Brad Pitt has spent years avoiding public discussion about his strained relationship with his children, but a rare new admission offers a glimpse into just how deeply his family troubles once affected him.

The Oscar winner revealed that there was a period when the emotional pain became so overwhelming that, although he insists he never intended to harm himself, he came to understand why someone might view death as an escape.

When pressed about what had pushed him to such a dark place, Pitt declined to reveal specifics, describing it simply as “family stuff.”

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Pitt made the deeply personal revelation during a wide-ranging interview with Esquire, explaining that optimism has generally carried him through difficult periods.

“I was never suicidal in any way. It just was not my makeup,” the 62-year-old stressed, describing himself as a “congenital optimist.”

However, the actor acknowledged there had been one exception.

“I’ve never been suicidal except for one little period,” Pitt said, explaining that during that time he “just didn’t see a way out.”

He described the pain as “so oppressive” that he began to understand suicide as someone desperately searching for relief, while emphasizing that he was not going to act on those thoughts.

Pitt credited his survival instinct with quickly taking over before admitting, “This sh-t ain’t easy.”

When the interviewer later asked whether the painful period involved his children, Pitt offered only a carefully guarded response.

“Family stuff,” he said. “We could leave it at that.”

Brad Pitt’s Admission Comes Amid Growing Distance From His Children

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The timing of Pitt’s comments makes the admission especially striking.

He shares six children with ex-wife Angelina Jolie: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne.

Their relationship with their father has increasingly become public through decisions involving their surnames.

Shiloh successfully petitioned to legally remove “Pitt” from her name in 2024, becoming Shiloh Jolie.

Maddox and Zahara subsequently filed their own petitions in 2026, while Vivienne became the fourth sibling to seek a legal change in July, citing “personal” reasons in court documents. Zahara and Maddox still have hearings scheduled for September.

As The Blast previously reported, the widening distance has raised questions not only about Pitt’s private family relationships but also about how the highly visible estrangement could affect his public image.

Another report noted that Jolie reportedly wants her children to heal and make decisions about their identities for themselves.

Pitt Has Rarely Spoken Publicly About The Rift

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What makes Brad Pitt’s comments in the Esquire interview particularly noteworthy is how reluctant Brad Pitt has historically been to discuss his children publicly.

A source previously told PEOPLE that Pitt had “virtually no contact” with his adult children, while his interaction with the younger children had also become more limited.

Pitt himself has generally avoided responding directly to the estrangement.

Instead, during an Entertainment Tonight interview surrounding “F1,” he spoke more broadly about what matters to him as he gets older.

“I think you get to my age and see how important it is to surround yourself with the people you know, the people you love, the people that love you back,” he said. “Friends, family, and that’s it.”

Those words carry additional weight now that Pitt has acknowledged just how painful his unnamed “family stuff” once became.

Pitt And Angelina Jolie’s Divorce Took Eight Years To End

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The family divide developed against the backdrop of one of Hollywood’s most contentious celebrity separations.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie separated in 2016 after more than a decade together and two years of marriage.

What followed was an eight-year legal battle involving custody disputes, financial disagreements and competing allegations before their divorce was finally settled in December 2024.

Jolie previously accused Pitt of abusive behavior during a 2016 private-plane incident. Pitt denied wrongdoing, and the FBI investigated the incident without bringing criminal charges.

The years of legal conflict have continued to cast a long shadow over the former couple’s family.

A source close to Pitt previously accused Jolie of successfully alienating the children from their father, while Jolie’s side has maintained that she wants the family to heal.

Brad Pitt Is Learning To Live With Loss Rather Than Escape It

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Pitt’s recent comments also suggest that his approach to pain has evolved beyond the family rift.

Elsewhere in the Esquire interview, he reflected on a piece of advice that encouraged him to stop treating intense emotion as something that needed to be fixed.

Rather than avoiding life’s highest highs and lowest lows, he said he has learned to accept both.

That philosophy appears to extend to the relationships still surrounding him.

Pitt said he has begun interpreting the old idea of Stephen Stills’ song, “Love The One You’re With” differently, focusing less on what is missing and more on “the friends who hung in with you, the family who understand you, the people who are still here.”

For a man who has remained largely silent as his family struggles became increasingly public, that may be his clearest statement yet about how he is trying to move forward.

Jon Hamm and wife Anna Osceola are excited to expand their family with their first baby after three years of marriage.

“Jon has always wanted to be a dad with Anna,” a source exclusively tells Us. “Having a family was something that was really important to both of them from the beginning. They’ve talked about this chapter for a long time and were always on the same page about wanting children, so for it to actually be happening now feels incredibly special.”

The insider adds that Hamm, 55, is “over the moon” to become a dad. The actor has been “so attentive and excited about every little milestone” during Osceola’s pregnancy.

“Anna is pretty far along now and feeling really good,” the source says, revealing Osceola has been in nesting mode. “She took it easy at first and tried to stay under the radar. They have been trying to relax a bit but are enjoying making plans for the baby.”

Both Hamm and Osceola, 38, are very thrilled about this new relationship milestone.

