Brad Pitt’s brother Doug Pitt was on the Today Show this morning to promote his new gig as the spokesperson for Virgin Mobile. I’ll get to that in a moment… but let’s talk about the Family Pitt and Doug’s reaction to his mother, Jane Pitt, and her letter to the editor to a Missouri newspaper. We talked about Jane’s letter last week, and many of us were slightly taken aback by just how conservative she is. Matt Lauer asked Doug about it, and Doug said, “You know, I think moms and dads and kids agree to disagree all over the world. So why would our family be any different? There can be healthy discussion when people disagree with you. The bad thing is when it turns to venom and negativity, and we don’t have that in our family. It’s open discussion. We can learn from each other and, if anything, it solidifies your point. Or maybe you learn something.” Nice. Here’s the video:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
I’mn also including Doug Pitt’s Virgin Mobile commercial below. It’s actually really cute – Doug Pitt is such a dork! I mean that in a nice way. He seems so… normal. Doug told Lauer that Brad advised him to do the ad, and Brad finds it “hilarious”. The Pitt boys do seem very tight, don’t they?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I am glad I have a mom (who’s 83) that is not as hateful as BP’s mom.
That’s unnecessary
Why? Isn’t it hateful to say gay people shouldn’t marry and be happy? Maybe I don’t get the point, english is not my first language 😉
I’m also glad my mother is not the kind that would deny marriage to people.
People who want to deny gay people to marry always strike me as being insecure.
They want to be part of a group, the ‘good’ group, the ‘in the right’ group. And what better way to feel so than to hate and try to oppress others? Even easier when it’s a minority.
That is my opinion.
I pro-gay marriage…if they want to marry, that is. I just don’t feel the need to call everyone else in the world who disagrees hateful. I know that argument, that only a dude and a chick can make a baby, that’s not “hateful” … its just not considerate to people who can’t and still pay taxes in the US.
We have enough problems in the US without contributing to the us/them dichotomy. It’s gotten seriously stifling.
People who get married don’t harm anyone.
People who oppose it actively try to meddle in other people’s life. They try to deny them happiness, even though that happiness doesn’t hurt anyone. That is the hateful part.
Meh. I’m over politics and publicly debating what other people should and shouldn’t be doing. As long as they’re not interfering with me or my family people can do, say and think whatever they like as far I’m concerned.
Thats simplistic thinking. Many elderly people are against ssm, are they ‘insecure’? I agree wholeheartedly with ssm, but to suggest elderly people are somehow ‘insecure’ *just* because their values lead them to be against ssm, is immature and simplistic.
As for those saying her opinion isn’t hateful, normally I’d agree. But the ‘Hussein’ bit is the thing that makes her opinion hateful, at least to me.
Flan – aren’t you self-righteous. People have different beliefs that they are entitled to. Lefties like you always want to brand people who don’t want legal unions between gays to be called marriage as “haters.” Then you go on the say its even easier if they are a minority. Really? Then how do you respond to the fact that the majority of blacks and hispanics are opposed to gay marriage? Stop branding others who don’t think exactly as you do as haters, it isn’t working. I have a feeling you are probably a “hater” of conservatives since they don’t think like you.
I agree with Jules . But this is America and every has a right to not like something or anyone , even if she’s WRONG . (BP’s mom ) 😀
Stacie…why the contradiction here?
You start out strong with a conviction by saying its America and everybody has a right to not like… then you get petty with the “even if she’s WRONG”.
That is like somebody saying “I’m sorry….BUT” As soon as any word follows I’m sorry other then “for” shows that said person is not at all sorry. Everybody knows that!
If you’re going to try to convince yourself, or anybody else really, that people are entitled to different views then yours, try to exercise restraint by ending your point on a positive not a negative.
@Chatcat. It is her opinion to think Jane Pitt is wrong. There is no contradiction there. Jane Pitt put her opinion out there and so did Stacie.
Disagreeing with an opinion is not the same as silencing one.
@flan. I view it as a statement of fact more then an opinion. If she said even if I THINK she is wrong, then I would have taken it as an opinion. Saying “even if she’s wrong” is pretty emphatic that it is so.
You mean like Jane Pitt used ‘I think’?
Oh, wait. She didn’t. She uses a newspaper (!) to tell a whole group of people what they should do, here:
“Any Christian should spend much time in prayer before refusing to vote for a family man with high morals, business experience, who is against abortion, and shares Christian conviction concerning homosexuality just because he is a Mormon.”
However, I can understand that it’s her opinion and don’t attack her for stating it in the “should” way, instead of “I think they should”.
So you could also have realized that Stacie was giving her opinion.
Like Jane Pitt, she has a right to not like an opinion, just as you said.
Look, normally I would think we should give an old lady some leeway and kind of ignore it if reports of her opinions come out through other sources. But since she put it in a newspaper, it became fair game.
But you don’t have the right to be racist. Never ever.
If brad is 47 his mom is from an entirely different generation. I highly doubt she is “hateful” anymore than my mother is. The more I hear people calling folks like Brad’s mom “hateful” the more I see that there is intolerance on all sides.
Yes. So many hateful comments calling her hateful- pretty hypocritical
I agree completely. We live in a society that says “You are allowed to have any opinion that you want and you can speak it freely. Unfortunately that really only applies when you agree with the majority or at least the loudest ones.”
To each their own is how I believe. In the end, I will answer for me and my parents will answer for themselves. We don’t agree on everything and we debate things (sometimes loudly) but we love each other and that is just how it is. I am guessing that is how the Pitts work or it seems so.
Good point – too many people start throwing the word hateful around when someone disagrees with them. That in itself is intolerant, (and a bit hateful, actually!)
I am so tolerant and I love everyone, except all of those hateful people who don’t agree with everything I say!
