They drove fans wild when they were caught holding hands backstage at the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles last week. And speculation that the exes are on the brink of a reunion was intensified after a thrilled-looking Brad Pitt was spotted cheering “Oh wow,” when ex-wife Jennifer Aniston won her award.
The photographer who took the hand-holding picture later revealed, “The moment was really touching, and you could sense the respect between two people who have known each other 20-plus years and are both outstanding in their field.”
Many believe their suspicions were confirmed by Jen’s BFF Courteney Cox, who “liked” several images of the couple from the SAG Awards, including one that she cryptically captioned, “It goddam look like it”, leading fans to believe they are back on.
After Jen posted a picture of her white satin gown and shoes next to her bath the next day, followers turned up the temperature by asking if Brad had undressed her that night. One wrote, “Hope Brad took that dress off”, while another posted, “You and Brad have fun last night? I hope so!”
Their public display of affection comes just two weeks after Jen, 50, was seen looking lovingly at Brad, 56, at the Golden Globe Awards, where he called her a “good friend”, prompting fans to question whether they would get together following his divorce from Angelina Jolie, from whom he split in September 2016 after 11 years together.
WATCH ten of the most EXPLOSIVE celebrity breakups of 2019
And sources tell Closer that Hollywood’s former golden couple – who divorced in 2005 after five years of marriage – have even got their mutual pals excited about a romantic reunion with their newfound friendship.
Despite Brad being linked to a string of women over the past few years, including actress Alia Shawkat, and Jen recently being linked to Hollywood director Will Speck, within their close circle of friends there is a growing belief that the pair could still reconcile.
A source tells Closer, “The signs are there that they’ve rekindled their feelings and the relationship is back on. They’ve gone through a lot of acrimony in the past but have come out the other side with great admiration for one another.
“Ever since he turned up to Jen’s birthday last year, their bond has been growing and their inner circles say they are ‘acting like a couple’. They’re incredibly close.
“They’ve been speaking on the phone almost every week in the run-up to awards season. It’s such a nerve-wracking time for actors, and Brad and Jen find they can really put each other at ease. The more time they spend together, the more it feels as though they never lost touch. Their friends wouldn’t be surprised if an announcement came soon, but they expect it to be low-key.”
Brad and Jen’s 11-year romance was the stuff of Hollywood legend. The pair were set up by their agents in 1998, when she was the golden girl of TV with Friends and he was one of the world’s hottest actors.
“We both [knew] on our first date. It was weird… That was a really easy evening,” Jen later said in 2004.
By 1999, the couple revealed their engagement and the pair were known for their romantic gestures – on Valentine’s Day in 2001, Brad reportedly filled Jen’s Friends dressing room with 1,500 roses spelling out “I love my wife”. Still, in an interview that year, Jen confessed that when her friends first found they were dating, they thought Brad might have been a “conceited f--k”.
Jen was left heartbroken when Brad met and fell in love with Angelina, 44, on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith in 2005. When asked about the alleged affair at the time, an interviewer described how Jen looked like she had been “stabbed in the heart,” and “cried silently” for several minutes, before shaking her head to say she was too hurt to answer.
And after Brad was pictured with Angelina in 2005, after their split, Jen said, “Am I lonely? Yes. Am I upset? Yes. Am I confused? Yes. Do I have my days when I’ve thrown a little pity party for myself? Absolutely.”
CHECK OUT Most shocking breakups of the decade
Most shocking breakups of the decade - slider
1 of 30Louise and Jamie Redknapp
They were the British A-list couple that we thought would last but the world was stunned in July 2017 when Louise and Jamie Redknapp confirmed they'd split after 19 years together. Months later Louise opened up about the end of her marriage and following the end of the Redknapp marriage, it was reported that celebrities were refusing to sign up to the BBC show because of the Strictly curse.
2 of 30Cheryl and Ashley Cole
Cheryl and Ashley Cole first met in 2004 and quickly became an A-list couple. Two years later they tied the knot in an extravagant wedding. However, in 2010 following cheating allegations that were splashed across the media, Chez split from her footballer husband.
3 of 30Lisa Armstrong and Ant McPartlin
Lisa Armstrong and Ant McPartlin had been together for 23 years and married for 11 but in January 2018, the TV presenter confirmed he was filing for divorce following his rehab stint.However after a drink driving arrest, a second visit to rehab and liking a lot of shady tweets – the pair officially divorced nine months after splitting.
