When Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston announced their separation in 2005, the world was stunned. Well, "stunned" might be too strong a word, since rumors about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had already been swirling by the time the announcement was made in January 2005.
But fans of each of the actors have been thrilled by a slow-moving development: In the years that have followed their split, Brad and Jennifer have somehow become friends. Not only are they friends, but they also seem to be real friends who actually care about one another.
This development is as lovely as it is surprising, considering the fallout that happened after they split, and the rumors and stories that swirled for nearly the entire decade that followed. Brad even attended an "intimate" party that Jennifer hosted in 2019, and was said to be the second-to-last guest that left the party at 11 p.m.
If you're wondering how we got here, let's take a little stroll down memory lane.
1998: Their mutual agent sets up Brad and Jennifer
In a story that can only happen in Hollywood, Brad and Jennifer are introduced by their agent and go on a date together. At the time, both were major stars. Brad was a bonafide movie star, and Jennifer was in the middle of her time on Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004.
1999: They're official
Brad and Jennifer officially became a couple in late 1999, when they attended the Emmy Awards together. The couple's fandom went wild when they announced their engagement in November 1999 by going onstage at a Sting concert in New York.
July 29, 2000: They get married
As wildly beautiful and famous people who are in love tend to do, Brad and Jen got married in July 2000. The ceremony was in Malibu and was pretty gigantic, and the night was capped off with fireworks. They followed up their wedding by attending the Emmy Awards together that year, and the world went wild at this glimpse of the recently wed couple.
2001: They talk about love and Brad shows up on Friends
In 2001, Jen gave a sweet interview to Rolling Stone. She talked about a lot of things, including the pair's shared interest in music. "We do have similar tastes — very eclectic in that we’ll listen to pretty much anything. We also go through phases together, like that band Bran Van 3000, their first album. When we started dating, we were listening to a lot of Radiohead. They just sounded so good at that point in our relationship."
Brad also showed up in an episode of Friends, much to the delight of just about everyone.
February 2003: Trouble in paradise...?
In retrospect, 2003 was a bit of a banner year for the couple. When an interviewer called Brad the love of Jennifer's life, she replied, "Is he the love of my life? I think you’re always sort of wondering, 'Are you the love of my life?' I mean, I don’t know, I’ve never been someone who says, 'He’s the love of my life.' He’s certainly a big love in my life …"
2004: Jen wants babies
However, the two appeared to be doing just fine a year later, when Jen admitted that she was ready for (drum roll) kids! She told The Guardian, "It's time. It's time. You know, I think you can work with a baby, I think you can work pregnant, I think you can do all of it. So, I'm just truly looking forward to slowing down."
Also 2004: Brad meets Angelina Jolie
Unfortunately for Jennifer, 2004 is also the year Brad started filming Mr. and Mrs. Smith with Angelina Jolie. Their attraction was said to be pretty immediate for both of them, which is great for them — but wasn't so great for Jennifer, Brad's wife. Angelina later told People, "It took until, really, the end of the shoot for us, I think, to realize that it might mean something more than we'd earlier allowed ourselves to believe. And both knowing that the reality of that was a big thing, something that was going to take a lot of serious consideration."
January 2005: Brad and Jen start off the new year with a bang
In January of the following year, Brad and Jennifer released a statement announcing their separation.
We would like to announce that after seven years together we have decided to formally separate. For those who follow these sorts of things, we would like to explain that our separation is not the result of any of the speculation reported by the tabloid media. This decision is the result of much thoughtful consideration. We happily remain committed and caring friends with great love and admiration for one another. We ask in advance for your kindness and sensitivity in the coming months.
2005: Jen claims Brad is missing a 'sensitivity chip'
Brad and Angelina shoot an infamous spread for W Magazine that features them playing mom and dad to five children. In response, Jennifer tells Vanity Fair, "Brad is not mean-spirited; he would never intentionally try to rub something in my face. In hindsight, I can see him going, 'Oh — I can see that that was inconsiderate.' But I know Brad. Brad would say, 'That’s art!' There’s a sensitivity chip that’s missing."
2014 and 2015: Brad and Angelina get married, so do Jennifer and Justin
The years 2014 and 2015 saw both Brad and Jennifer happily married to others. After going back and forth for nearly a decade on the topic, Brad and Angelina finally married one another. All six of their children were present at the wedding in France.
Jennifer married Justin Theroux in August 2015, in front of 70 guests.
2016: Brad and Angelina divorce
In a move that surprised most of us, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie announced their divorce the following year. Among other things, this suddenly meant Brad was back on the market. Fans of Brad and Jennifer couldn't help but totally fall apart at the idea that the two could reunite, despite the fact that Jennifer was still happily married to Justin.
February 2018: Jennifer is single again
Jennifer and Justin announced their own divorce in February 2018, which definitely kicked the Brad/Jen shippers into overdrive. In the aftermath of the divorce, all kinds of details are revealed. It's alleged that Jennifer kept love notes from Brad throughout her marriage to Justin, and people speculated on the reasons why.
2019: Brad attends Jennifer's parties
This brings us up to the present. In February 2019, Brad reportedly attended Jennifer's 50th birthday celebration. However, in the months that followed, both actors were reported to be casually dating other people, though a rep for Jennifer noted that she and Brad still speak occasionally.
Then, in December 2019, Jennifer threw another party for her friends, and Brad was invited, again. The party was described as "intimate," and sources say Brad was the second-to-last invitee to leave.