ITA!! I don’t agree with her point of view, however, she is allowed to feel however she wants. And I would venture to say she’s old fashioned, conservative but not hateful as long as she hasn’t gone out of her way to insist gays be exterminated or left for dead in a concentration camp. I am progressive and all about the rights of everyone, but everyone isn’t going to be as progressive and liberal as the next person…
well, the pointed use of Obama’s middle name, especially in line with a complaint he dared not hold a public celebration to mark the “national day of prayer” sounds a bit like the hate-rhetoric dog whistle. She chastised Christians for not accepting the Christianity of Romney’s Mormonism while implying Obama is Muslim not Christian. You guys really don’t see any hateful underpinnings there?
deliciously ironic isnt it? The ones screeching about tolerance are typically the most intolerant of other people’s belief.
So very true, could not agree with you more, she’s not the least bit hateful she just has a different opinion on gay marriage. It’s a free country she’s entitled to believe whatever she wants.
Totally agree with you, Rin and Madison!
Tolerance is the key to a peaceful existence. Compromise is also important.
@Olcranky
I agree with you. Yes, you may not believe in gay marriage or a woman’s right to have an abortion. That’s an opinion.
But, the use of Barack “Hussein” Obama was nothing more to point out that’s he different from us White Christians..
I don’t want to hear anyone say “Oh it’s his full name” when we all know during his first campaign it was a political scare tactic to prove he was really a secret muslim terrorist. Did she use Mitt’s full name in her commentary? We should accept mormonism, but not the Muslim faith? That’s hatred, not an opinion.
It’s not like people overheard her speak and fed it to the press. She put her opinion out there in a NEWSPAPER.
So it is perfectly okay for others to have their opinions on her opinions.
Disagreeing with an opinion or having an opinion about an opinion, also falls under having an opinion.
It would be wrong to tell her to shut up or to try to take that newspaper out of stores, since she’s allowed to have her opinion, but we can as well.
@cs. She isn’t the first or last to
use his full name…I’ve heard both political sides use it. Al Sharpton does it often. Why is it OK for him to refer to the President using his full name?
Oh wait, that is a rhetorical question because I know the answer. Because he can! Whether I care for Sharpton’s views and opinions or not he is entitled to express them…as is Mrs. Pitt.
I don’t agree with Mrs. Pitt, but I doubt she can so broadly be painted as “hateful.” She obviously has some deep-rooted beliefs about gay marriage, and as long as she lives in the U.S. and as long as we’re allowed free speech, her opinion is as much her prerogative as it is valid .
What’s even sadder than someone who doesn’t agree with the popular notion that gay marriage is acceptable, is people who brand them “hateful” and “ignorant” because they have a different opinion. Whether YOU think she’s right or not doesn’t give you the right to hurl insults because she doesn’t see eye-to-eye with your way of thinking. THAT is the epitome of intolerance.
I would agree with you if you were talking about liking pie vs cake. But we are talking about people’s lives here and human rights. Big difference.
@Canda…simply well said.
@Lithe…big difference to who?
Don’t try to micro what should be macro. As humans we have free will to like and dislike everything with each of our senses and all of our thoughts…even Mrs. Pitt…even if you don’t agree with her. 🙂
Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut “right” and “wrong” in this issue. People on both sides of the debate have good and bad points, and there are as many arguments “for” as there are “against”. With any issue, those who are against the giving/allowing of something are labelled mean, hateful, ignorant, bigoted, etc. bc they don’t agree with something that the other side wants.
Those who are “for” homosexual marriage feel just as strongly as those “against”, and while you may truly feel vindicated in your side of the argument, hurling insults at the other side only makes you look silly and childish (and I mean that for anyone who does so). No amount of name-calling and insulting is going to make those people change their minds.
Well if you think about it in terms of human rights and not that many years ago, many people believed that peopl of different races should not marry each other, be educated equally etc… I think we surpress basic rights we should speak out.
The gay rights issue is on a different level. I respect people’s right to disagree with gay marriage but I do NOT respect their intention to deprive others of the right to marry. That’s kind of the problem, isn’t it? When personal beliefs infringe on the rights of others.
Kitten…I agree with you and look how far we have come and how many gay couples are now being wed daily in this country. Change takes time, patience, tolerance and acceptance by ALL parties.
Unfortunately some things cannot avoid having personal beliefs infringing on the rights of others because we live in a Democracy. Not only do we have the right to free speech and press, we have the right to vote and that means somebody is going to be dissapointed when it doesn’t go their “way”.
Very well said, Chat.
@Chatcat: As humans we have free will to like and dislike everything.
So we have a free will to dislike her opinion.
flan…I am not disputing anybody’s opinions and if we can or can’t have them. My point on this issue is those that are name calling Mrs. Pitt for having them and using her freedom of speach and press to express them.
My opinion is that I think she is wrong but I am not going to call her nasty names because I don’t share her views like so many people are doing.
Apparently we are going to agree to disagree on this matter and I’m OK with that. I am a very tolerant person of all views, even if I don’t like or agree with them 🙂
Since she put her views out there, urging other people to do as her, it is only fair people respond to that and can find those comments hateful. She wasn’t being super nice and respectful of others herself.
But indeed, let’s agree to disagree otherwise we’ll keep going round and round until this article is well off the front page, plus I think we’re quite close in our views on this anyway 😉
@ Maguita-
Thank you for the beautifully spoken words about marriage.
It is clear that Doug and Brad DO NOT agree with their mother but love her all the same. BOTH SONS have African children… if you include their sister Julie, Mrs, Jane Pitt has 3 African grandchildren.
So this Bible Belt, somewhat-conservative Republican Momma produced three children that are probably pro-choice, pro-gay, and are against bigotry? How about that!
Let’s face the fact that if she was not Brad Pitt’s mother, this tidbit would not have been relevant enough for CB to raise concern.
People are bigots for the purposes of separation and privilege. It is not simply about prejudice nor preference. I will applaud anyone who stands against all forms of bigotry.
It will always be a very serious matter when your “opinion” infringes upon the human rights of another individual.