“They’re both soaking it all in and are just so excited to become parents,” the insider continues. “Their relationship has only gotten stronger, and they feel really lucky to be going through this together.”

Us has reached out to Hamm and Osceola’s spokespersons for comment.

News broke on Monday, August 10, that Osceola is pregnant with her and Hamm’s first baby. According to photos obtained by the Daily Mail, the actress showed off a growing baby bump while wearing a bikini during a recent getaway to the Hamptons with the Your Friends & Neighbors star.

Hamm and Osceola met in 2015 while working together on Mad Men. Hamm starred as the iconic Don Draper since the inaugural premiere in 2007 while Osceola joined the series in its final season to play receptionist Clementine. The couple’s connection turned romantic in 2017.

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Related: Jon Hamm Talks ‘Exciting’ Newlywed Bliss With Wife Anna Osceola 

John Nacion/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures Jon Hamm is loving his new role of husband to wife Anna Osceola. “It’s exciting, you know, it’s very nice,” Hamm, 52, told Entertainment Tonight of newlywed life in an interview published on Tuesday, January 9. “We had our six-month anniversary on Christmas Eve, so that was sort of […]

“It’s only been in the last couple of years of me kind of sitting down and really thinking about all that stuff that’s made the relationship that I’m in now, is even more meaningful,” Hamm said of his and Osceola’s relationship in a September 2022 interview with Howard Stern. “And opened up the possibility of being married, having kids, defining a new version of happiness, life, wellness. All that stuff, it sounds hokey and whatever, but it’s real.”

Us confirmed that Osceola and Hamm got engaged in February 2023 and they wed that summer. One year later, Hamm shared his hopes to one day become a dad.

“I hope it turns into kids,” he told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2024. “It’s not lost on me that I’m 53. I will be the old dad, but so it goes. It could be a good thing. We’ll see.”

Matthew Lillard refused to let an uncomfortable fan confrontation derail a celebration marking 30 years of “Scream.” The actor was participating in a reunion at the Midsummer Scream convention in Long Beach, California, when an unidentified attendee used the audience Q&A to tell Lillard that a previous interaction had cost him a fan. After briefly responding with a joke, Lillard declined to revisit the alleged encounter and swiftly moved the event forward.

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Footage from the convention showed Lillard walking through the audience with a microphone as fans were invited to ask questions.

Instead of asking about “Scream” or the actor’s return to the franchise, one man confronted him about an interaction he claimed had taken place several years earlier. “I met you a few years ago,” the attendee began.

The man said he had attempted to share a theory with Lillard about a possible connection between “Scream” and the 1995 romantic drama “Mad Love.” Both movies featured Drew Barrymore playing a character named Casey. Barrymore portrayed Casey Roberts in “Mad Love” before appearing as Casey Becker in the famous opening sequence of “Scream.”

According to the attendee, Lillard responded to his theory by asking, “What were you smoking?”

The fan then told the actor that the alleged exchange had changed the way he viewed him. “The way you made me feel…when you told me that, you kind of lost me as a fan,” the person said. “I just wanted you to know that.”

‘Scream’ Star Refuses To Let The Exchange Continue

Lillard paused after hearing the attendee’s complaint before responding with a sarcastic quip. “What a great question,” he said.

The man’s next remarks were partially drowned out by the audience’s reaction, although he could be heard saying, “I always had a thing for you.”

He then repeated his criticism before ending the exchange. “Yeah, you lost me as a fan. Thank you,” the attendee said as the crowd immediately erupted into boos as Lillard moved through the room toward another group of conventiongoers.

Jamie Kennedy, who appeared alongside Lillard in the original “Scream,” attempted to determine what had happened. From the stage, Kennedy asked Lillard to clarify what the man had been discussing.

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Lillard made it clear that he did not want to spend any more time on the interaction. “It does not matter. Next question!” he declared.

His response allowed the panel to continue without further discussion of the fan’s accusation.

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Videos of the confrontation soon circulated online, with one Instagram user criticizing the attendee for using the public Q&A to air his grievance. “Protect Matthew Lillard at all costs. This is not okay,” the person captioned one recording of the exchange.

Lillard did not publicly elaborate on whether he remembered meeting the attendee or making the remark attributed to him. The actor instead focused on the remaining fans and the “Scream” reunion, which brought together several performers and creators connected to the influential slasher film.

Lillard was joined at the convention by Skeet Ulrich, Kennedy and Lee Waddell. Ghostface voice actor Roger L. Jackson, actor Joseph Whipp and composer Marco Beltrami were also among the “Scream” personalities participating in the event.

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‘Scream’ Reunion Celebrates The Original Film’s Legacy

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The Midsummer Scream reunion marked three decades since the original movie introduced audiences to Ghostface and the residents of Woodsboro. Lillard played Stu Macher, one of the two killers revealed beneath the Ghostface mask. Ulrich portrayed Billy Loomis, Stu’s friend and partner in the murders.

