Sharing thongs, on Tom, Katie, and Nicole, Brad Pitt's kids and his PR machine, where films for woman are, the media's handling of Lily Allen, and Sprint-ing for sports docs
I am commenting on this like 9 hours after everyone else so it will probably be unread, BUT: speaking as a person who has observed families her whole life, and also speaking as a mother, I don't believe Angelina Jolie, or any parent, can successfully alienate her children (who were not infants) from their father without the children having very good reason to want distance in that relationship. I don't even like saying "alienate" because it implies that a dastardly plan was afoot.
Generally speaking, kids want to love their parents. Your parents are your most primal relationships and you are hardwired to want to have some kind of relationship there. If these kids don't want anything to do with him, that didn't just happen because their mom told them to. Their father did something deeply painful, and I would guess repeated whatever that was again and again during a long period, for those kids to decide they don't want anything to do with him. They were old enough to have had years with him; you don't just end a parental relationship easily.
I could not agree with your comment more. Parental alienation for me is like one of those things that very rarely happens but gets trotted out as CONSTANTLY happening (especially from men against their ex wives) it’s part of the DARVO handbook in my mind. They go hand in hand.
Well, here's a counter perspective. My ex has been trying to drive a wedge between my daughter and I for most of her life, unsuccessfully until recently. This year, however, her teenage angst and developmentally appropriate need for separation have been fanned into the flames of anti-mom sentiment, and the idea that if you're not getting along with someone, it's an option to simply not see them or speak to them. So, it's possible, and it can happen without one parent being a monster.
I want to add that this is not a pro-Brad stance. It seems abundantly clear that he was awful to Angelina and maybe the kids as well. I can't stand him and am firmly Team Angie. And, other situations, like mine, are not always so black and white.
I am very sorry for the painful situation your ex has worked so hard to create, and can imagine how painful that is. I very much hope that your daughter finds her way back to you soon.
Last year Lainey did a Squawk piece on her Botox routine before a film festival. I want to hear about Sarah’s laser treatments! This is a throwaway sentence that I want to know more about!!
I got a treatment called Moxi and I'm about 4 days in and have started flaking pretty badly. Primarily addressing pigmentation but also a little bit resurfacing. I'm interested to see the results once the flaking stops. Right now I can't tell.
Sarah I had a whole series of those done last year. They advised me to do at least 4, preferably 6, spaced out a month to 6 weeks apart. After your flaking stops your skin will start GLOWING & you’ll be loving the results. Overall, I think it helped with my pigmentation & pores, & overall skin resurfacing. Keep us posted!!!
I'll speak to my routine - lasers are the way to go for micro pigmentation and wrinkles. Peels are great as well but the aftercare is much more intensive. Clear and brilliant is the go to for red spots/melasma. Sofwave or BBL/morpheus for wrinkles. I do Sofwave as Morpheus is more finicky and HURTS. It's more effective when paired with micro needling. I am a vain person but doing this yearly (ish) means my skin is clear, even, and tighter. I'm 42 and look younger than my sane age peers by a solid margin. I am also insanely fastidious about sunscreen and vitamin C.
Unsolicited advice but I LOVE Poems from the Lab. They only make vitamin C serum and it is stable from first use to last (no discoloration which is a big issue with Vitamin C serum).
Amy I thought that by going in this thread I was also asking you!! I apologize I was not more clear—it said “reply to Amy.” This is why I need an etiquette handbook for Substack. Thank you for this recommendation!! I’m definitely going to go with the cheapest of the 4 you two Rec’d!
I used to alternate between Skinceuticals, Paula's Choice and Sunday Riley but now I exclusively use a new-to-me brand Protocol. I think it's stronger than any of the others. I'm on my third bottle.
Have you done microneedling with PRP? I'm considering that.....I'm 44 and have heard great things. Agree on sunscreen and vitamin C! My main concern is wrinkles and not pigmentation.
On the Love Island lingerie question, I assume each woman bought a special set they’ve never worn before specifically for the possibility of going to the Hideaway? Outfit planning seems to be a huge part of (mostly women’s) reality TV appearances so I figured they’d all have brought something new and showy.
I definitely would never share used but clean underwear with someone unless it was a total desperation situation, but if it was brand new and never worn I guess I would.
I think they're also given the lingerie from production; part of the love island deal is that you're offered a wardrobe from production from their varied partners (prettylittlething, etc.) and if you want to bring your own clothing in, you have to send it to them in advance for approval. So I think this is actually a case of giving someone free unworn lingerie. Because otherwise? In no world am I sharing lingerie, and ESPECIALLY not for a sexual encounter!!
Interesting! I didn’t know that about the wardrobe for Love Island. I know for other shows like The Bachelor I’ve heard that contestants have to mostly supply their own wardrobe (the lead has theirs provided though) and it can be a big financial stress for them.
That makes so much sense now. I watched two episodes and wondered why the fuck everyone is color coordinating outfits and they had all colors of the rainbow!
It would have to be extremely desperate times for me to borrow underwear from even my mom or sister! EW times one million.
Re Brad Pitt. Saw the People post of him and Ines at the GP on Instagram, and So Many of the comments were “ oh, I wish him happiness after what “she” put him through.” So his PR machine is definitely working well. 🙄
This is a question for Lainey. I have some questions about your choice to go commando. When and why did you decide to stop wearing underwear? Do you wear jeans, and if so, doesn't the seam on the crotch bother you? What do you do if you borrow clothes for an event? Do you still wear a bra? Are there any specific occasions when you choose to wear underwear, such as on a plane ride or during your period? Curious minds want to know! :)
Lo - I am a commando evangelist and will answer your questions!
Once you stop wearing underwear…it is the seams of the underwear that will bother you! Who wants another layer underneath the jeans rubbing and moving? Terrible!
