Who wants to live like that? I’m glad they can find privacy in other places + have been able to stay more private/and on the DL here, in L.A.

- Mia on August 7th, 2009

Wow, he doesn’t believe in God?! Well, his opinion certainly doesn’t change the fact that there IS a God! So sad for him. He may have all the money in the world but not knowing God…I personally cannot imagine my life without God in it. I hope one day he and his family will come to know Christ as Lord & Savior.

- Doreen on August 7th, 2009

Brannon-Beautifully said! I feel the exact same way (that is, I can appreciate the beliefs of others even if I don’t share them!)

Faye- Very well said!

Mia- I couldn’t agree with you more! I think that’s exactly what he meant. He has even alluded to them getting more privacy in France in the past. He has also said that the people in the areas of France they go to tend to be more respectful than those in the U.S. In otherwords, they don’t act all starstruck when they see the J-Ps, try to take pictures of them with their cellphones, or scream the kids’ names when they see them. Basically, they treat them like “normal” people, and thus allow them to live a more normal life.

- CelebBabyLover on August 8th, 2009

gaia’s mom, i appreciate your honest and reflective answer. and i can understand that it would bother you if your child was atheist, as, if i’m being honest it would bother me if one of my children decided to become religious. but i am still trying to at least explain to them that other people believe in religions. i think you could inform her about atheism and yet make it clear that it is not what you believe in, just what some other people choose to follow. but it’s not my business, she’s your child and i’m sure you know best.

Doreen, your comment is possibly one of the most ignorant comments i have ever read here. to assume that somehow brad and his kids’ lives are worse off because they don’t believe in god is hugely arrogant and truly narrow minded. i consider myself lucky to be an atheist. all the love, support, understanding and confidence i need in life i get from other people, my friends, my family etc. and i don’t need some imaginary friend to validate my life or myself as a human being. that i think makes me truly lucky, but i would never be so ignorant as to say that someone who is religious and his family should come round to not believing in god so that their lives are really fulfilled.
i have seen many respectful, intelligent, thoughtful religious people posting here, but you give the others a bad name.

- JM on August 8th, 2009

“i don’t need some imaginary friend to validate my life or myself as a human being. that i think makes me truly lucky, but i would never be so ignorant as to say that someone who is religious and his family should come round to not believing in god so that their lives are really fulfilled.”

JM, that was terribly insulting. I don’t believe in god because it validates my life or gives me a feeing of security or because I hope for an afterlife. I don’t really think there is an afterlife, but I do believe in god. My reasons for my belief are private, but I can’t see how you can give your kids an unbiased and unhostile look at other peoples choices if that’s what you think. In the end, its your business you can teach them whatever you like, but it doesn’t seem like you’re following what you suggested I do.

- gaia's mom on August 9th, 2009