So when is bigotry an acceptable “practice”? Chitcat, how exactly do you reconcile “fair and objective” in that definition? Both straight and gay people live, work and pay taxes in this country but only straight people have all the benefits and rights under the law. There is no “fairness” and no even playing field. Think seriously about if you couldn’t marry the person of your choosing. As far as Mrs. Pitt goes, she is entitled to live her life the way she chooses. She can form her opinions based on her religion but when she uses her status as a superstar’s mother to influence voters in a public forum, I, as well as others, are perfectly within our rights to counter. And I don’t care how many of you want to frame this as a nice lady just giving her opinion, she is spreading prejudice. And how does one counter a bigotry “nicely”? To quote her son, “It makes me mental!”. My mother is 80 years old and is dumbfounded how in 2012, we can still be having this debate. But after reading so many comments about being accepting and tolerant of opinions that harm others so profoundly, I can see why.
Well now Tone…this is where I am coming from and it’s really quite simple, more so then you have made out of it anyway.
I don’t give a rat’s ass that this is Brad Pitt’s Mom, I don’t give a rat’s ass for her opinion but I do give a rat’s ass that she, as an American, is entitiled to the freedom of speach and press to express it!
So in summary, my issue isn’t with the content of her message, just like it isn’t against the content of the message you just heaped upon my head, it’s the fact that she/you can is my point!
Tone, are you implying that since Mrs Pitt is the mother of a famous person, she should forever shut up? Never give her opinion in a letter to the editor of a newspaper because she could influence some voters?
Assuming it’s true, how is Mrs. Pitt’s using her standing as a famous person’s mother to influence other people in a public forum any different than Brad himself using his own stardom to influence others to vote FOR gay marriage? Or any two-bit “reality star” using their infamy to get others to listen to what they have to say? If someone is so easily swayed in their opinion because a famous person or their family member thinks in a certain way, then that is on them, because many people are sheep and easily led astray.
@Chatcat.
I have seen nobody here say that she’s not allowed to have her opinion.
Yet you imply that people having an opinion on her opinion is the same as people trying to silence her.
It works both ways.
She’s 70, but I hear ya.
*
I think the thing that confuses me most about this is the frequent re-statements about being silenced. Whatever you think, if you’re talking about being silenced and that message gets disseminated with no interference, how does that qualify as silencing? Philomela was silenced, this ain’t that.
Gee Tone, if paying taxes is the issue that gives you rights to anything you want, then I guess the 50% of people in the US who pay no taxes at all, should have no rights by your logic.
For those who think it is intollerant to say that Mrs. Pitt’s opinion about gay marriage is wrong, would you also say the same if she said interracial marriage should be prohibited? Wouldn’t you think that opinion was WRONG? Because if someone made that statement 40 years ago (about interracial marriage), I’m sure there would be people defending it and saying “she is entitled to her opinion.”
THIS. Exactly THIS!!!
We believe as Americans to be above bigotry, racism and hatred, but here we are: Still in 2012, fighting to NOT GIVE ALL AMERICANS EQUAL RIGHTS.
No one will be able to force gay couples to be married in your place of worship, so clearly, this is NOT about religion.
Explain to me then how does gay marriage threaten the sacred institution of marriage??
Have you so conveniently forgotten about Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears, Mario Lopez, Chris Kattan, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lopez, Cher, etc. etc. et f-cking cetera?
I’ll tell you what the real threat to marriage is, Mr. Malcolm Turnbull said it best:
A lack of loving commitment – whether it is found in the form of neglect, indifference, cruelty or adultery, to name just a few manifestations of the loveless desert in which too many marriages come to grief.
My marriage, or indeed any marriage, will never be undermined in any way by two gay men or two lesbians setting up house down the road!
Grow the f-ck up already, and stop pretending religious outrage in lieu of admitting to ignorance and bigotry.
Maguita…I am sooo on the same page as you on your position here!
Signed…Chat – proudly married going on 28 years 🙂
Wow, congrats Chatcat. 28 years! Wish you an even more successful and loving 28 more 🙂 .
Yes, well Maguita I was a child bride! LOL with a wink~
Maguita, as someone currently living in Australia, that was a brilliant speech by Malcolm.
Well said. Of course people have every right to their opinion but if that opinion is about denying someone something because of their sexuality then that persons opinion is BIGOTED. Bigotry can ONLY be explained as a result of pig ignorance or hatred.
That was about the most intelligent response that there could be to a bad situation. Well done Doug.
+1
I agree Mia 4S…great response and a classy one as well. Just because somebody you care about has different opinions then you doesn’t mean they aren’t worthy of your love and respect.
+100000
+4
You read my mind.
Doug seems like a gem. He couldn’t have responded to the editorial stuff better, and the commercial is delightful dorky.
Agreed. And I like the ad-especially the hoops!
that goes without saying! I’m still looking at the brother tho…ummm, no comment
I love Dougie Fresh’s ad. He’s just so hip.
It’s hard dealing with family who say dumb things.
la Jolie is used to conservatives I mean look at papa voight… I guess people r just surprise to Lear just how conservative Bradley family really is since his arse is so progressive
but, isn’t that what this is all about…how many of us agree with much of what our parents believe…how much did our parents disagree with what their parents believed…this is evolution and hopefully progression…each generation becomes more open and tolerant and more accepting…I wish the change could be faster, but change will come, I have no doubt!
Aw thats a sweet ad… Doug reminds me of my own midwestern family.
Sidenote: I’m very curious as to what the sister, Julie Pitt looks like. Doug and Brad are quite similar looking!
All the siblings look very alike. She’s also very pretty – sometimes what looks good on the boys may not look so good on the girls eg James Haven vs Angelina, that’s not the case with Julie.
I know! Selfishly wish they had had like 10 kids…mostly boys. Doug is just as attractive as Brad, IMHO 😉
Yeah, he handled it perfectly. I completely disagree with Momz Pitt but that’s still his mom you know? Politics can and do get heated but at the end of the day, your family is still your family.