4 of 30Lenny Henry and Dawn French
At the beginning of the decade, Dawn French and Lenny Henry announced they were splitting after 25 years of marriage.
5 of 30Paul and Alex Hollywood
Great British Bake Off star Paul Hollywood and his wife Alex split after 20 years together. They'd previously split in 2013 after the GBBO star had an affair with his American co-star but they managed to patch things over and make things work. For a while.
6 of 30Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
We still can't believe Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie split in 2016 after ten years together and two years marriage. The couple are parents to six children; Maddox, 18, Shiloh, 13, Pax, 16, Zahara, 14, Vivienne, 11, and Knox, 11. Even George Clooney was stunned at the news; well, to be fair he did find out during an interview.
7 of 30Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green
We thought they'd be a real-life Romeo and Juliet (minus the death) but Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green called it quits after being married for three years. We weren't the only ones who thought they were a power couple; remember when Craig Lawson joked he'd be the next Pro Green and Millie with Camilla Thurlow? Yeah, that didn't last.
8 of 30Bruce and Kris Jenner
They're the head of the Kardashian/Jenner household but in 2013 the world was shocked when Bruce and Kris Jenner announced they had separated after 23 years of marriage. A year later, Kris filed for divorce and cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason. A month after their divorce was finalised, Bruce publicly came out as a transgender woman – Caitlyn.
9 of 30Katy Perry and Russell Brand
One of the most heart-breaking celebrity break ups was definitely Katy Perry and Russell Brand, after all, she found out their 14-month marriage ended via TEXT. Their entire split was shown on her documentary Part of Me and remarkably Katy still performed on stage just hours after Russell announced he wanted to end their marriage.
10 of 30Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom
Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom had only known each other for three weeks before they tied the knot. Yes, really. They lasted four years before the Keeping Up with The Kardashians star filed for divorce. However, in 2015 she withdrew the file after Lamar suffered a drug overdose and she had to take control of his health decisions. There were reports that the pair would reunite but in 2016 their divorce was finalised.
11 of 30Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries
Kim appeared to have followed in the footsteps as her younger sister Khloe when she got engaged to Kris Humphries after just seven months. She documented her 'dream' wedding on Keeping Up with The Kardashians but their relationship didn't last and they split just 72 DAYS after their wedding. Their breakup was also documented on their show.
12 of 30Stormzy and Maya Jama
We're still devastated about Stormzy and Maya Jama splitting, tbh. They were the dream team and had been together for four years – despite being very private they appeared in Vogue magazine together and the grime artist dedicated a song to her. However in August 2019 they called it quits and the TV presenter unfollowed him on Instagram.
13 of 30Seal and Heidi Klum
Seal and Heidi Klum renewed their wedding vows every year on their anniversary however after a seven-year marriage they called it quits. The A-list couple are parents to four children; Leni (who Heidi had from a previous relationship, but Seal adopted) and during their relationship they also welcomed Henry, Johan and Lou into the world.
14 of 30Gary Lucy and Natasha Gray
After dating for 10 years and then being married for four, Gary Lucy and Natasha Gray called time on their marriage. The pair confirmed the news in a statement saying, "This was a very difficult decision, but was reached mutually and amicably. No other parties are involved."
15 of 30Liam Payne and Cheryl
We're pretty sure the world was shocked when Liam Payne and Cheryl announced they were dating. However they then went on to welcome baby Bear Grey Payne into the world and despite breakup rumours they posed together at the Brit Awards in 2018. Unfortunately a few months later – and a total of two years together - they split.
16 of 30Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy
This break up is still a bit weird and we're not really sure why it happened because – spoiler alert – they're not real people. Anyways, in 2015 the puppets announced the end of their relationship in a lengthy statement.
17 of 30Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick
Another KUWTK break up – this one more surprising than the others – was Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick. The pair had been together for nine years and during that time they welcomed Mason, Penelope and Reign. They'd split a few times throughout their relationship – which included Scott doing to rehab and cheating allegations. However in 2015 they split for good.
18 of 30Cheryl and Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini
Cheryl literally surprised the world when she announced on Instagram that she had eloped with Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini after three months of dating. The pair seemed totally in love until Cheryl raised concerns among fans after losing a lot of weight and slammed any split rumours by revealing her father in law had died. Unfortunately their romance wasn't to last and after 18 months of marriage they split.