Although Stu appeared to die after Sidney Prescott pushed a television onto his head, speculation about the character’s possible survival persisted among franchise fans for years. Lillard returned to the series in “Scream 7,” although the movie did not reveal that Stu had secretly survived. Instead, another character used artificial intelligence to deepfake his face while communicating with Sidney, once again played by Neve Campbell.

Before the movie’s premiere, Lillard admitted that stepping back into the franchise came with considerable pressure. “There was so much anxiety, so much fear, so much insecurity about stepping back into something that, frankly, and it’s yet to be determined, could go really poorly,” he told Entertainment Weekly.

“I mean, if people hate the movie, hate me, hate Stu, question why I came back, all of that weighs on me heavily… It’s a gamble of legacy,” he continued. “I wouldn’t want to hurt the legacy at all. And if I thought it would, I wouldn’t be here.”

Matthew Lillard Felt The Weight Of Stu Macher’s Legacy

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Lillard acknowledged that returning to a franchise with such a devoted following made his presence on set impossible to ignore. “For better or for worse, there’s a stigma about you stepping on set, especially stepping on set for ‘Scream 7,’” he said. “Everyone there knows who you are. Everyone there is aware of the legacy of that character, that film, that moment.”

That experience stood in sharp contrast to the uncertainty Lillard felt while filming the 1996 original as a relatively unknown actor. He recalled struggling with imposter syndrome while shooting a scene at the high school fountain with Campbell, Ulrich and Rose McGowan.

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“I remember being on set that day and swallowing hard,” Lillard shared. “I was very embarrassed to be listening [to Craven and McGowan], and trying to establish a relationship with Skeet ’cause we were going to be [playing] best friends, and sort of that thing of Hollywood trying to figure out who we are as people, who we are as actors, how people work.”

Despite the early uncertainty, the experience ultimately gave Lillard relationships that extended far beyond the original production. “I remember this great, big swell of insecurity, that by the end of the whole film, I realized that I had made friends for life,” he said.

Three decades later, Lillard’s decision to quickly move past the uncomfortable convention exchange kept the focus on those friendships and the horror classic that created them.

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Is Jessie James Decker gearing up for another bun in the oven?

The singer shared her husband Eric Decker‘s response to her request to give their family another shot at welcoming a kid. The couple, who said “I do” in June 2013, currently share four children: a daughter, Vivianne, and sons Eric Jr, Forrest, and Denver.

The lovebirds’ story was nothing short of a textbook romance. Mutual friends introduced them, and within two years of dating, they tied the knot. Over the years, Jessie James Decker has gushed about her love for her husband and how they tag-team to make their marriage work.

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Jessie may be ready for another baby, but her husband has yet to key into the vision. The singer shared a hilarious clip of Eric in a joint post on Sunday, August 9, showing his reaction after she “texted” him asking for baby number 5.

In the video, Jessie zoomed in on the former NFL player, who was seen sitting by what appears to be a lake, enjoying the day before checking his phone to read his wife’s text. Eric, shirtless, quickly drops his phone, exhales, puts his hands behind his head, and walks off.

The following clip then shows Eric taking off in a kayak as Jessie calls out to him. Over Mariah Carey’s hit “Without You,” which played as the background music for the Instagram reel, the singer could be heard saying, “Where are you going?!” “Eric! Come back!” 

The athlete looked over his shoulder with no response as he continued to kayak away while his wife laughed on the docks.

What Do Fans Think About Eric’s Hilarious Reaction?

“I guess that’s a maybe?[upside down smiley face] [rolling laughter emoji] #marriedlife #marriage #couples,” Jessie captioned the post, which gave many fans a good laugh. A fan jumping in on the joke wrote, “I suppose not a ‘maybe’ [laughing emoji] more like, ‘I’ll think about, [sic] let me take a long ass stroll!’ See ya!! [laughing emoji].”

The singer’s post has received thousands of comments, many of which were laughing emojis from fans. Other netizens put into words how funny the post was, amid sharing that they resonated with either Eric or Jessie in their own marriages.

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“He’s going for the vasectomy [ laughing emoji],” a follower noted, while another joked, “He’s going to get milk; he’ll be back soon.” Other users joked that Eric was trying to run away from Jessie but would not get that far, while several fans highlighted that the couple makes cute babies. “What’s one more? When you have the cutest babies on the planet!!” a fan penned.

Jessie James Decker & Eric Decker’s ‘Value System’ Keeps Their Marriage Going

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Last year, Jessie and Eric opened up about how they managed to keep their marriage strong after 12 years of nuptial bliss and welcoming four kids. According to the retired NFL player, their shared value system and community have played a pivotal role in their home and marriage.

“Obviously, we’re rooted in our value system, where we have four kids. We do love the community we raise our kids in [in Nashville]. We take time to just be home and, in a sense, be with our family, that grounds us,” he said while talking to Fox News.

Jessie echoed a similar sentiment, chiming in that they “viewed the world the same way.” She explained that their general views on various aspects of life were aligned, including how they’ve chosen to raise their children, handle finances, and more. The “Wanted” Singer stressed that being on the same page with one’s spouse was the basis of a strong foundation for a marriage.

