Who didn’t hear about the Brad Pitt and Alia Shawkat romance rumors back in 2019? Apparently, Pitt had absolutely no knowledge of the infamous relationship gossip, as Shawkat revealed to The New Yorker in a feature story last week.
“[Pitt] had no awareness of it at all,” Shawkat, 32, told The New Yorker. “Which is so funny. Because he doesn’t read that s–t.”
Just for a refresher— the two actors were introduced by Spike Jonze and spotted in late 2019 at multiple outings (that looked like dates). Shawkat told Vulture in June 2020, however, that she and Pitt, 58, were “just friends” and now has more to say about her friendship with the Fight Club star.
Shawkat revealed that she was the first person to inform Pitt of the rumors and that he was previously unaware of tabloid coverage surrounding them.
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“I was like, ‘You know everyone thinks we’re dating? And there’s this whole thing, and I’m being followed,’” she said. “And he was, like, ‘I’m sorry. It happens. If you hang out with me, it happens.’ He had no awareness of it at all.”
Shawkat also talked about experiencing paparazzi at a whole new level due to her closeness with Pitt. “At the time, it was not fun at all. I’m not an actor who has ever dealt with the paparazzi. They don’t know who the f–k I am,” she said.
Sadly, the talented Search Party and Arrested Development actress also revealed that she felt her career and filmography was overshadowed by the romance rumors.
“It has nothing to do with Brad as a person — he’s a great f–king guy,” she said. “But of course, the idea of me being romantically involved with an older white guy is what gets me the most attention. Not a twenty-year career. That’s what gets me.”
Shawkat and Pitt remain close friends, and Shawkat’s family seemed to get a laugh out of their rumored romance.
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“The other day I was at my grandmother’s house, my father’s mother. She’s been in this country for over 30 years and still barely speaks English. An Iraqi Muslim woman,” Shawkat said.
“She’s sitting there, watching her Turkish soap opera. And next to her is this old gossip magazine with Brad’s face, and my face in a small circle. And it says, ‘Brad’s New Girl!’ And then on the inside it’s old Instagram photos of me and friends at dinner.”
She continued, “It was like, ‘ALL ABOUT ALIA.’ This whole made-up story about how we were healing each other by spending time together. I looked at my grandmother, like, ‘Why do you have this?’ She’s, like, ‘It’s you and this movie star! And it’s your face.’ I was embarrassed by it. I told her she had to throw it away. And she laughed.”
Shawkat also stars in Being the Ricardos with Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem, released in December. Pitt is set to star in and produce four feature films this year. He is also embracing a venture into creating music.
Both appear to be single and happily still friends!
