In a jointly issued statement, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston have announced an end to their relationship saying, 'We would like to announce that after seven years together we have decided to formally separate'. The statement was released by Brad Pitt's publicist, Cindy Guagenti and also confirmed the two would remain close friends after their seven year relationship, including almost five years of marriage.
The statement about the couples break-up said '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'. There is currently no news whether the couple will proceed immediately with a divorce, if at all.
The split and end of one of Hollywood's most glamorous couples at present seemed to be on the cards after speculation in the tabloid press on either side of the Atlantic about their marriage. Tabloids particularly seemed to focus on rumours that Jennifer Aniston had not been as eager to start a family as Pitt, who had allegedly wanted to become a father as soon as possible.
Jennifer Aniston when asked in 2002 said that the couple were eventually hoping to start a family, when the time was right. Aniston said at the time, 'Absolutely it will happen but probably not for a while'.
Tabloid rumours that Aniston was pregnant seemed to be churned out continuously over the past couple of years, up until a few months ago, when the rumours changed to marriage difficulties and a possible split.
On the subject of tabloid speculation and pressures, Pitt and Aniston have stated 'For those who follow these sorts of things, we would like to explain that our separation is not the result of any speculation reported by the tabloid media, this decision is the result of much thoughtful consideration'
Jennifer, 35 and Brad, 41 are said to have spent the weekend over New Year on Anguilla, a delightful island in the Caribbean with Courtney Cox Arquette and David Arquette, both close friends of the couple in what could have been their final attempt to either resolve any problems or decide how to go public.
Both are successful A list actors and were perceived as being the golden glamour couple of Hollywood, ever since their spectacular wedding back in July of 2000 in Malibu, where the two were thrust even more into the public eye, something that Pitt has never seemed comfortable with. 'The thing with our marriage is that there was an opening in the Hollywood couple slot, and unfortunately we've fallen into it. Which I don't like very much, it doesn't leave us room to be human, to make our mistakes and have our struggles.', Pitt has said in the past, showing that he would have preferred a little less of a spotlight on his private life.
Brad Pitt has appeared and starred in a host of movies and blockbusters, such as Legends of the Fall, Fight Club, Snatch, Thelma & Louise, Ocean's Twelve, Ocean's Eleven, Troy, Meet Joe Black, Sleepers, 12 Monkeys, A River Runs Through It.
Jennifer Aniston, although best known perhaps in her role in the cult Friends TV comedy, which finally concluded in 2004 after 10 years at the top has had Hollywood big screen success too, in Bruce Almighty amoungst others.