Inside The Power Couple’s Love Story

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Eric walked into Jessie’s life at a time when she had decided she was “swearing off men” due to the ugly experiences she had in the dating pool at the time. They were connected by mutual friends in 2011 after one of the singer’s friends texted her about Eric.

“I got a text from my girlfriend who said, ‘I’m having dinner with this guy I’m seeing, and this other guy just showed up, and he’s stunning,’” Jessie previously recalled. E! News reported that she was initially hesitant but found it hard to say no after her friend sent a picture of Eric.

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Seeing the 6’3 athlete, Jessie sent her own picture before giving her friend the go-ahead to play matchmaker. The lovebirds talked over the phone for weeks before the retired NFL player flew out to Nashville to spend the weekend with his new beau, where he asked her to be his girlfriend officially at the airport.

They worked through their relationship, learning from each other, and by the time they marked their first anniversary as a couple, Eric popped the question.

“Not only is he the best father and husband in the whole world, but he is so damn fine I literally want to lick his face every time he walks into the room,” Jessie said of her husband, and it is safe to say their love grows deeper with each passing day.

Can Jessie James Decker And Her Husband Afford To Have Another Kid?

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In response to Jessie’s recent post, some commenters noted that Eric’s reaction stemmed from his concerns about the finances he would have to shoulder if they had another child. 

Could this be true? According to last year’s reports from Reality Tea, the athlete has an estimated net worth of $22 million from his career as a pro-footballer, brand endorsements, real estate, and reality TV appearances.

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Eric played in the NFL for eight seasons as a wide receiver under four prolific teams before hanging up his boots before the COVID-19 pandemic. The couple’s Nashville estate is also worth around $10 million.

The country singer, on the other hand, also earns income as a TV personality, singer, songwriter, and fashion entrepreneur. Her net worth is estimated at $20 million according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Outside of her music career, Jessie is known for appearing alongside her husband, Eric, in “Eric & Jessie: Game On,” a reality TV series that follows their relationship and ran for three seasons before ending in 2017.

Will Jessie James Decker successfully convince her husband to get on board with the baby plan?

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Martha Stewart is proving that reinvention does not have an age limit. The lifestyle icon unveiled a dramatic new look over the weekend, trading her signature frosty blonde hair for a soft rose-gold shade.

Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton revealed the transformation in an Instagram video on Sunday, officially welcoming the 85-year-old businesswoman into her newest beauty era. “Welcome to the rose gold era,” Appleton captioned the clip.

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Appleton followed his initial reveal with another post featuring two photographs of Stewart’s rosy new color. For the caption, he gave one of Stewart’s most recognizable sayings a colorful update. “Rose gold… It’s a good thing,” the hairstylist wrote.

“Selling Sunset” star Chrishell Stause was among those reacting to Stewart’s transformation, describing the shade as “Pink Chíc.”

Stewart has never been afraid to have fun with her image. Her latest transformation arrived after she spoke candidly about the beauty habits and lifestyle choices she credits with helping her maintain her appearance.

Lifestyle Mogul Shares The Habits That Keep Her Looking Young

During a recent interview with PEOPLE, Stewart acknowledged that genetics have played an important part in the way she has aged. “I have good genes. My mom looked great at 95,” she explained.

However, Stewart does not attribute everything to her family history. She also pointed to several daily habits that have remained central to her lifestyle. “We eat well. We don’t drink very much. We don’t smoke. We eat healthy food. We exercise daily,” she said.

Her approach to food was reflected in a recent dinner party menu that included garden pea soup, sautéed scallops served over potato puree and corn. And those choices align with the practical, maintenance-focused approach Stewart said she applies to her appearance.

Martha Stewart Denies Having Plastic Surgery

Although Stewart acknowledged using some cosmetic treatments, she denied ever undergoing plastic surgery. “I have not had any plastic surgery at all. I don’t think I need it,” she stated.

The cookbook author admitted to receiving “a little bit of fillers” several times a year, but said much of her beauty routine revolves around skin care and facial treatments. “I do facial exercises and have the best facials from Mario Badescu and Georgia Louise. Peptides are very good. I take a few peptides,” Stewart shared.

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She emphasized that her goal is to maintain her appearance rather than make extensive changes to her body. “So that’s what I do. I’m more a maintenance kind of person,” she explained. “I’m not getting b–bs done and hips and butts and stuff like that.”

Stewart Says Prison Gave Her ‘Street Cred’

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Stewart has also recently revisited another chapter of her life that changed the way some members of the public viewed her: her time in federal prison. “Of course it gave me street cred,” she said. “I mean, you would never know what jail was like until you go to jail.”

However, Stewart rejected the suggestion that her incarceration helped create her longtime friendship with Snoop Dogg. “No, I don’t think Snoop likes me because I have street cred,” she clarified.

Instead, Stewart explained that their connection began with her interest in hip-hop and her decision to invite him onto her show in 2008. “I invited Snoop to be on my show [in 2008] because he was a rapper, and I was attracted to rappers. I like rap music,” she said.