I will still rock a pair of underwear underneath a short dress so I don’t flash the world, but that is the one and only time.
Come over to the dark side, Lo….stop doing unnecessary laundry and buying unnecessary underwear!
No see I think going underwear free leads to unnecessary laundry! I can wear a pair of jeans a few times before I wash them, bu only because the underwear is there as a layer of protection/absorption from sweat/discharge/etc. Besides, underwear is a tiny part of the overall laundry issue!
i also require more information. what about a knee length or shorter skirt with free puss underneath? aren't you afraid of a flash? what about puss sweat? during a workout actually i think i might like to try commando. but like out in the world my puss feels vulnerable, u know
There are so many things that I will not go to bat for Pitt for. His pathetic PR fauxmance with Ines…eyeroll, Katrina…yikes. Weinstein…nope. Comments about having a daughter that left out Zahara….absolutely not. Pitt is a deeply flawed man. Let me repeat for those in the back. PITT IS A DEEPLY, DEEPLY FLAWED MAN. Where I spend my time and energy is dissecting how AJ is handling her side because, honestly, Pitt is simple. And my biggest problem with Jolie is that she tries to dress up her vindictive and nastiness with this Mother Teresa, holier-than-thou, I want my family healed and peaceful. It’s a charade and so apparent if you look at it closely and follow the timeline. You know who truly wants peace and healing for her family? JENNIFER FUCKING GARNER. Compare and contrast how those two women dealt with their shitty, alcoholic husbands and who truly puts their kids needs and wellbeing before her own, and you can quickly see who the true Mother Teresa is.
But you don’t know her, right? You haven’t interacted with her, have you? Because I don’t know Angelina or know anyone who has interacted with her. And I see everything you are laying out and I agree with some things and interpret others very differently. I ascribe very different reasons to her actions.
I agree: Angelina has done things differently than Jen. But we have different interpretations why that is: where you name her as vindictive and nasty, I wonder if she is deeply sad and hurting, a wounded woman who doesn’t have a mom alive, never had a kind dad, never had the same support systems as Jen G, who has experienced assault and abuse, and who is now trying to carve out a family system for 6 kids—some non-white—under the intense spotlight of celebrity. I think she probably has deep wounds that made her react a certain way. But she is going through something different than Jen G. (I’ve never heard an account of Ben being abusive.) so I have a lot of sympathy for her.
and again, because I don’t know her, I want to make space that we could all be wrong in our interpretations.
…Not about Brad though. We are all right about him. 🤣😉
No, I don’t know Jolie. I also don’t know Jen G and have no clue if she has or hasn’t experienced the same things as Jolie. Ben has certainly put her and the kids through the wringer but I doubt she has ever thought once about driving a wedge between him and his kids and it shows. I know you don’t think that Jolie has done that either, so we can agree to disagree there :)
"I doubt she has ever thought once about driving a wedge between him and his kids and it shows"
I think you're doing a lot of editorializing here, and also sort of conveniently overlooking that there are zero allegations of physical abuse toward Jen or the kids in your argument.
Obviously Jen has had the ability to be more inclusive of Ben in her parenting - this is obvious to you, right? Right??
This is what I replied to another person with…..My problem with this argument is that they were in touch with him prior to the custody ruling. There were pictures of him going into the Demille house. Angelina hosted an 80th birthday party for Brad’s mother at HER HOUSE with all the children and the cousins there. There were videos on instagram of Pax at the Santa Barbara house with the cousins and you could hear Pitts voice in the background. Between 2017 and the 50/50 custody ruling she and the kids were fine with all of the previous physical "abuse" and the STRANGLING of Maddox but then when she didn’t get her way they weren’t? It screams manipulation
Oh Molly! When someone says you don't know them, so you could be wrong, God help me. This IS a gossip site, rife with speculation and none of us know the people we are dissecting!!! I also feel AJ is manipulative and Brad is still butt hurt. The vast majority of folks on this site think she rocks and he's a monster. I guess it's just mainstream People like publications that favor Pitt. It all works out, since pretty much every female oriented outlet has Angelina bias. And - we'll never know when the relationship went sour or why. That's why we gossip!
It IS why we gossip! And totally understand why people would like to believe Angelina's side and fight me. I get it and it would be way more comfortable for me as well if only I hadn't followed this saga as closely as I have like a freaking psycho, lol.
Not that this is going to change anyone's mind but Angelina has been called out TWICE for parental alienation tactics. Once by the court and recently by the bodyguard telling what he overheard her say to her kids. I can't even imagine what she says to them in complete privacy. EIGHT therapists who worked with family for over FIVE years, let me repeat EIGHT therapists over FIVE years, testified that the children would be better with 50/50 custody. These are experts and it was their opinion that despite whatever trauma happened, whether you believe it was physical or just verbal, there were safeguards in place and Brad and family received whatever therapy they needed to be reunited.
If you've ever been on the receiving end of emotional torment from a parent, you'd know that abuse that's "just verbal" can be incredibly devastating, and will lead to scars that are invisible and will never fully heal. You really shouldn't minimize what words can do.
I'm going to side with the classy woman who's endured years of legal nonsense while carrying her head high, and with the young people who witnessed what happened on the plane that day and no longer want to associate with the person they deem responsible for that conflict. Even the youngest kids are more than old enough to be cognizant and knowledgeable about relationship trauma, and they should be allowed to make decisions based on their own physical safety and mental health.
Children aren't possessions. He isn't entitled to their company if they don't want to provide it. And there's a huge difference between a dad and an actual Father.
Also, "parental alienation" is a term frequently used in court by a lot of abusive men whose children witnessed said abuse and wish to estrange themselves from their fathers for that very reason. Just saying.
