George Clooney had no idea that Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from his pal Brad Pitt. During an interview on Tuesday, September 20 — the same day the shocking news broke — the Ocean’s Eleven star was caught off guard when asked during his chat with CNN about Jolie and Pitt’s split, which you can watch in the video above.
“Don’t shoot me on this last question,” CNN’s Richard Roth said to the actor before asking him about the By the Sea stars’ divorce, while at the United Nations for a roundtable with President Barack Obama.
“What happened?” Clooney asked, seemingly confused by the question.
“I didn’t know that. Wow,” Clooney, 55, said after Roth informed him. “I feel very sorry, then. That’s a sad story and unfortunate for a family. It’s an unfortunate story about a family. I feel very sorry to hear that.”
“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” the actor added, visibly perplexed, before walking off.
As previously reported by Us Weekly, Jolie, 41, filed for divorce from her husband of two years on Monday, September 19, after more than a decade together. The actress cited irreconcilable differences and is seeking custody of their six kids, Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 8.
“Angelina Jolie Pitt has filed for dissolution of the marriage,” Jolie’s rep said in a statement to Us on Tuesday. “This decision was made for the health of the family. She will not be commenting at this time, and asks that the family be given their privacy during this difficult time.”
Us was first to report that there was tension between the Mr. & Mrs. Smith costars. In June, sources told Us they were fighting over whether to sell their Château Miraval estate in Correns, France. A source told Us at the time that Pitt, 52, wanted to keep the property, but Jolie wanted to sell it as she was “ramping up her efforts in the political world.”
Jolie’s decision to pull the plug on their marriage came just one week ago, however, another insider told Us.
“An incident took place and prompted [Jolie] to act and file,” the source explained. “She still says Brad is the love of her life, and the decision has weighed heavy on her heart. Her priority now is the children.”
According to a source close to Pitt, the Troy actor was blindsided by the split. “Brad only found out about the divorce decision yesterday,” an insider told Us.