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The rose-gold makeover also comes after Stewart generated headlines with comments about briefly meeting Meghan Markle at a California dinner party. The gathering reportedly occurred after Meghan, Prince Harry and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, traveled to the United Kingdom for a private reunion with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove.

“I had dinner with Meghan Markle the other night. We were both guests at a dinner party in California,” Stewart told PEOPLE. “And she had just gotten back from the palace. I didn’t talk to her really more than to say a couple words, but I know she was talking about it.”

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One person who said they sat next to Meghan at the dinner also rejected the suggestion that she had shared information about the palace meeting. “I sat next to Meghan at the dinner party, and this account of what happened is simply untrue,” the source told PEOPLE. “Meghan didn’t talk about her European vacation other than to say the family had a great time.”

The insider nevertheless emphasized that there was no personal conflict between the two women. “Meghan has always been a fan of Martha’s and enjoyed getting to meet her briefly at the dinner,” the source said.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s son Knox Jolie-Pitt is embracing his wilder side with a fiery new hairstyle.

The 18-year-old was seen sporting spiked red hair with blond shaved sides as he stepped out in Los Angeles on Monday, August 10.

Knox was all smiles as he jogged through the City of Angels wearing a cream T-shirt, black shorts, white socks and Crocs, according to photos published by the Daily Mail.

The teenager looked relaxed and slightly sweaty as he enjoyed the afternoon sun on Monday, with his bold new hair color turning heads along his route.

Related: Brad Pitt ‘Isn’t Ready to Give Up on His Children’: Source

Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images Brad Pitt remains hopeful about reconnecting with his kids. “After years of legal battles, Brad still isn’t ready to give up on his children,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “But knowing his children are dropping his last name is upsetting.” The update comes on the heels of several of Pitt, […]

Knox’s style statement comes amid his family’s ongoing ups and downs with their dad, 62, following Pitt and Jolie’s highly-publicized 2016 divorce. (The former couple finalized their divorce in December 2024.)

As of August, Knox is one of the exes’ two children who have not decided to legally drop their dad’s last name from their monikers after spending much of their childhood being raised primarily by the Maleficent actress, 51.

Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh and Vivienne have all distanced themselves from their famous father over the past few years, filing to only use their mother’s last name , leaving Knox and 22-year-old Pax the actor’s only children who go by “Pitt.”

Us confirmed that Shiloh, 20, was the first to make a change, filing a motion to change her moniker on her 18th birthday in May 2024. The petition was granted three months later.

Zahara, 21, followed suit in April, filing her own petition that was processed that June.

Twenty four-year-old Maddox, who was legally adopted by Pitt after he married Jolie in 2014, filed for his name change in May.

Vivienne, Knox’s twin, has been going by Vivienne Jolie for her entertainment credits, including working as a production assistant on the Broadway show The Outsiders. Us confirmed in July that the 18-year-old officially filed to legally drop “Pitt” from her surname as well.

With every legal filing, Pitt has been feeling his family grow further apart, a source exclusively told Us earlier this year.

Related: Where Angelina Jolie Wants to Move After Her Youngest Kids Turn 18

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Angelina Jolie is ready to get out of Los Angeles when the time is right. The Maria actress, 49, revealed her plans for leaving Tinseltown after her youngest children, 16-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne, turn 18 in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on Friday, August 30. “I grew up in this town. […]

“He feels most hurt out of everything that happened with Angie that his children don’t want a public association with his last name,” the insider said in May. “It’s been very difficult.”

The Fight Club star “still does hope and keeps the door open to eventual reconciliation, hopefully with all of them, but it is their decision,” the source explained.

As each of his children become adults, the insider added that Pitt knows he “has no power and he can’t force them” to keep his last name.

Pitt, for his part, made a rare comment about his personal hardships in an interview with Esquire published on Monday.

Related: Angelina Jolie Beams With Pride Beside Son Knox in Rare Outing Together

Angelina Jolie stepped out in style during a rare public outing with her son Knox. Arriving arm-in-arm with Knox, 16, to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 15th Annual Governors Awards’ red carpet in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 17, Jolie, 49, beamed with pride. Knox, one of six children Jolie shares with […]

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“I’ve never been suicidal except for one little period. And in that one little period, I just thought — I just couldn’t — just didn’t see a way out,” the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor revealed. “The pain was so oppressive that — I wasn’t going to act on this, but I could feel — I could feel the cold steel of the bullet in my head, and it felt like relief.”

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Pitt recalled, “And I thought, ‘Oh, OK, now I understand — I understand suicide, in the sense that it’s just relief. It’s just looking for relief from the pain. But I also think we have incredible survival instincts.”

When asked whether the “oppressive” pain had anything to do with “kid stuff,” Pitt replied, “Family stuff. … We could leave it at that.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Role Model has seemingly turned months of speculation about his relationship with Dakota Johnson into music. The singer-songwriter, whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury, featured the actress on “Love I You,” a track from his third album, “Chuck Timely & The Hourglass.” Although the pair had previously been photographed together, Johnson’s cameo on the song appears to be their most direct public acknowledgment of the romance to date.