So I’ve been through “reunification therapy.” To keep this comment short this is what I’ll say. If both parents are healthy individuals, I’m sure the process works and of course having two parents is always better for children. WHEN BOTH PARENTS ARE HEALTHY. If one isn’t, I really don’t think it’s in children’s best interest to force them to spend time with a parent who isn’t putting their needs first. We went through it all - 7 therapists (one for each of 6 individuals and one to coordinate), multiple visits a week, so much stress and MONEY - only to be told two years into the process by the lead therapist that they decided that we were right and the other parent was the problem. All of this was court ordered. It put the children through so much stress and trauma. Yes, I get that the idea was to FIX the problem, but it didn’t. So while I appreciate the idea of reunification therapy, sometimes it just doesn’t work. Watching how all of this has played out with Brad and Angelina….I stand with Angelina.
I think it’s really telling that the only quote from the bodyguard so far has been “Angelina encouraged the kids to avoid Pitt during visitation.”
IMO, if he’s not repeating what she said to them verbatim, that could very easily be him twisting her words. I can see a bitter man taking “you have to go to visitation, but you don’t have to tell him anything you don’t want to, you don’t have to engage with him in ways you don’t want to. You are in control and you can put yourself first” and turning it into “she’s telling them to avoid him.”
ESPECIALLY if there was abuse in the home and the kids were conditioned to placate him and keep him happy, it’s important to remind them that they don’t have to do that anymore.
My cousin is not in communication with his father by my cousin's choice as my uncle went fully redpilled and became just about every -ist/-ic he could. He's the child of divorced parents who had a custody arrangement where he had to spend weekends with his dad. His mom initially encouraged him to repair his relationship with his dad, but, realizing how firm my cousin was about it, eventually gave him the same advice Angelina is alleged to have given her own children: "Well, you legally have to go there, but you don't have to spend any time together." It's the kind of advice a parent gives to their child who is hurting, and the parent has no legal ability to stop the hurt. Avoid. Don't engage more than necessary. IMO this is evidence of how much their children don't want to be around Brad Pitt and not of Angelina engaging in alienation.
My problem with this argument is that they were in touch with him prior to the custody ruling. There were pictures of him going into the Demille house. Angelina hosted an 80th birthday party for Brad’s mother at HER HOUSE with all the children and the cousins there. There were videos on instagram of Pax at the Santa Barbara house with the cousins and you could hear Pitts voice in the background. Between 2017 and the 50/50 custody ruling she and the kids were fine with all of the previous physical "abuse" and the strangling of Maddox but then when she didn’t get her way they weren’t? It screams manipulation
We don't know all of the other therapists and their credentials who disagreed with 50/50 custody (and they have to exist, given the court rulings over the years). Your list is cherry picked from the ONE ruling over YEARS that went in Brad's favour (and which involved a non-independent judge).
That was the only ruling that mattered in regards to custody. Once she got the ruling thrown out, they had to start from scratch (although testimony from the therapists are still on record) and she was able to run out the clock given their ages. She succeeded in her plan.
You're missing the point that she got the ruling thrown out. So, presumably in the case that awarded BP joint custody, there would have been competing expert opinions - some of which are the ones you mention that recommended 50/50. And those were the ones given the most weight by the judge who awarded 50/50. BUT the appellate court agreed that that judge likely had bias, and the supreme court wouldn't weigh in on that. So, an appellate court found that the judge who listened more to the 50/50 experts was biased in favour of Pitt. Wouldn't it then make sense that perhaps an unbiased judge may not have given those experts the same weight? "she succeeded in her plan". Yes, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, if her plan was to protect her kids/protect her kids rights to making their own decisions about being in contact with him.
People come back with well that was a crooked judge. I mean I totally support disclosures, but this was a judge for hire. They hired him to marry them, and they hired him for the divorce. He had worked with both sets of lawyers over the years (again, he is a private judge for hire) but she was able to find something he didn’t disclose. I’m honestly not mad at her about that, disclosing is important, but I think it’s lazy to ignore that all the therapists agreed with his ruling. She didn’t have enough evidence to counteract that which is why she sued the FBI in 2022 to get more evidence or to be able to point to something they did wrong. Again, it was 6/7 years after the incident. I think it’s telling that she did it under a Jane Doe…..she knows how it looks.
She had evidence, which a judge that the court of appeal determined had the appearance of bias had refused to hear. And had refused to hear from the kids directly. I just think that in a situation where the adult child - ostensibly old enough to not be swayed by his mother's belief and to make his own decisions - has nothing to do with his father, and where other kids - Pax and Zahara - also old enough that they can certainly form their own opinions - also didn't want to be with him, that all weighs in favour of the kids validly not wanting to be with him. The judge refused to allow the evidence of domestic abuse - all bc Pitt wasn't charged - even though the FBI detailed what happened and that there was probable cause, and Pitt hasn't denied it - but that wasn't allowed to be entered in court either. No charges doesn't mean it didn't happen. Anyways - I will say this - and this goes for me as well as everyone else commenting here - we weren't in that relationship, nor were we in that courtroom or any of the others. The records are mostly sealed/private - so the bit of information we have is tip of the iceberg, and may or may not be balanced. But what has not been contested by BP is that he was drunk and he was somewhat physical on that plane. Smoke, fire. That leads me to lean to believe AJ is in the best interests of the kids.
I would actually go one further and say (again, not knowing anyone involved) that the fact the children appear to be thriving would appear to cement the fact that Angelina is a good parent putting their interests first. Whatever happened, their lives are the most important and they seem to be flourishing and making good decisions for themselves.