ITA. I also like the point he makes that his mom is entitled to her opinions, and that when they have differing opinions in the family, they discuss them rather than sneeringly dismiss or ridicule each other.
IMO, tolerance means that you graciously allow others to have their viewpoints and that you can respectfully disagree. A lot of recent “discourse” especially on politics is nothing more than slinging around catchy and mean sound bytes rather than truly allowing others to explain their positions and really listening to opposing points of view. If we all did more real discussion and listening to truly hear each other, I suspect (and hope) that we’d compromise more and denigrate less. But maybe I’m naive.
@ Babette-Political “discussions” (and I use that term loosely) have devolved into people just shouting at each other, not in hopes of coming to a mutual understanding, but more just to assert how right they are. It’s depressing to say the least.
I’m certainly not advicating that everyone agree with each other but at least be open-minded enough to hear what the other side has to say. I’ve certainly had my mind changed by friends who disagreed with me politically.
It also speaks well of the way the Pitt kids were raised by these parents.
@TheOriginalKitten…I loved your reply to my comment, especially when you say that people are just shouting at each other trying to prove they’re right. I truly hope that things will change and people will learn more about conversation, discussion and idea exchange rather than this increasing fervor to “be right”.
His mom is still his mom and family is still family? Gee, thanks for the insight, genius. Your comments are always such a waste of space.
Freeda-And thank YOU for your powerful contribution. Seriously, you’re a real winner with the nasty comments. And now that you’ve really stretched your mind and given us all something to think about, why don’t you go take a nap-you seem like you might need it.
I don’t understand why would you say that, why be so mean?
Oh my god! How cute was that commercial? Is it too soon to say Doug > Brad?
Adorable! But not sure if I’d go that far 🙂
No it’s not. We missed the better Pitt lol Team Doug !
You know what’s funny is Brad hinted at this himself when he talked about his upbringing during Tree Of Life promotion and everyone called him pretentious and full of it. His family was isolated and conservative, über religious but very loving. When he came to LA he met people who were different than his white bred Minnesota culture and it changed his perspective on things. On the other hand mamma Pitt has held onto those old school (and IMO limited) beliefs. Neither side is going to change their mind it doesn’t stop the love from flowing. End of story.
Missouri, not Minnesota.
Oooops thanks 🙂
Well said, Doug!
Also: what is with the accent? I’m not American so it took me by surprise. Does this mean that Brad also has an accent when he just chillin’ at home with Angie?
I have numerous friends from Missouri, and oddly some have accents (the ones that do call it “Missoura”) and some don’t have a trace. Not sure why that is.
lol the only missouri accent i recognize is “missoura” and “warsh” instead of wash
“lol the only missouri accent i recognize is “missoura” and “warsh” instead of wash”
My mom spent her early childhood in S Illinois, near Missouri, and so warshed instead of washed and said Missoura (I think she like Peter Jennings because apparently he pronounced Missoura correctly.
I miss hearing her and the little stuff like that.
Yeah Bradley also have an accent although is was more noticeable during his earlier work
i remember Brad’s accent in the early days. It’s evened out now but sometimes, the occasional word is pronounced with the original accent.
i don’t see where is the trouble!
I don’t share the same opinions than my mum or my dad like i don’t share the same opinions than my boyfriend
Are you American, Carrie? Because I feel like the political attacking (from either side) and the inability to debate in a respectful manner is a uniquely American thing.
Don’t get me wrong-I love this country to death, I just notice that when hanging with my mom’s side of the fam (she’s French), we can get into heated discussions but it never crosses the line into being hurtful/offensive and after the conversation is over, there are no hurt feelings or anything-we just move on.
I’m American and I know politics have gotten incredibly heated here, but I have to disagree with the idea that all Americans can’t have decent political discussions. My step-dad is a right wing nut and we have massive arguments but we can always put them aside at the end of the day. And several of my co-workers through the years have been conservative Christains (including Mormons) and while we’d have heated discussions (me being the heathen liberal feminist) those same people were some of my best work friends. Even here in America we can argue and still get along!
@ Jess-I’m glad to hear that and it’s the same in my family-we know at the end of the day that opinions are just that-opinions. There’s not always a definitive RIGHT and WRONG.
I guess I meant my statement as a generalization of the cultural differences between US and say, EU. I think a lot of it has to do with how America was founded-we had to fight to earn a lot of the things we wanted and during the formative years, the US was a formidable place. I think for a long time political discussions were seen as a luxury for the wealthy elite whereas the average American was just trying to get by. I think a lot of Americans are just ill-equipped when it comes to debating because it’s not really part of our make-up. Keep in mind, this is just my assumption-probably plenty of historians and poli-scientists that might tell me I’m way off-base with my analysis.
Anyway, I love the US but I get turned off by how angry some people get when discussing politics. Again, it’s great to hear your family and friends are chill enough to discuss things rationally. Also, we’re VERY lucky to livein a country where we have the freedom to argue 🙂
I agree w/ u
Basically he’s saying “she’s my mom what can I do! *shrugs*”
😀
OMG he is so adorable!
Eh. we all have old people in our family who think archaically. lets not get too excited. Some people are not going to approve of living together (or as my dad calls it, “in sin”) before marriage or interracial dating either but we don’t jump down their throats so lets leave Mama Pitt to her antiquated beliefs in Kansas.
is Doug married? because i know an “almost”lookalike Angelina Jolie who is single
Married with three kids
Edit: love how all the Pitts give back to their communities
Ha, awesome. He seems like a cool guy.
That was funny (in good wy) as hell! I liked him 😀
I don’t know about having “heated” discussions about politics with family members. My Dad is ultra conservative and we choose to just not talk about it. No one’s gonna change their mind, so there’s no point getting upset.
Also, from what I understand Doug shares momma Pitt’s views.