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Dakota Johnson’s cameo appears during the bridge of “Love I You,” where she shares a flirtatious conversation with Pillsbury.

“Hey, I think you’re perfect,” the musician tells her.

“You say that to everyone,” Johnson replies.

“Kay, well, is it working?” he asks, prompting her to answer, “Yeah, but don’t tell anyone.”

The exchange immediately fueled discussion among listeners who had been following the couple’s increasingly public relationship. Pillsbury admitted that he initially had reservations about asking Johnson to participate because he knew the collaboration would generate more attention around their personal lives.

Role Model Initially Wanted To Keep Their Lives Separate

During an interview with Rolling Stone, Role Model explained that producer Mason Stoops repeatedly suggested Johnson when they began considering possible voices for the bridge. “We had a list of ideas for people, and [producer] Mason [Stoops] kept bringing up, you know, ‘Why doesn’t Dakota do it?’” Pillsbury recalled.

The musician initially resisted because he believed maintaining some separation between the relationship and his work might be the safer decision. “And I was always like, ‘Well, I don’t … I think keeping those things separate is probably good,’ and blah, blah, blah,” he said.

Stoops eventually persuaded Johnson to give the part a try, and Pillsbury immediately recognized that her voice suited the track. “And then one day he convinced her and I was just like, ‘Yeah, let’s try it,’ and it was amazing,” the singer explained. “Like, her voice was perfect on it. Obviously, yeah, you know that that’s going to lead to discussions online, but also, it made the song really special to me, and what a cool cameo to have, too.”

Fans Suspected Dakota Johnson Was On The Song Before Its Release

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Rumors about Dakota Johnson’s musical involvement began circulating before “Chuck Timely & The Hourglass” arrived. In July, speculation emerged that the pair had filmed a music video together. Role Model then debuted “Love I You” during a Chicago performance a few weeks later.

Fans who heard the unreleased track noticed that the woman participating in its flirtatious bridge sounded like Johnson, though it was not confirmed at the time.

Tucker Pillsbury Previously Wrote About Emma Chamberlain Split

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Before Johnson, Pillsbury was in a public relationship with Emma Chamberlain for more than three years. His previous album, “Kansas Anymore,” largely explored the aftermath of their breakup.

Some listeners have speculated that “Stain,” a track from his newest record, may also reference Chamberlain and her subsequent split from Peter McPoland. Pillsbury has not confirmed that interpretation.

His romantic history seemingly contributed to his initial hesitation about including Johnson on “Love I You.” After releasing an album centered heavily on one breakup, bringing a new partner into the recording carried the potential to shift attention away from the music. However, Pillsbury said Johnson’s performance made the track “really special” to him, providing a personal reason to accept the additional scrutiny.

Dakota Johnson And Role Model First Sparked Romance Rumors In December

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Johnson and Pillsbury were first romantically linked in December after they were photographed appearing close during a dinner with friends. The sighting came months after Johnson’s reported June 2025 split from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

Their relationship appeared to become increasingly difficult to hide around New Year’s Eve. Johnson was reportedly seen kissing Pillsbury during her party, where the pair were said to have remained close throughout the evening. “They were kissing, dancing and holding onto each other. They looked incredibly happy, cute, and sweet together,” a source told Entertainment Tonight at the time.

On March 28, Johnson and Pillsbury attended Paul McCartney’s concert at the Fonda Theatre. The two were photographed the following month again, reportedly kissing in a Los Feliz parking lot after a date night.

Morning Show star Bel Powley, who is set to appear in HBO Max’s upcoming Harry Potter series, is speaking out in opposition of J.K. Rowling’s anti-trans beliefs.

“I strongly disagree with J.K. Rowling’s views on gender,” Powley, 34, told The Telegraph in an interview published on Monday, August 10. “I think that the trans community deserves safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance.”

The actress continued, “But I love Harry Potter. I grew up with the books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness.”

Us has reached out to Rowling, 61, for comment.

Related: Tom Felton: J.K. Rowling’s Views Didn’t Affect ‘Harry Potter’ Return

Harry Potter star Tom Felton is weighing in on his return to the franchise amid author J.K. Rowling’s controversial views on transgender rights. Felton, 37, is set to reprise his role as Draco Malfoy, which he originated in the film series released between 2001 and 2011, on Broadway in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. […]

Over the years, Rowling — the author of the best-selling Harry Potter books — has made headlines for her comments targeting the trans community, including her public support of anti-trans laws banning trans women from competing in women’s sports.

“‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” Rowling wrote via X in June 2020 while sharing an opinion article titled “Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.”

Five years later, the author praised the U.K. Supreme Court’s ruling that womanhood is legally defined by biological sex.

The author has denied being transphobic, claiming her views are simply “pro-feminist” and in defense of women.

