Don't expect to see Brad Pitt working the Bluth's Original Frozen Banana stand anytime soon. As quickly as rumors began swirling that Pitt was in a relationship with "Arrested Development" star Alia Shawkat, they have apparently been put to rest.
According to a source at [Entertainment Tonight], Pitt and Shawkat are not dating and are only friends. The speculation began after the two stars were seen hanging out together on multiple occasions, including this past weekend at an art exhibit in downtown Los Angeles.
Producer and activist Meral Melika Duran snapped photos of the two and wrote about her pleasant evening of conversation with the "Ad Astra" star, however, she did not mention Shawkat.
"Supporting arts & artist as usual 😎Thank you Brad Pitt for joining us ... Had a very interesting conversation with Brad. Like is positive attitude"
Related:
Is Brad Pitt Dating Alia Shawkat From 'Arrested Development?'
Hanging Out
They were first spotted September 21 leaving the opening of the "A Play is a Poem" in Los Angeles at the Mark Taper Forum. The Internet was trying to figure out who the mystery woman was with Pitt, as much of her face was shrouded in poor lighting.
On October 24, they were spotted together again at Mike Birbiglia's one-man play, "The New One," and even posed for a backstage picture. Birbiglia joked about getting to meet some "lucky" audience members.
"These lucky audience members got to take a photo with me. Anything can happen in Los Angeles! 38 more shows!"
She Identifies as Bisexual
Shawkat is a pretty private person when it comes to her personal life and relationships, but in 2017 she addressed her sexuality in an interview with Out magazine.
"I was a tomboy growing up, and I remember my mom asking me when I was 10, “Are you attracted to boys or girls?” I said I don’t know. Now I consider myself bisexual, and I think balancing my male and female energies has been a big part of me growing as an actor."
Brad Pitt Loves Art
Apparently Pitt and Shawkat's friendship is centered around mutual love and appreciation for fine art, of which Pitt is a formidable collector. While married to Angelina Jolie, the couple reportedly amassed a lucrative collection of art at their Château Miraval in the South of France, worth upwards of $25 million. It includes original pieces by famed artists like Dom Pattinson, Schoony and Banksy. The art collection has unfortunately become a point of contention for the former couple as they continue to settle up their estate in the divorce proceedings.
Expressing Himself
After the initial breakup with Jolie, Pitt crashed on the couch of sculptor and close friend Thomas Houseago. He began working extensively with clay, plaster, rebar, wood and spoke about his love for getting in the studio and creating.
"I’m anxious to get to the studio. I think it was Picasso who talked about the moment of looking at the subject, and paint hitting canvas, and that is where art happens. For me I’m having a moment of getting to feel emotion at my fingertips. But to get that emotion to clay—I just haven’t cracked the surface. And I don’t know what’s coming. Right now I know the manual labor is good for me, getting to know the expansiveness and limitations of the materials. I’ve got to start from the bottom, I’ve got to sweep my floor, I’ve got to wrap up my shit at night, you know?"