I also have a very different opinion with my mom and trying my best most of the time to keep my opinion to myself, but once in a blue moon, I would get involved in a heated argument with her.
I just can’t help it after all those time keeping everything inside. 😀
I just stay mum about it because if I started talking about it, he’d start talking about it. I love my dad, but I can’t stand hearing such bigotry coming out of his mouth.
Unfortunately with my mom there are times when she would brings up the topic suddenly out in the blue, and there are times when I just couldn’t keep swallowing it anymore. -_-‘
My family is the same way…and because of our differences I feel like we’ve run out of stuff to talk about. I refuse to have a confrontation with my ultra-conservative dad, and my mom just blindly supports whatever he thinks.
I actually don’t think it’s that easy to put political views aside, especially if you’re passionate about them. When you’re constantly suppressing them, it inevitably drives a wedge in the relationship because you can’t be who you truly are. At least that’s what has happened with me. Maybe I just take stuff too seriously.
That’s a funny, great commercial.
Also a great response to the mom question.
Doug Pitt is the man! i love that commercial & his man ‘room’.
“it’s sporty, it’s stylish, it’s me”. lol 😀
Me too. You can tell his wife did it. That looks NOTHING like my husband’s man room!
That’s what’s so funny about it, he is possibly the least bad-ass guy on Earth. He obviously loves playing the dorky guy to the hilt. I love that he can poke fun at himself, the anti-Brad.
Seeing him on the bike was also hilarious.
Esmom: I had to go watch it again, and gotta admit, I did not get all the tongue in cheekiness the first time!
Can you imagine him hanging out with Angelina? He said in his Today interview that she and Brad are as “normal” as can be given their circumstances but it’s still hard to imagine her hanging out in ole “Missoura” with the Pitts.
really good answer. even if they would fight bitterly about it, the media is certainly not the right place to have family feuds. i dont even know why it was brought up in the interview.
His mom is an age, raised in the church like she was, she has her belief system. Some that age become more enlightened, but most don’t. My wonderful elderly aunts and uncles feel the same way as Brad’s parents. It’s their children and grandchildren who are
more open-minded.
Doug looks a little like Templeton Peck from the A-Team.
I bet Brad would look and talk just like Doug if he wasn’t a Hollywood actor.
Doug is just as conservative as his mom.
Looks like Doug has to do damage control for his movie opening soon. Every interviewer is going ask this (Mom newspaper article) question.
His publicist probably helped him with this response. I believe he is telling the truth about Brad’s relationship with his family. Brad is the only liberal in his family. It is refreshing to hear how Brad is accepted by his family although he has different view point then they do.
What about Brad’s and Doug’s sister? is she conservative?
the ad is so funny!
it has that old-school geek vibe to it. how adorbs!
You can’t change the direction of a parked car…so its just best to accept your parents for what they have to offer. Doug Pitt is so freaking cute!
I don’t think people were surprised she was conservative, but by the anger and bigotry that letter suggested.
Anyway, I think that was about as good a response as one can make in that situation.
Yawn. Must be slow news day but then again this is probably the most interesting thing about Brad Pitt the cheeseball.
The problem is not having a viewpoint in private, it is with taking.it.public via laws restraining your fellow citizen from the exact same rights YOU have without needing a fight to achieve them. I respect that they love their Mom and can have “agree to disagree” moments; however, when it goes beyond dinner table conversation and heads into the voting booth…all bets are off. That doesn’t mean you can’t retain your viewpoint or disagree with something, but what you should not be allowed to do is help enact law that deprives your fellow citizen of something you have. It’s not moral. Yep, I said it. Moral.;-)
The brother handled that with class and cool comportment. That shows that even with their differences they were raised with respect and love. Now they need to extend that to their fellow human beings.
/jmho
I can totally see why brad laughed his ass off @ this. Go doug!
I think Jane Pitt’s problem is that she never expanded her horizons beyond her white picket fence community, and figuratively speaking, she’s got a white picket fence around her brain.
She doesn’t seem comfortable outside her very narrow sphere, which doesn’t mean she’s a bad person; she’s just a very narrow-minded one.
As to Doug Pitt, I think he’s trying to make the best of a bad situation. He probably wishes momma had kept her lip zipped.
I like living a “white picket fence” type of lifestyle, much like Jane Pitt. There’s nothing wrong with that. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Politically, she is conservative. So what?
I love how people are condemning her by saying she needs to be “open minded” yet they are not open minded about her lifestyle or opinions.
She is religious and doesn’t agree with contemporary views re: allowing same-sex marriage. And she is entitled to her opinion. My mother and my grandmother are both like that and I’m not ashamed of them. I’m more open-minded and I think people should be able to marry who they want, but I’m not embarrassed by my relatives because they think differently.
Honestly, I don’t give a rat’s arse what JP’s opinion re: gay marriage is. And neither should any of you.
As I said above, it isn’t that she has the opinion and belief; it’s wanting to put it into law that HER opinion is the right way. I have conservatives in my family as well; love them. Don’t love their belief that their conservatism is the only way. There’s a reason for separation of Church and State. This is a prime example of it. Imagine if another belief system took hold in the USA, one that disregards the conservative’s Christian beliefs and places laws that curtail or outright eliminate their rights…what would happen? Thought so.
It’s really imperative that a fellow human being’s rights are not a majority vote or even a vote, for gawd’s sake, and more importantly, not based on a belief system of any type. When will that path end? No good comes of trying to give to one and take from another. Just doesn’t work.
Surprisingly, morality isn’t based on sexual orientation nor religious beliefs. It’s actually the way a human treats their fellow human. That seems to be news to some conservatives. <not aimed at you or anyone else…just an observation.
However it's framed this time in history is a watershed moment.
LOL! Her son is Brad Pitt. She has traveled most the world with him and Angie and the grandkids. She has a more worldy view than most people. Everyone is entitled to their opinions whether you like them or not.