“I refuse to bow down to a movement that I believe is doing demonstrable harm in seeking to erode ‘woman’ as a political and biological class and offering cover to predators like few before it,” she wrote in a June 2020 essay. “I stand alongside the brave women and men, gay, straight and trans, who’re standing up for freedom of speech and thought, and for the rights and safety of some of the most vulnerable in our society: young gay kids, fragile teenagers, and women who’re reliant on and wish to retain their single sex spaces.”

Her essay prompted Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Eddie Redmayne, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson — among countless others — to speak out in defense of trans people and their rights.

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Related: J.K. Rowling‘s Most Controversial Moments Through the Years

J.K. Rowling is considered one of the most successful authors of all time for writing the fictional Harry Potter series, but her real-life opinions have stirred controversy. The author first came under fire in 2007 shortly after the series’ final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was published. Rowling revealed to fans at Carnegie […]

Powley is hopeful viewers of the upcoming Harry Potter TV series will once again be transformed into a world of awe and wonder that so many fell in love with when the books were first released in the late ‘90s — despite the author’s anti-trans views.

“I believe that energy doesn’t disappear. The world doesn’t get lighter if someone dies, does it?” she said. “The energy shifts into the trees and the grass and the sky and I find that quite comforting.”

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres on HBO Christmas 2026 and will be available to stream exclusively on HBO Max where it’s available.

There’s a certain kind of chaos that only makes sense if you’ve lived it — kids underfoot, chickens in the yard, a four-wheeler idling in the driveway, and a phone propped up on the pergola swing recording it all before the sun’s even fully up. That’s just a normal Tuesday for Alyssa Rae – also known as The Country Hotwife – the stay-at-home mom, wife, and content creator who’s built a devoted following by doing something refreshingly simple: showing up as exactly who she is.

Part homesteader, part gun-toting outdoorswoman, part homeschool mom, and part social media entrepreneur, Alyssa has carved out a corner of the internet where hustle culture meets front-porch living — and it’s resonating.

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Alyssa’s day doesn’t ease in — it launches. She’s up before the rest of the house, carving out one quiet hour to work on content, often outside on the pergola swing she and her husband built themselves, weather permitting. “It’s the only hour that’s really mine,” she says of the ritual, before the day pivots hard into breakfast, dishes, and a gym run where she spends 90 minutes lifting weights while the kids play in daycare down the hall.

Back home, it’s lunch, meal prep, and homeschooling — a couple of focused hours before the afternoon opens up into whatever the day actually needs from her: gardening, grocery runs, tending chickens, baking bread, tackling a house project, or squeezing in content between chores. “The list goes on,” she laughs, and she’s not exaggerating. Structure gets the morning; the rest of the day belongs to the land, the animals, and whatever pops up.

A Mom Who Carries — and Can Shoot Straight

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Alyssa’s outdoor résumé reads less like a hobby list and more like a homestead survival guide. Archery is a genuine passion — she’s quick to say she’s no expert, just someone who genuinely enjoys the sport, and the family has their own target practice setup right on the property.

Then there’s the range. Alyssa and her husband make regular trips to shoot, she with her 9mm Taurus, he with his revolver — just two of several firearms the family keeps and trains with. It’s a detail she doesn’t shy away from: she’s a mom who carries, plain and simple, part protector and part practitioner in a household where self-reliance isn’t a buzzword, it’s a lifestyle.

Life on the Property: Ponds, Gators, and a John Deere

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The Rae property is its own ecosystem. There’s a sizable pond with a gazebo where the family fishes when the mood strikes, and it comes with its own cast of characters — including a small gator the kids named Ally, who’s visited a few times and been left alone simply because, in Alyssa’s words, “he wasn’t big enough” to bother. Less welcome are the nutria rats, an invasive nuisance the family is actively working to clear out before the rodents do real damage to the pond.

Keeping the land looking good is practically a part-time job of its own — trimming trees, mowing on the John Deere, and Alyssa’s ongoing, good-natured battle to keep her flowers alive. When storms roll through (and where they live, hurricanes hit hard), downed trees get cut up and hauled to the burn pile, especially if they’re blocking a trail. It’s unglamorous work, but it’s the kind she films anyway, because it’s real.

And when the chores are done, there’s still fun to be had — mudding on the four-wheeler, or pulling the kids around the property in a bucket tied to a rope, which Alyssa reports is exactly as fun as it sounds.

From Meat Grinders to Nail Pullers: The Homestead Skills Keep Coming

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If there’s a thread running through Alyssa’s content, it’s a quiet commitment to doing things the harder, healthier, more hands-on way. She grinds her own chicken instead of buying it pre-packaged and keeps the family stocked on country eggs. One recent project — grinding meat with a cheap hand-crank grinder — turned into a viral-worthy moment of problem-solving when the process proved painfully slow, until her husband rigged up a drill attachment that got the job done in a fraction of the time. “It worked like a charm,” she says.

She’s also become the unofficial demolition specialist of the household — self-appointed “official nail puller-outer” whenever they’re repurposing old wood — and has quietly turned into a caulking pro along the way. The couple is currently mid-build on an enclosed garden for fruits and vegetables, and Alyssa periodically teaches herself a new indoor homestead skill, from rendering tallow to baking her own sandwich bread from scratch.

