The Other Ex. Billy Bob Thornton attended pal Kathy Bates’ Walk of Fame ceremony on Tuesday, September 20, the same day Us Weekly confirmed that his ex-wife Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt.
The Fargo actor, 61, came out to support his good friend Bates, 68, who was honored for her achievements as an actress — including a 1991 Oscar for her portrayal of Annie Wilkes in the Stephen King film Misery — with a star on L.A.’s famed Hollywood Boulevard.
In one particularly touching moment, Thornton gave the Academy Award winner a kiss on her left cheek, while Bates’ other good friend Shirley MacLaine planted a peck on her right.
The Whiskey Tango Foxtrot star was all smiles during Tuesday’s celebration — hours after news broke about the demise of Brangelina’s epic love story. Despite his cheerful demeanor, Thornton most likely feels for his former spouse during this difficult time.
In 2012, Thornton revealed that he and Jolie, 41, still share a friendship more than a decade after they called it quits on their three-year marriage. “She’s got so much energy and so much goodness in her,” he told YourTango, “and we check in on each other all the time.”
During an October 2014 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Thornton spoke candidly about his brief but super-high-profile romance with the Maleficent actress.
“We were apart a lot because she’s off making Tomb Raider and I’m making Monster’s Ball. She thought it would be interesting and romantic if we took a little razor blade and sliced our fingers, smeared a little blood on these lockets and you wear it around your neck just like you wear your son or daughter’s baby hair in one,” he explained, referring to the infamous vials of blood he and Jolie infamously wore around their necks in the early aughts. “Same thing.”
Toward the end of their marriage — which lasted from 2000 to 2003 — reports suggested that Jolie wanted to call it quits with the dad of four because he was not willing to have more kids with her. “We had a great time together,” Thornton told THR of their breakup. “We had a great marriage, and I chickened out because I didn’t feel good enough. That’s all that happened. It was no big deal; we never hated each other.”
As previously reported, Jolie filed divorce documents Monday, September 19, citing irreconcilable differences. The UN special envoy is requesting sole physical custody of their six children, Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 8. The divorce filings indicate that she requested that the Fight Club actor, 52, only get joint legal custody. She is not asking for spousal support.
Jolie’s rep issued a statement to Us on Tuesday regarding her decision to split from Pitt. “Angelina Jolie Pitt has filed for dissolution of the marriage,” the statement read. “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.”