Why when someone doesnt agree with the liberal agenda are they close minded? You are close minded to think everyone has the same values. We dont– nor should we. Thats what makes the world go round and personally I would hate for everyone to be step ford humans who all had same exact feelings towards everything.
She’s traveled to France and Italy with Brad and Angie where she’s see a lot of well-off Europeans. I doubt she’s ever set foot in a third-world country. It might be a big eye-opener for her if she did.
I didn’t say she was closed minded; what I did say was she and anyone else, liberal or conservative, do not/should not have the right to legislate another citizen’s civil rights. If it’s good for one side it’s good for the other, no? It is a proven fact that religious based law is precarious at best and tragic at worst. Hence the right to freedom from legislated religion or non-religion, i.e., freedom to practice not practice. However, when you start to use your “faith” to hinder someone else’s ability to enjoy the same freedoms you do then it’s definitely a problem.
Funny, I am a Christian, practicing, but I was raised that faith is not religion, i.e., conformity to a set of guidelines that are in flux many times, but to a connection of your heart with your diety’s, with the eye on loving your fellow human and standing up for them, as you would for yourself.
But that’s for another discussion.:-)
@ Janet
She been to Namibia, Bosnia and Ethiopia with the family.
I totally agree, Janet, and I’ll add 1 more thing, just to fan the flames…a good mother never says or does anything publicly that she knows will hurt or embarass her child, period. I don’t care if that kid is 4 or 40. Shut up, Jane Pitt, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Forgiving hate speech because the speaker is old is NOT ok. If she had been advocating Jim Crow or the deportation of jews would we just shrug and say “oh well, she IS Brad Pitt’s mom after all”? Certain rights are intrinsic, they do not belong to the group in power to grant or deny, they belong to all humans everywhere. And stopping a fellow human from exercising those rights is an act of evil.
You make a very good point, and I don’t think her children (or at least Brad) are giving her a free pass for what she said. The point is, whatever she said, she’s still their mom, and they’re not going to disown her because she happens to be a racist homophobe or whatever she is.
My dad, RIP, had positively medieval attitudes about gay people, and I mean medieval. He said gay people should be treated like lepers were back in the dark ages when they were forced to wear bells around their necks so people would be warned they were coming down the street. I thought he was off the wall and I told him as much, but he was still my dad and I loved him, crazy attitudes and all.
This.
I’m so tired of people saying “they are old and from a different time” and just giving them a free pass to be hateful.
Why should all of the non-hateful older people have to put up with that?
His smile is creepy.
I was under the impression that Doug shared his mom’s views and was running for political office. Also, many have said that Jane Pitt is free to express her beliefs and that is true, but with that freedom also comes consequence. We also have the freedome to disagree with, uh, “violently disagree” (right Mitt?) with her. That was a strongy worded letter and her intent was clear to me, so she should be able to take the same “punches” she’s throwing.
I agree. If you won’t own your words, don’t say them.
“Consequence.” That is exactly right. That’s the other half of “She’s entitled to her opinion!” She sure is, but she’s not exactly sitting at home sharing her opinion, she wrote a letter to the newspaper, and in my opinion, it was inflammatory. She knew what she was doing when she wrote those words. As Brad Pitt’s mother, there was always a chance it was going to go mainstream, and no, she doesn’t have to keep her opinions to herself but not everyone shares her views and those people have the right to respond, as well.
It always seems like free speech is about one side saying something inflammatory and then falling back on “I have free speech! Its my right!” Well, so do I, and I’m going to partake of it in my disagreement.
It does seem like we have no real discourse in this country anymore. Mrs. Pitt’s letter was filled with the same-old talking points (Rev. Wright?!? How very 2008!). When I read letters like hers, I don’t think that this is a woman who has truly reasoned out why she thinks what she thinks. There really are people in this world who adopt the values and attitudes of their parents/community but don’t really think about why they think what they think. Or they go by feelings. Look, if you think gay people shouldn’t be married, you should be able to rationally explain it. If you think Obama is a terrible president, you should be able to go beyond “Barack Hussein Obama” and Rev. Wright. This country is really dumbing itself down. If this letter had well-thought out reasoning, I’d look at it differently.
Bingo, Meanchick and others above. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from criticism or consequences. There are so many right wingers out there who do not understand that. Jane Pitt put her stuff out there with her opinions, and those of us who disagree have every right to criticize her. Glad she’s not my mother.
Even President Obama views have Evolved in regards to gay marriage… During election year no less
he looks A LOT like an older version of Zach Braff!
I was just about to say the same thing … he’s like the lovechild of Brad Pitt and Zach Braff hahaah. So strange. In any event, he’s cute and seems like a good guy.
Ok Doug’s sweet dance moves made me laugh til I hurt. I needed that on a Monday morning.
We live in a country where we have freedom of speech. We can agree to disagree. That is why we have elections. To vote for the canidate who has as many of our beliefs as possible. Mrs. Pitts beliefs had nothing to do with her age, religion, residence, or genration. There are many many people in this country who think and agree with her. Our job is to try to educate them.
Her views are her own but they were probably strongly influenced by her age, religion, residence and generation. Nobody lives in a vacuum.
I’m pro-life and pro-gay marrige. My parents are pro-choice and very anti-gay(seriously). Makes for some interesting conversations, but we generally just agree to disagree.
Great ad, though for now I think he’s the third most (in)famous Pitt in his family.
I don’t think his mum’s letter was hateful just hurtful and insensitive. I don’t care how old you are or the viewpoint you grew up with, it doesn’t hurt to measure your words.
None of us are born with a viewpoint, it’s all taught so those saying ‘she’s entitled to it but she’s wrong’ have a point. Just because it’s ‘opinion’ doesn’t let her off the hook. But Doug did answer the question diplomatically.