She had evidence that the judge didn't disclose all of work that he did with Pitt's lawyers but evidence that both parties had regarding the plane has been laid out and gone through extensively. People keep talking about some video coming out, a la Diddy, or something which is ridiculous. The custody case centered around the plane incident which both sides have gone through with a fine tooth comb. They both know what each other has on it (Jolie not enough hence her suing the FBI) so this idea of some smoking gun is not a reality. It's true one of the children could talk but the whole parental alienation theories would just get exacerbated if that happened.
I can’t comment on the validity of therapists and their judgments on this. My only wish would be that he had gone through a lot of therapy on himself to get to a place where he’s a positive person in his children’s lives. Anyone who battles with addiction ( and both exes have mentioned pot and alcohol negatively impacting him and those around him) needs to do that work to be healthy member of their family.
Oren Boxer MD, Ph.D. - Dr. Boxer is a clinical neuropsychologist specializing in evidence-based assessment and treatment of children and adults with neurocognitive deficits that affect academic or occupational performance, as well as social, emotional and behavioral functioning.
Bren Chasse LFMT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) - Ms. Chasse specializes in trauma, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories) and family reunification.
Alyce LaViolette MS, MFT Ms. LaViolette provides counseling and therapy for Victims of Trauma with a Focus on Domestic Violence and Adults Abused as Children and Anger Management.
Stan Katz, Ph.D. Dr. Katz is expected to testify about his work with this family as both an evaluator and a Parenting Coordinator, his interactions and communications with the parties, the children, other professionals and third parties, the recommendations stemming there from and the basis for his recommendations, and consistent with his deposition taken March 3, August 10 and September 8, 2020
Frederic Luskin, Ph.D. Dr. Luskin is the Director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects and has completed extensive research on the training and measurement of forgiveness therapy. Dr. Luskin is the author of the best seller Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness and Stress Free for Good.
Melisssa Brymer, Ph.D. Dr. Brymer is director of terrorism and disaster programs at the UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress and an expert on how children deal with stress following disasters, like, for example, school shootings.
Allan Yellin, Ph Dr. Yellin is a psychologist specializing in individual, couples and family therapy for children, adolescents and adults. He is trained in psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy. Dr. Yellin sees many children who are excessive "worriers."
Robin Deutsche Ph.D. Dr. Deutsche is a Diplomate in Couple and Family Psychology. She is the co-author of 7 Things Your Teenager Won’t Tell You: and How to Talk about Them Anyway (Ballantine, 2005, 2011) and co-editor of Overcoming Parent-Child Contact Problems: Family-Based Interventions for Resistance, Rejection, Alienation (Oxford, 2016).
1. Big BIG YAY YAY YAY for Sha'Carri all the way to a medal!!!
Now for the petty-ish:
2. "You know, believe children… unless their dad is a white and successful movie star with a great plastic surgeon."
- I would like to see the other Pitt brother to compare because I have a feeling (if I recall correctly) that he's also attractive and has less mi-*loses connection*. Am I misremembering William's brother? Also, do you think they called him Billy back in Missouri? Willy? Will??? Will Pitt? That could go in a variety of childish ways (which is obviously where I have landed).
3. Sarah listing a terrifying movie as a reasonable option like it's not something you are taken to because you lost rock paper scissors is what a critic would write (right?). In her defense, her scaries always sound interesting... initially.
You did a solid job. I was just reading normally and then it took a turn to the scaries of which you wrote so calmly. Also you make them sound interesting, but I have to remind myself that it's not my lane. Ignore Sarah's calm words.
You can find him on Sydney Pitt's instagram. It's his daughter and she posts pictures of him (not sure if it's just her stories) a couple of times a year.
Never. First of all I find it uncomfortable and I don't actually know what the point of it is. And on the style front - I haaaate underwear lines. But what about a thong, Lainey? Are we seriously arguing the practicality of a thong?
Hopefully I’m not kicked out of the group by saying that I could NOT get into Love Island USA. I’ll watch Bachelor, Too Hot To Handle or any dating show as long as there’s compelling storylines or actually want to root for a couple or two. But all I felt after two hours of S6 was regret for melting my brain cells. I watched Selling Manhattan last night, and it’s WAY more entertaining imo.
Re: Theatre-going and Sarah’s answer
Super insightful! For me, it isn’t a variety thing—I have a long list of films to see. And as a single woman, I really have no excuse not to go, but was just thinking about going to see a movie or two this weekend and, the thought of driving, parking, paying for bevs/snacks vs. watching something on my couch with A/C during a heatwave is more appealing, and waiting for Thelma, Dandelion and Fly Me to the Moon to release on streaming. I don’t want theatres to go away but it takes FOMO, BYOB and car service to get me there these days.
Also, the Dandelion trailer looks great, and am excited to see it! It’s reminding me of another solid musical artist road trip one from awhile back, American Folk! https://youtu.be/jE2nC-72neo
I am commenting on this like 9 hours after everyone else so it will probably be unread, BUT: speaking as a person who has observed families her whole life, and also speaking as a mother, I don't believe Angelina Jolie, or any parent, can successfully alienate her children (who were not infants) from their father without the children having very good reason to want distance in that relationship. I don't even like saying "alienate" because it implies that a dastardly plan was afoot.
Generally speaking, kids want to love their parents. Your parents are your most primal relationships and you are hardwired to want to have some kind of relationship there. If these kids don't want anything to do with him, that didn't just happen because their mom told them to. Their father did something deeply painful, and I would guess repeated whatever that was again and again during a long period, for those kids to decide they don't want anything to do with him. They were old enough to have had years with him; you don't just end a parental relationship easily.
I could not agree with your comment more. Parental alienation for me is like one of those things that very rarely happens but gets trotted out as CONSTANTLY happening (especially from men against their ex wives) it’s part of the DARVO handbook in my mind. They go hand in hand.
I agree! Straight out of the DARVO handbook, and it happens again and again.
