PopEaters.com

By Mike Hess

Posted January 27th 2010

With conflicting reports circulating saying that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are split, and then denials claiming they’re still together also coming from all angles, it can be very confusing. In the hopes of clearing up any Brangelina-based fog,

PopEater reached out to author Ian Halperin, whose recent book ‘Brangelina’ predicted the demise of the supercouple and went into the inner-workings of their lives. Halperin tells PopEater that he’s confirmed the couple have indeed split, and even predicts how the drama will unfold in the media over the next few weeks.
While many outlets are saying the Brangelina split is false, you say otherwise. What are you hearing?

Plain and simple, no one’s really gotten a denial from Brad or Angie. I told you weeks ago and I maintain that they’re in the process of splitting. I know the reporter for News of the World who wrote this story — James Desborough. Say what you want about News of the World, but he’s one of the most thorough journalists I’ve ever met. I’ve never caught him getting egg on his face regarding a story, and the fact that he did this story, I don’t doubt the authenticity of this story.

Whoever issued denials say their people denied it, but these people have no idea. I spoke to someone who was inside Brad and Angie’s home and they gave me a first-hand account of what’s been going on. They said there’s definitely been trouble brewing inside the house, and the spin they’re going to give it is very similar to Brad’s friend Guy Ritchie. After it was leaked that there was a split with Madonna back in 2008, Madonna’s spokesperson Liz Rosenberg vehemently denied it and said there were no divorce plans. Move forward to October 15, 2008, and she issued a statement that Madonna and Guy Ritchie decided to divorce. This is the type of way it’s going to play out. You’re going to see denials, you’re going to possibly see them appear in public for a photo op to make it seem that everything looks normal and fine. Look, Pitt’s good friends with Guy Ritchie and he’s gonna follow the script of Guy and Madonna.

My sources clearly say they’re estranged, they kept it quiet because they want to work out something conducive to the well being of the children and I think that’s a commendable way of dealing with it.

On your blog, you report a likely timeline that will precede their split. Break that down for us.

Either they confirm it — again, the people who have denied it aren’t credible people in their camp and the media and public just doesn’t want to believe this golden couple is splitting. Either they confirm it, or they appear in the public shortly, probably in the next week, sending the public a message that the rumors are bogus. And then you’ll soon start to see more intensity in the stories, some in the mainstream press citing that they’ve definitely split, and that will happen in in the next few weeks.

I have confirmed from one person in the house and one of his closest friends that they have definitely split. And that’s split romantically. That doesn’t mean they don’t have business together, they’re still going to have joint custody of the children, but romantically it appears they’re estranged.

Why not get ahead of the story and come out?

From what I hear from my sources, they don’t want to open themselves up to a media and public circus. They want to protect the children, and I agree with that. Legitimately and genuinely, they’re concerned with the well-being of the children, and that’s why I respect them.

Again, James Desborough, he does not get things wrong and no one’s mentioned that before. I met him in person and followed his career and he’s rock solid as a reporter. He’s a rock-solid, world-class entertainment reporter.

Say it’s true. What happens post-split to their careers?

There’s only room after they formally announce a separation, there’s only room for one of them on the A-list. That’s just based on the history of top showbiz stars. Usually only one of them survives at the top. I predict it will be Angelina Jolie. They say she’s more powerful than Oprah now in the entertainment business, and the fact of the matter is Pitt’s close family members have told me he’s not his old self. He needs a long break and needs to do a lot of soul searching and get himself back together physically and mentally. She’s literally worn him out.

I get Jolie’s appeal, but it seems Pitt’s more connected in Hollywood. He’s great friends with George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, etc. You don’t think he’ll thrive?

People close to both of them have told me that was true about four years ago, but Jolie artfully used Pitt to increase her star in Hollywood and in the process became way bigger than him. There’s no doubt she’s bigger than Brad Pitt today. Pitt, we might like him more, but as far as the public interest and fascination goes, there’s no comparison. People are obsessed with Angelina Jolie. We haven’t seen the tip of the iceberg regarding her star power. I think she’s just going to get bigger and bigger, and hook up with another powerful man in the future. That’s the way her M.O. seems to work, and it’s worked well with her.

Who’s next for Angie?

I predict her next man won’t be an actor. I predict he’ll be a top politician. She seems to be heading that way and wants to be associated with someone more sophisticated. It will definitely be a change from the type of men she’s been with over the past decade.

You’ve made two bold predictions that have come true: The death of Michael Jackson and now, the seemingly inevitable split of Brangelina. Neither are exactly positive, but they seem correct nonetheless. How do you feel knowing you called such bad news?

With Jackson, I regret deeply that my prediction was true, but the world ignored it. They made fun of my prediction and it came right. Maybe if they listened to me, he’d still be alive today.

With Jolie-Pitt, I maintain I’m really the only journalist to really get inside the house with sources and find out how they live day to day. I’ve read a lot of the tabloid stories and they’ve been false over and over. I really had sources inside their home, family members and close friends of theirs. It wasn’t difficult to predict this one, they’ve been having trouble day in and day out for the last couple of years. The first two years was a honeymoon, but the last couple of years have been a nightmare for both of them. I think they’re mature enough to realize they both need a change to better their own lives and their children’s lives, otherwise something drastic might happen in that household.