I wouldn’t call Mrs. Pitt hateful. That’s a strong word. She’s from a different generation. I come from a very close minded culture. My parents are very close minded. When their minds are set on certain things that’s it. Nothing will change them. Sometimes, I have loud debate & argument on things we disagree. Just because Jane has a different views & opinion it doesn’t make her a bad person. Can any one of you tell me that your family all agree on everything?
Doug is adorable!!!
I think their mom is a tw-t for that letter. She can have her opinion but Brad is incredibly famous and has famously spoken about gay rights. Not to mention their future daughter in law is bisexual. It’s so disrespectful.
They don’t have venom and negativity IN their family….they just throw their venom into the NATIONAL scene by writing to newspapers and spreading hate around the WORLD. Well wake up MAMA PITT! Angelina is BI SEXUAL and probably one of your own grandchildren might be homosexual. AND ALSO….they are LIVING IN SIN and won’t be married until GAYS CAN MARRY.
MAMA PITT will not be remembered for much in life except for this letter so I would just chalk it up to her being yet ANOTHER hateful religious person who isn’t one bit like JESUS.
I would have to disagree with you on how she would be rememberer she dose a lot of charity work and has for many years I sure she will be remember for that also.
Doug Pitt looks like a sweetie!
@ Nilber – Re : Mother Pitt – I have a defnition for free speech that I like : its when someone you don’t really like says someone that you don’t really agree with and don’t want to hear anyway. If someone you like is saying something that you already agree with, then its not “free speech” – its just someone saying something that “makes sense”! 🙂 Free speech is all about tolerance for minority opinions.
RIIIGHT!
he is an adorable, nugget!
and what is it about his topsiders, rural accent and dimples that make me crazy?!
i swear, he’s better than Tyler Durden.
seriously. :-/
Doug is cool. 🙂 The commercial cracked me up.
Mrs. Pitt has a right to her views and if you don’t live on the East or West coasts, you would know they are not too uncommon. I don’t agree with her on everything, but do not consider her hateful or biggot.
Why the hell should I have to respect the opinion of some nasty old turd who thinks that I don’t have the right to marry? Fu-k that!
I agree with the fact that she is free to express her opinion on gay marriage and to disagree with it, but I don’t agree with her wanting her opinion to be law. I agree with Laurabb and TheOriginalKitten when she says:
I respect people’s right to disagree with gay marriage but I do NOT respect their intention to deprive others of the right to marry.
I also think her letter had some things in it that were pretty disrespectful like making sure to mention Obama’s middle name and telling people to vote for Romney because he’s Christian and a family man, implying somehow that Obama is neither, which is not true. Obama is clearly a family man and has stated over and over again that he’s Christian, but many on the far right choose to believe their own false facts.
Have whatever opinion you want on gay marriage, abortion, immigration, the president, or whatever, but at least know what is true and what is simply what people wish was true because it fits better with their belief system. It bugs me when people argue their opinion on absolute lies that can be easily disproven, but they choose to ignore the truth (and facts that back it up) and continue to spew falsehoods as if they were truth. Disagree with me, fine, but at least base your opposing viewpoint on something factual!
Who someone else chooses to love and marry is really none of my business. Why should my beliefs prevent them from marrying who they wish? I don’t have to live in their home!
People should concentrate more on trying to be better people within their own lives and worry less about trying to control what everyone else does with theirs.
“It bugs me when people argue their opinion on absolute lies that can be easily disproven, but they choose to ignore the truth (and facts that back it up) and continue to spew falsehoods as if they were truth. Disagree with me, fine, but at least base your opposing viewpoint on something factual!”
One of my biggest pet peeves. Beliefs based on convenience rather than truth-infuriating.
Sitting here shaking my head at all the comments by those on here claiming they are tolerant and how wrong Mrs. Pitt’s letter/positions are.
Def of tolerant – a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one’s own.
Def of intolerant – lack of toleration; unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect contrary opinions or beliefs.
If Mrs. Pitt is intolerant then what are the people that have called her hateful, twat, wrong, etc, etc?
I don’t agree with her views, and I state that emphatically, but I will not stoop to name calling because she exercised her right as an American to voice her views.
Yeah, people are going overboard with the public indictment of this woman. I completely disagree with her, but even I wouldn’t go so far as to call her words “hate speech”. Sometimes I think people use that term in an attempt to silence those they disagree with by shaming them, ya know?
Yeah, I know. Jeez.
Damn besides coming back from vaca and that being a bummer, since I dumped Joe I am a bit depressed. Any suggestions?
I know, chat, there there …
*gently pats head*.
Joe Mange will soon be a distant memory.
*runs off to find suitable replacement*
Chatcat – So well said – thank you. I am so tired of people on the left talking about intolerance when they are the intolerant ones. Death threats to Mrs. Pitt for what she said? Puh-leeze.
I totally love Doug’s commercial. Hilarious and adorable.
When some of my relatives talk about the US always being a Christian County, my question is, which form of Christianity? Catholic? Protestant…which sub-category? What they don’t realize is that Separation of Church and State protects them. How do we decide on a national religion? And how would it be maintained and not changed due to the whims of those in power?
And I’m sure we’ve all met some pious church-going people who have done terrible things. Being God-fearing hasn’t stopped them from some bad behavior, so it certainly can be true that religion is no guarantee of morality.
I live in an area not unlike the area that Brad’s mom lives in. Very religious (Catholic, Baptist, Evangelical), socially conservative, rural areas are very white.
And every so often someone from work will wonder why we don’t have a state religion.
And I respond: To protect the state from the church, and the church from the state. When they are too intertwined, and one rots, the other rots with it.
While some countries that have/have had state religions have no problems (Sweden), looking at areas of the world where there’s little or no difference, it’s not a good thing.
As for Mrs. Pitt being hateful-hate’s probably a bit strong. I’m not thrilled with the implication that Pres. Obama isn’t Christian (by the use of the middle name), but it strikes me as more sad than anything-even if he weren’t a Christian, so what?