Well, here's a counter perspective. My ex has been trying to drive a wedge between my daughter and I for most of her life, unsuccessfully until recently. This year, however, her teenage angst and developmentally appropriate need for separation have been fanned into the flames of anti-mom sentiment, and the idea that if you're not getting along with someone, it's an option to simply not see them or speak to them. So, it's possible, and it can happen without one parent being a monster.
I want to add that this is not a pro-Brad stance. It seems abundantly clear that he was awful to Angelina and maybe the kids as well. I can't stand him and am firmly Team Angie. And, other situations, like mine, are not always so black and white.
I am very sorry for the painful situation your ex has worked so hard to create, and can imagine how painful that is. I very much hope that your daughter finds her way back to you soon.
Last year Lainey did a Squawk piece on her Botox routine before a film festival. I want to hear about Sarah’s laser treatments! This is a throwaway sentence that I want to know more about!!
I got a treatment called Moxi and I'm about 4 days in and have started flaking pretty badly. Primarily addressing pigmentation but also a little bit resurfacing. I'm interested to see the results once the flaking stops. Right now I can't tell.
Sarah I had a whole series of those done last year. They advised me to do at least 4, preferably 6, spaced out a month to 6 weeks apart. After your flaking stops your skin will start GLOWING & you’ll be loving the results. Overall, I think it helped with my pigmentation & pores, & overall skin resurfacing. Keep us posted!!!
I'm only doing one laser but I am through 2 out of three broadband light treatments.
Less of a throwaway sentence, actually, more of a joking aside
I'll speak to my routine - lasers are the way to go for micro pigmentation and wrinkles. Peels are great as well but the aftercare is much more intensive. Clear and brilliant is the go to for red spots/melasma. Sofwave or BBL/morpheus for wrinkles. I do Sofwave as Morpheus is more finicky and HURTS. It's more effective when paired with micro needling. I am a vain person but doing this yearly (ish) means my skin is clear, even, and tighter. I'm 42 and look younger than my sane age peers by a solid margin. I am also insanely fastidious about sunscreen and vitamin C.
And @ molly, what Vitamin C do you rec?
Unsolicited advice but I LOVE Poems from the Lab. They only make vitamin C serum and it is stable from first use to last (no discoloration which is a big issue with Vitamin C serum).
I’ll check it out! Y’all hit me up with all the recs! It’s my jam
Amy I thought that by going in this thread I was also asking you!! I apologize I was not more clear—it said “reply to Amy.” This is why I need an etiquette handbook for Substack. Thank you for this recommendation!! I’m definitely going to go with the cheapest of the 4 you two Rec’d!
You influenced me! Thanks for sharing this, from another youthful 42 yo ☺️
I used to alternate between Skinceuticals, Paula's Choice and Sunday Riley but now I exclusively use a new-to-me brand Protocol. I think it's stronger than any of the others. I'm on my third bottle.
Have you done microneedling with PRP? I'm considering that.....I'm 44 and have heard great things. Agree on sunscreen and vitamin C! My main concern is wrinkles and not pigmentation.
I have and found it only ok for the cost. Also I hate needles so having to give blood ahead of time freaked me out 😂🤦♀️
On the Love Island lingerie question, I assume each woman bought a special set they’ve never worn before specifically for the possibility of going to the Hideaway? Outfit planning seems to be a huge part of (mostly women’s) reality TV appearances so I figured they’d all have brought something new and showy.
I definitely would never share used but clean underwear with someone unless it was a total desperation situation, but if it was brand new and never worn I guess I would.
I think they're also given the lingerie from production; part of the love island deal is that you're offered a wardrobe from production from their varied partners (prettylittlething, etc.) and if you want to bring your own clothing in, you have to send it to them in advance for approval. So I think this is actually a case of giving someone free unworn lingerie. Because otherwise? In no world am I sharing lingerie, and ESPECIALLY not for a sexual encounter!!
Interesting! I didn’t know that about the wardrobe for Love Island. I know for other shows like The Bachelor I’ve heard that contestants have to mostly supply their own wardrobe (the lead has theirs provided though) and it can be a big financial stress for them.
That makes so much sense now. I watched two episodes and wondered why the fuck everyone is color coordinating outfits and they had all colors of the rainbow!
It would have to be extremely desperate times for me to borrow underwear from even my mom or sister! EW times one million.
This was my assumption too - it’s new, never-worn underwear that they’re offering up!
Re Brad Pitt. Saw the People post of him and Ines at the GP on Instagram, and So Many of the comments were “ oh, I wish him happiness after what “she” put him through.” So his PR machine is definitely working well. 🙄
Rolling my eyes so hard. There are very few accounts that I can read the comments of because I get so infuriated with the patriarchy at work.
Lainey, you still make me laugh! Thanks for weighing in on my questions.
This is a question for Lainey. I have some questions about your choice to go commando. When and why did you decide to stop wearing underwear? Do you wear jeans, and if so, doesn't the seam on the crotch bother you? What do you do if you borrow clothes for an event? Do you still wear a bra? Are there any specific occasions when you choose to wear underwear, such as on a plane ride or during your period? Curious minds want to know! :)
Lo - I am a commando evangelist and will answer your questions!
Once you stop wearing underwear…it is the seams of the underwear that will bother you! Who wants another layer underneath the jeans rubbing and moving? Terrible!
I will still rock a pair of underwear underneath a short dress so I don’t flash the world, but that is the one and only time.
Come over to the dark side, Lo….stop doing unnecessary laundry and buying unnecessary underwear!
No see I think going underwear free leads to unnecessary laundry! I can wear a pair of jeans a few times before I wash them, bu only because the underwear is there as a layer of protection/absorption from sweat/discharge/etc. Besides, underwear is a tiny part of the overall laundry issue!