Even their travel leans into the theme: when work takes the family somewhere new, they make a point to get outside and explore, often hiking mountains rather than sticking to hotel pools.

Home Improvement, One Lowe’s Run at a Time

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No homestead is ever really finished, and the Rae household is proof. Between renovations, the family makes frequent trips to Lowe’s — currently deep in decisions on a new toilet, flooring, and paint color for a bathroom overhaul. It’s the kind of mundane-but-relatable content that makes Alyssa’s audience feel like they’re renovating right alongside her.

Me-Time, Southern Edition

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Amid the noise of kids, chores, and content deadlines, Alyssa has found her own version of self-care: an outdoor tub tucked along the trail beside the pond. It’s there, away from the house, where she goes to unwind. “It’s pretty relaxing out there when I want some me time,” she says — a small, still moment carved out of an otherwise nonstop life.

Come One, Come All

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If there’s one thing that defines the Rae household, it’s that it’s never truly quiet. “Things pop up all the time and you never know what it’s going to be,” Alyssa says. Her husband might casually mention his brother is stopping by, and suddenly there’s a full cookout underway, beer flowing, or a crew cleaning and cooking whatever they just pulled from the pond. Alyssa’s role in all of it? Happily playing host — especially on poker nights in the game room, where she keeps the drinks coming and the guys fed.

It’s this blend — grit and softness, firearms and flower beds, homeschool lesson plans and hand-cranked meat grinders — that makes Alyssa Rae’s content feel less like a curated feed and more like an open door into a genuinely full life. She’s not selling a fantasy. She’s just letting people watch a country life get lived, one chaotic, chicken-raising, content-creating day at a time.

A new contender has taken the number one spot in Prime Video’s TV rankings this week: Megan Park’s Sterling Point. Starring Ella Rubin, Missi Pyle, Jay Duplass, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and more, the coming-of-age drama series follows Annie Jacobson (Rubin), who finds a totally unexpected new life for herself when she inherits an island in Canada. Highly acclaimed by critics and clearly beloved by viewers, the series has been performing well ever since it premiered on the streaming service last week. But in case that’s not quite what you’re looking for right now, there’s still a lot more to explore on the platform. So, without further ado, here’s a look at three great shows that we think you should binge this week.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Prime Video.

1

‘12 Monkeys’ (2015–2018)

Loosely inspired by the 1995 film, 12 Monkeys is a sci-fi mystery drama series created by Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett. The show unfolds a complicated time-travel conspiracy, following James Cole (Aaron Stanford) and Dr. Cassandra “Cassie” Railly (Amanda Schull), two strangers who must work together to prevent the mysterious “Army of the 12 Monkeys” from destroying the world. Besides Stanford and Schull, the series also stars Kirk Acevedo, Noah Bean, Todd Stashwick, Emily Hampshire, Barbara Sukowa, and more in notable roles.

12 Monkeys isn’t an easy show to get into, even for fans of the movie, and its first season has plenty of off-putting flaws. However, it’s worth sticking with it, as the show significantly improves as it progresses, eventually evolving into a genuinely thrilling time-travel series with deeply philosophical themes. An underrated cult classic, the show ended its four-season run with high acclaim and earned several accolades during its original broadcast, including awards for its cinematography from both the American and Canadian Societies of Cinematographers.

2

‘Death Note’ (2006–2007)

Based on the manga series by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, Death Note is a dark fantasy anime series animated by Madhouse. The story follows high school student Light Yagami, who discovers a supernatural book that kills anyone whose name is written in it and decides to use it to rid the world of evil, coming into conflict with an enigmatic detective committed to bringing him down. Directed by Tetsurō Araki, the show stars Mamoru Miyano, Kappei Yamaguchi, Nakamura Shidō II, Aya Hirano, Noriko Hidaka, and Nozomu Sasaki in key voice roles.

Easily one of the most iconic anime series of all time, Death Note is a beloved show that commands legions of fans around the world. While its final episodes are a bit of a disappointment, the majority of the show is an extremely well-written mystery thriller that’s sure to excite and engage genre fans. The series is also a great entry point for viewers who may be new to anime, with mature storytelling and compelling characters.

3

‘Desperate Housewives’ (2004–2012)

A 2000s TV landmark, Desperate Housewives is a mystery comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry. Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, and Eva Longoria star as four close-knit housewives living in a seemingly perfect neighborhood who navigate crimes, mysteries, and dark secrets after the suicide of their friend and neighbor (Brenda Strong). The show also stars Nicollette Sheridan, Dana Delany, and Vanessa Williams in key supporting roles.

Over the course of 180 episodes across eight seasons, Desperate Housewives became a true pop culture phenomenon of its time, building a massive international following. Earning near-universal acclaim for its narrative, dialogue, and performances, it’s a gorgeously produced show with engaging characters and storylines, not to mention some iconic characters brought to life through the stellar talents of its lead cast. The series bagged several accolades during its run, including seven Emmys, three Golden Globes, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a spiritual sequel, Wisteria Lane, is currently in development.