@cr, the reason why we don’t have a state religion, is because each and every one of us has a DIFFERENT interpretation of the word of God.
We might be quoting the same scriptures, but each and every one of us would INTERPRET the words differently, and act consequently, differently.
That is why our Founding Fathers, our AMERICAN FOUNDING FATHERES, seeing how religion is quite divisive, had opted to separate state from religion.
Law is law. Not much interpretation to it. It might change, and some of its lines might be amended, when unencumbered with religious beliefs, to catch-up with progressive thinking and times.
Oh, I know that. But a lot of my co-workers do not seem to understand that. At all.
BeccaZ – I am sure there are many, many examples of terrible behavior by non-church goers too so what are you talking about? No one can have an opinion about anything unless YOU view them as “perfect?” Ridiculous.
I don’t hate gay people. I just dislike them being married. I disapprove of one aspect of their lives. Not all. Would I prefer if they were straight? Yes. Can I do anything about it? No. In the end I try to see everyone’s view points, but I have my own.
If they’re not trying to marry you… Why do you even care?
Why do you have a problem with it?
As long as it’s two consenting adults, why should you care who marries whom?
I honestly don’t understand that attitude. If people support marriage, shouldn’t they support ALL marriage, not just specific marriage (man and woman)?
Denying them marriage isn’t going to make anyone suddenly become ‘straight’
So gay people ick you out. Fine. But why should that lead you to disliking them being married? I don’t like extreme nationalists, but I wouldn’t ban them from marriage.
“Would I prefer if they were straight?Can I do anything about it? No”
Well, actually, yes you can. It’s whether or not you choose to.
I honestly don’t understand people who feel that gay people shouldn’t be allowed to marry. I have a gay cousin. She’s only a few years older than me; we grew up together and we think of each other as sisters tree than cousins because we’re so close. She and her girlfriend are getting married next year and other than being happy for them, their decision isn’t affecting my life in any way, shape or form. (Well that’s not entirely true. My husband and I are in the wedding party and will be flying out there, but it doesn’t AFFECT my life, either positively or negatively). That’s what I don’t understand: how is gay marriage affecting anyone? If the antis’ are offended, then that’s just plain pathetic.
IMO, I think that anti-gay marriage people have probably never been discriminated against because if they had been, they’d know how crappy it feels and they wouldn’t be doing it to others. My marriage is interracial, I’m Caucasian and my husband is Colombian. Years and years ago, my marriage had opposers, yet nowadays the majority of people barley give interracial marriages an relationships a second glance, but it took a long time for that to happen. I guess I’m just disappointed that the same thing is happening again, only this time it’s with gay marriage. Life is too short. I wish other people would just back off, mind their own business, and let others live their lives the way they choose.
Tansey – I think many people who don’t support gay marriage have experienced discrimination. Case in point – the black community majority have expressed great displeasure about gay marriage. Are you going to tell me these people never experienced any discrimination? How about conservative women who are attacked in the press every day? Do we all remember that disgraceful incident on Fallon’s show where he disrespected Michele Bachman on national television? I think many people that are against gay marriage have been discriminated against! Many people are not against legal gay unions,they just want to preserve the word “marriage” to mean between a man and a woman. No matter what liberals say, there is a difference between a hetero and a gay union. Lets maintain that distinction, but allow legal unions for gays affording all the rights and the downsides of hetero marriage, like divorce and child support. Oh, and don’t forget the marriage tax. Gays should have that too! “Equal not better.”
Brad Pitt’s other is, like many social dinosaurs, on the way out (thank goodness). It’s not enough that she is anti-gay/homophobic, but she comes across as a bigot/racist as well. If I were a celebrity and she was my mother, I’d be cringing at this point and I wouldn’t be speaking to her for a year – minimum.
In a couple of generations gay couples will be rightfully allowed to marry. As for abortion. This is an issue that is more complex than the usual conservative response.
What makes me angry about pro-lifers is that they are all pro-life, but they conveniently forget about so many other millions of babies that die around the world from starvation and diseases that are either non-existent or minimised in our developed countries due to vaccinations and the like.
For some reason pro-lifers usually care about foetuses only. Babies and older children, once they’re out of the womb, don’t factor much for pro-lifers.
I can only imagine the PR spin that is being formulated now by Brad and Angelina. This incident is not a good PR incident.
So yeah, get ready for Angelina PR to distract from the mother-in-law incident.
“Brad Pitt’s other is, like many social dinosaurs, on the way out.”
Haven’t you heard? Creationism is bringing them back closer to our era more than ever.
So, Aud how do “pro-lifers conveniently forget about babies once born?” Makes no sense.I guess pro-deathers don’t need to worry about children being born at all, so no need to worry about them outside the womb. That takes care of the problem. I suggest people who have sex but don’t want children practice birth control and then abortion wouldn’t be an issue would it?
What a cute ad!! Doug is adorable:-) very handsome like his brother…perhaps a bit more.
Doug is not like us….notice they didn’t use his REAL house or his REAL car. Everything is FAKE in the commercial….he even tells you so! They (the media) manipulated you into thinking that he is just like you….lives in an average house with an average car….NOT!! In my opinion, he is just another overpaid celebrity person with no talent using his celebrity to make millions. I think that his mother sent him out to try and reframe her hateful letter to the media. It must have dawned on her that she just alienated everyone in Brad Pitt’s household….we know they are Christians by their love…by their love…. MAMA PITT would know a lot more about love if she studied near death experiencers and their findings than if she studied the bible daily for 100 years.
Isn’t cheating on your wife a sin .(Brad & Jen & Ang )
She should worry about her own family and leave others alone..
The tabloid lie was long ago debunked. There was no affair. “Bearing false witness” is a sin. I think some people forget that….
Awesome post Workdog 🙂 🙂 🙂
@marysimon I completely agree with you. Hating on a person that disagrees with your beliefs is hateful either way. It is absurb to force everyone to think like you.