In light of the sharing underwear question, I want to know if she lends her clothes to her friends!
Good question!
I have so many logistical questions too! Then I was thinking...should I google this? I will later on my not work computer, LOL!
i also require more information. what about a knee length or shorter skirt with free puss underneath? aren't you afraid of a flash? what about puss sweat? during a workout actually i think i might like to try commando. but like out in the world my puss feels vulnerable, u know
There are so many things that I will not go to bat for Pitt for. His pathetic PR fauxmance with Ines…eyeroll, Katrina…yikes. Weinstein…nope. Comments about having a daughter that left out Zahara….absolutely not. Pitt is a deeply flawed man. Let me repeat for those in the back. PITT IS A DEEPLY, DEEPLY FLAWED MAN. Where I spend my time and energy is dissecting how AJ is handling her side because, honestly, Pitt is simple. And my biggest problem with Jolie is that she tries to dress up her vindictive and nastiness with this Mother Teresa, holier-than-thou, I want my family healed and peaceful. It’s a charade and so apparent if you look at it closely and follow the timeline. You know who truly wants peace and healing for her family? JENNIFER FUCKING GARNER. Compare and contrast how those two women dealt with their shitty, alcoholic husbands and who truly puts their kids needs and wellbeing before her own, and you can quickly see who the true Mother Teresa is.
But you don’t know her, right? You haven’t interacted with her, have you? Because I don’t know Angelina or know anyone who has interacted with her. And I see everything you are laying out and I agree with some things and interpret others very differently. I ascribe very different reasons to her actions.
I agree: Angelina has done things differently than Jen. But we have different interpretations why that is: where you name her as vindictive and nasty, I wonder if she is deeply sad and hurting, a wounded woman who doesn’t have a mom alive, never had a kind dad, never had the same support systems as Jen G, who has experienced assault and abuse, and who is now trying to carve out a family system for 6 kids—some non-white—under the intense spotlight of celebrity. I think she probably has deep wounds that made her react a certain way. But she is going through something different than Jen G. (I’ve never heard an account of Ben being abusive.) so I have a lot of sympathy for her.
and again, because I don’t know her, I want to make space that we could all be wrong in our interpretations.
…Not about Brad though. We are all right about him. 🤣😉
No, I don’t know Jolie. I also don’t know Jen G and have no clue if she has or hasn’t experienced the same things as Jolie. Ben has certainly put her and the kids through the wringer but I doubt she has ever thought once about driving a wedge between him and his kids and it shows. I know you don’t think that Jolie has done that either, so we can agree to disagree there :)
"I doubt she has ever thought once about driving a wedge between him and his kids and it shows"
I think you're doing a lot of editorializing here, and also sort of conveniently overlooking that there are zero allegations of physical abuse toward Jen or the kids in your argument.
Obviously Jen has had the ability to be more inclusive of Ben in her parenting - this is obvious to you, right? Right??
This is what I replied to another person with…..My problem with this argument is that they were in touch with him prior to the custody ruling. There were pictures of him going into the Demille house. Angelina hosted an 80th birthday party for Brad’s mother at HER HOUSE with all the children and the cousins there. There were videos on instagram of Pax at the Santa Barbara house with the cousins and you could hear Pitts voice in the background. Between 2017 and the 50/50 custody ruling she and the kids were fine with all of the previous physical "abuse" and the STRANGLING of Maddox but then when she didn’t get her way they weren’t? It screams manipulation
This is why we can't expect perfect out of victims. There's always someone to say, "But if you were afraid of them, why didn't you x, y, z?"
Time will tell how manipulative AJ has been. The kids are getting older and can make their own judgements.
Oh Molly! When someone says you don't know them, so you could be wrong, God help me. This IS a gossip site, rife with speculation and none of us know the people we are dissecting!!! I also feel AJ is manipulative and Brad is still butt hurt. The vast majority of folks on this site think she rocks and he's a monster. I guess it's just mainstream People like publications that favor Pitt. It all works out, since pretty much every female oriented outlet has Angelina bias. And - we'll never know when the relationship went sour or why. That's why we gossip!
It IS why we gossip! And totally understand why people would like to believe Angelina's side and fight me. I get it and it would be way more comfortable for me as well if only I hadn't followed this saga as closely as I have like a freaking psycho, lol.
Not that this is going to change anyone's mind but Angelina has been called out TWICE for parental alienation tactics. Once by the court and recently by the bodyguard telling what he overheard her say to her kids. I can't even imagine what she says to them in complete privacy. EIGHT therapists who worked with family for over FIVE years, let me repeat EIGHT therapists over FIVE years, testified that the children would be better with 50/50 custody. These are experts and it was their opinion that despite whatever trauma happened, whether you believe it was physical or just verbal, there were safeguards in place and Brad and family received whatever therapy they needed to be reunited.
If you've ever been on the receiving end of emotional torment from a parent, you'd know that abuse that's "just verbal" can be incredibly devastating, and will lead to scars that are invisible and will never fully heal. You really shouldn't minimize what words can do.
I'm going to side with the classy woman who's endured years of legal nonsense while carrying her head high, and with the young people who witnessed what happened on the plane that day and no longer want to associate with the person they deem responsible for that conflict. Even the youngest kids are more than old enough to be cognizant and knowledgeable about relationship trauma, and they should be allowed to make decisions based on their own physical safety and mental health.
Children aren't possessions. He isn't entitled to their company if they don't want to provide it. And there's a huge difference between a dad and an actual Father.
Also, "parental alienation" is a term frequently used in court by a lot of abusive men whose children witnessed said abuse and wish to estrange themselves from their fathers for that very reason. Just saying.