19 of 30Perrie Edwards and Zayn Malik
Little Mix's Perri Edwards and One Direction's Zayn Malik were X Factor sweethearts. They supported each other's career, posted adorable snaps and even got a puppy together. The singers then got engaged but two years later – following cheating accusations and after Zayn quit One Direction – it came to light that he ended their relationship. While she claimed he dumped her via text, he denied it.
20 of 30Adele and Simon Konecki
She's notoriously private with her life but in 2019 is came to light that Adele and her husband Simon Konecki had split. Awhopping £145m is the figure being talked about in relation to their divorce. In 2012 they welcomed their only child into the world – Angelo.
21 of 30Chris Pratt and Anna Faris
Chris Pratt and Anna Faris announced they were splitting back in 2018 and a few months later their divorce was finalised. At the time they released a statement, saying: "We tried hard for a long time, and we're really disappointed. "Our son has two parents who love him very much and for his sake we want to keep this situation as private as possible moving forward."They went on to say they "still have love for each other".
22 of 30Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan
Step Up stars Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan called it quits after being married for eight years. At the time they insisted they'd "lovingly chosen to separate as a couple". During their relationship they welcomed their daughter Everly into the world.
23 of 30Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk
We were devastated in June 2019 when one of the hottest A-list couples – Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk – split after four years together. Apparently the parents to their daughter Lea De Seine hadn't "been good for a few months".
24 of 30Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes dated for seven years and were married for six but in 2012 it came to light that she had filed for divorce. He later spoke out and admitted he "did not expect" the turn of events.
25 of 30Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux
Friends star Jennifer Aniston and her husband Justin Theroux called it quits after being married for two years. At the time they said the "decision was mutual and loving" and it appeared to be the truth because a year later to paid tribute to his ex-wife to celebrate her 50th birthday.
26 of 30Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom
Victoria's Secret model and Hollywood actor Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom broke up after six years together. After being married for three years they announced they'd been "amicably separated for the past few months" before confirming their relationship had ended.
27 of 30Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth lived a real-life story after falling in love on the set of The Last Song. However after four years together they split. They were then on/off but decided to call it quits AGAIN after eight years together. Their relationship didn't end there though because they reunited and got married but eight months after their wedding they split again.
28 of 30Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson
Another couple who took the world by surprise were Twilightstars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. They met on the set of the vampire phenomenon back in 2009 and fell in love. While we all thought it would last, it didn't. Their relationship hit a rough patch in 2012 when Kristen's affair with her married director Rupert Sanders was exposed by paparazzi. Robert forgave her and they tried to make it work but they split a few months later.
29 of 30Fergie and Josh Duhamel
After eight years together Fergie and Josh Duhamel announced their split. Fast forward two years and Fergie filed for divorce.
30 of 30Matt Leblanc and Aurora Mulligan
In news that shocked Friends fans the world over, In February 2022 it was reported that Matt LeBlanc - best known for playing Joey Tribbiani on the show – had split from his girlfriend of six years, Top Gear producer Aurora Mulligan.
Jen eventually found love again with actor Justin Theroux, with whom she was together for six years (and married for two) before announcing their separation in February 2018. And pals say it was splitting with Justin, 48, that opened the door for reconciliation with Brad.
Our source adds, “It took years for the wounds to heal for Jen, but after they both went through painful divorces, they were able to form a friendship again. Brad was the first to extend an olive branch to Jen back in 2018, although they had exchanged well wishes before then.
“Jen’s best friend Courteney also put in a lot of mediating work between the two – but it was clear that after both becoming single again, there was an interest to reunite as close friends.
“Jen threw caution to the wind and invited Brad to her 50th, and was bowled over when he turned up. That was the start of the beautiful connection that they’ve now rediscovered.They’ve had so much fun recounting their early years together, but most importantly, how much love they had for one another.”
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And pals add that Jen has been especially attentive to Brad, after he publicly admitted that he’s struggled in his divorce, particularly over missing out on spending time with his children Maddox, 18, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 13, and 11-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox.
“Jen’s been a rock for Brad this past year, and he’s been telling friends he couldn’t have got to where he is without her. He’s had rave reviews and awards for his performance in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, but it’s Jen who has given him the encouragement to get back up on the world stage.
“She’s been reassuring Brad that he will always have her love and support. She’s one of the few people who really knows him and he loves that. He’s also told her how proud he is of her, producing award-winning shows and giving some of her best performances yet. They feel as though they’re at the peak of their careers, and they’re so happy they’ve come back together to share it all.”
Read more in this week's Closer magazine, out now