So I’ve been through “reunification therapy.” To keep this comment short this is what I’ll say. If both parents are healthy individuals, I’m sure the process works and of course having two parents is always better for children. WHEN BOTH PARENTS ARE HEALTHY. If one isn’t, I really don’t think it’s in children’s best interest to force them to spend time with a parent who isn’t putting their needs first. We went through it all - 7 therapists (one for each of 6 individuals and one to coordinate), multiple visits a week, so much stress and MONEY - only to be told two years into the process by the lead therapist that they decided that we were right and the other parent was the problem. All of this was court ordered. It put the children through so much stress and trauma. Yes, I get that the idea was to FIX the problem, but it didn’t. So while I appreciate the idea of reunification therapy, sometimes it just doesn’t work. Watching how all of this has played out with Brad and Angelina….I stand with Angelina.
I'm sorry you had to go through that.
I think it’s really telling that the only quote from the bodyguard so far has been “Angelina encouraged the kids to avoid Pitt during visitation.”
IMO, if he’s not repeating what she said to them verbatim, that could very easily be him twisting her words. I can see a bitter man taking “you have to go to visitation, but you don’t have to tell him anything you don’t want to, you don’t have to engage with him in ways you don’t want to. You are in control and you can put yourself first” and turning it into “she’s telling them to avoid him.”
ESPECIALLY if there was abuse in the home and the kids were conditioned to placate him and keep him happy, it’s important to remind them that they don’t have to do that anymore.
My cousin is not in communication with his father by my cousin's choice as my uncle went fully redpilled and became just about every -ist/-ic he could. He's the child of divorced parents who had a custody arrangement where he had to spend weekends with his dad. His mom initially encouraged him to repair his relationship with his dad, but, realizing how firm my cousin was about it, eventually gave him the same advice Angelina is alleged to have given her own children: "Well, you legally have to go there, but you don't have to spend any time together." It's the kind of advice a parent gives to their child who is hurting, and the parent has no legal ability to stop the hurt. Avoid. Don't engage more than necessary. IMO this is evidence of how much their children don't want to be around Brad Pitt and not of Angelina engaging in alienation.
My problem with this argument is that they were in touch with him prior to the custody ruling. There were pictures of him going into the Demille house. Angelina hosted an 80th birthday party for Brad’s mother at HER HOUSE with all the children and the cousins there. There were videos on instagram of Pax at the Santa Barbara house with the cousins and you could hear Pitts voice in the background. Between 2017 and the 50/50 custody ruling she and the kids were fine with all of the previous physical "abuse" and the strangling of Maddox but then when she didn’t get her way they weren’t? It screams manipulation
Or it “screams” of a family initially trying to maintain a relationship with an abusive father who’s continuing abuse alienates ALL 6 of his children.
Miraval and the custody case are two separate things. But we can agree to disagree there.
We don't know all of the other therapists and their credentials who disagreed with 50/50 custody (and they have to exist, given the court rulings over the years). Your list is cherry picked from the ONE ruling over YEARS that went in Brad's favour (and which involved a non-independent judge).
That was the only ruling that mattered in regards to custody. Once she got the ruling thrown out, they had to start from scratch (although testimony from the therapists are still on record) and she was able to run out the clock given their ages. She succeeded in her plan.
You're missing the point that she got the ruling thrown out. So, presumably in the case that awarded BP joint custody, there would have been competing expert opinions - some of which are the ones you mention that recommended 50/50. And those were the ones given the most weight by the judge who awarded 50/50. BUT the appellate court agreed that that judge likely had bias, and the supreme court wouldn't weigh in on that. So, an appellate court found that the judge who listened more to the 50/50 experts was biased in favour of Pitt. Wouldn't it then make sense that perhaps an unbiased judge may not have given those experts the same weight? "she succeeded in her plan". Yes, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, if her plan was to protect her kids/protect her kids rights to making their own decisions about being in contact with him.
People come back with well that was a crooked judge. I mean I totally support disclosures, but this was a judge for hire. They hired him to marry them, and they hired him for the divorce. He had worked with both sets of lawyers over the years (again, he is a private judge for hire) but she was able to find something he didn’t disclose. I’m honestly not mad at her about that, disclosing is important, but I think it’s lazy to ignore that all the therapists agreed with his ruling. She didn’t have enough evidence to counteract that which is why she sued the FBI in 2022 to get more evidence or to be able to point to something they did wrong. Again, it was 6/7 years after the incident. I think it’s telling that she did it under a Jane Doe…..she knows how it looks.
She had evidence, which a judge that the court of appeal determined had the appearance of bias had refused to hear. And had refused to hear from the kids directly. I just think that in a situation where the adult child - ostensibly old enough to not be swayed by his mother's belief and to make his own decisions - has nothing to do with his father, and where other kids - Pax and Zahara - also old enough that they can certainly form their own opinions - also didn't want to be with him, that all weighs in favour of the kids validly not wanting to be with him. The judge refused to allow the evidence of domestic abuse - all bc Pitt wasn't charged - even though the FBI detailed what happened and that there was probable cause, and Pitt hasn't denied it - but that wasn't allowed to be entered in court either. No charges doesn't mean it didn't happen. Anyways - I will say this - and this goes for me as well as everyone else commenting here - we weren't in that relationship, nor were we in that courtroom or any of the others. The records are mostly sealed/private - so the bit of information we have is tip of the iceberg, and may or may not be balanced. But what has not been contested by BP is that he was drunk and he was somewhat physical on that plane. Smoke, fire. That leads me to lean to believe AJ is in the best interests of the kids.
I would actually go one further and say (again, not knowing anyone involved) that the fact the children appear to be thriving would appear to cement the fact that Angelina is a good parent putting their interests first. Whatever happened, their lives are the most important and they seem to be flourishing and making good decisions for themselves.
She had evidence that the judge didn't disclose all of work that he did with Pitt's lawyers but evidence that both parties had regarding the plane has been laid out and gone through extensively. People keep talking about some video coming out, a la Diddy, or something which is ridiculous. The custody case centered around the plane incident which both sides have gone through with a fine tooth comb. They both know what each other has on it (Jolie not enough hence her suing the FBI) so this idea of some smoking gun is not a reality. It's true one of the children could talk but the whole parental alienation theories would just get exacerbated if that happened.
I can’t comment on the validity of therapists and their judgments on this. My only wish would be that he had gone through a lot of therapy on himself to get to a place where he’s a positive person in his children’s lives. Anyone who battles with addiction ( and both exes have mentioned pot and alcohol negatively impacting him and those around him) needs to do that work to be healthy member of their family.
After the plane incident where he lost his kids, he acknowledged he had a problem and went to AA. He has spoken publicly about this.
Oren Boxer MD, Ph.D. - Dr. Boxer is a clinical neuropsychologist specializing in evidence-based assessment and treatment of children and adults with neurocognitive deficits that affect academic or occupational performance, as well as social, emotional and behavioral functioning.
Bren Chasse LFMT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) - Ms. Chasse specializes in trauma, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories) and family reunification.
Alyce LaViolette MS, MFT Ms. LaViolette provides counseling and therapy for Victims of Trauma with a Focus on Domestic Violence and Adults Abused as Children and Anger Management.
Stan Katz, Ph.D. Dr. Katz is expected to testify about his work with this family as both an evaluator and a Parenting Coordinator, his interactions and communications with the parties, the children, other professionals and third parties, the recommendations stemming there from and the basis for his recommendations, and consistent with his deposition taken March 3, August 10 and September 8, 2020
Frederic Luskin, Ph.D. Dr. Luskin is the Director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects and has completed extensive research on the training and measurement of forgiveness therapy. Dr. Luskin is the author of the best seller Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness and Stress Free for Good.
Melisssa Brymer, Ph.D. Dr. Brymer is director of terrorism and disaster programs at the UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress and an expert on how children deal with stress following disasters, like, for example, school shootings.
Allan Yellin, Ph Dr. Yellin is a psychologist specializing in individual, couples and family therapy for children, adolescents and adults. He is trained in psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy. Dr. Yellin sees many children who are excessive "worriers."
Robin Deutsche Ph.D. Dr. Deutsche is a Diplomate in Couple and Family Psychology. She is the co-author of 7 Things Your Teenager Won’t Tell You: and How to Talk about Them Anyway (Ballantine, 2005, 2011) and co-editor of Overcoming Parent-Child Contact Problems: Family-Based Interventions for Resistance, Rejection, Alienation (Oxford, 2016).
These are the therapists that worked with the family
All the ones that worked with the family? Or the ones that worked with the family and opined in favour of 50/50?
These are the ones that worked with the family and were a part of the custody case.
Interesting!
1. Big BIG YAY YAY YAY for Sha'Carri all the way to a medal!!!
Now for the petty-ish:
2. "You know, believe children… unless their dad is a white and successful movie star with a great plastic surgeon."
- I would like to see the other Pitt brother to compare because I have a feeling (if I recall correctly) that he's also attractive and has less mi-*loses connection*. Am I misremembering William's brother? Also, do you think they called him Billy back in Missouri? Willy? Will??? Will Pitt? That could go in a variety of childish ways (which is obviously where I have landed).
3. Sarah listing a terrifying movie as a reasonable option like it's not something you are taken to because you lost rock paper scissors is what a critic would write (right?). In her defense, her scaries always sound interesting... initially.
The option exists for those who want it!
You did a solid job. I was just reading normally and then it took a turn to the scaries of which you wrote so calmly. Also you make them sound interesting, but I have to remind myself that it's not my lane. Ignore Sarah's calm words.
You can find him on Sydney Pitt's instagram. It's his daughter and she posts pictures of him (not sure if it's just her stories) a couple of times a year.
You...you don't wear underwear? Like, at all??
Never. First of all I find it uncomfortable and I don't actually know what the point of it is. And on the style front - I haaaate underwear lines. But what about a thong, Lainey? Are we seriously arguing the practicality of a thong?
Ummm, so I'm going to say what no one else wants to.....what about the discharge?
Underpants are a necessary layer of protection from...everything!
Oh I hear you on the thong. But the rest is an anathema to me.
If you’ve been reading Lainey - she has stated For YEARS that she goes commando all the time. 😄
I..I, okay.. that's just-
Between menstruation and ovulation, my head is fucking spinning over here. 🫢
Not to mention the risk of exposure if you wear a dress/skirt!
🤣🤣
Hopefully I’m not kicked out of the group by saying that I could NOT get into Love Island USA. I’ll watch Bachelor, Too Hot To Handle or any dating show as long as there’s compelling storylines or actually want to root for a couple or two. But all I felt after two hours of S6 was regret for melting my brain cells. I watched Selling Manhattan last night, and it’s WAY more entertaining imo.
Re: Theatre-going and Sarah’s answer
Super insightful! For me, it isn’t a variety thing—I have a long list of films to see. And as a single woman, I really have no excuse not to go, but was just thinking about going to see a movie or two this weekend and, the thought of driving, parking, paying for bevs/snacks vs. watching something on my couch with A/C during a heatwave is more appealing, and waiting for Thelma, Dandelion and Fly Me to the Moon to release on streaming. I don’t want theatres to go away but it takes FOMO, BYOB and car service to get me there these days.
Also, the Dandelion trailer looks great, and am excited to see it! It’s reminding me of another solid musical artist road trip one from awhile back, American Folk! https://youtu.be/jE2nC-72neo