Amid the major tabloid-rattling breakups of major celeb marriages like the Tom Cruise–Nicole Kidman and the Drew Barrymore–Tom Green unions, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston have basked in a media limelight that’s painted them as one of the most committed star couples in Hollywood.
But–and didn’t you see a but coming?–recent buzz has suggested that their marriage may not be as perfect as the couple’s cheekbones.
Our ever-reliable sources say that while attending the private post-premiere Ocean’s Eleven bash in Westwood, hunky Mr. Pitt was caught in a lip-lock with a hot little number he’s been keeping company with–even as wife Jen was working another side of the room. We hear the ever-pesky paparazzi even snared Pitt smooching his alleged fling moments before he was spirited away to join co-stars George Clooney, Matt Damon and Andy Garcia on a special holiday junket to visit U.S. troops in Turkey.
Now, to be fair, maybe Brad was simply being friendly. Quite frankly, we don’t know what he was up to, if he was indulging in some pre-mistletoe fun, a passing fling, a full-blown affair or what old school Rat Packers might call “a little hey-hey,” but we do have the scoop on the gal, whose name we’ll keep hush-hush for now. Sources tell us that she’s a longtime personal assistant to one of his top-billed Ocean’s Eleven co-stars and one of the only women who was regularly on the Las Vegas set while wives like Mrs. Pitt were at home in L.A. dutifully filming Friends episodes.
Sources say Miss X grew up on the Hollywood scene, attended chi-chi Beverly Hills High and has been linked to other prominent celebs, like one late-night talk show host known for his predilection for party girls.
And we don’t mean to be rude, but while Miss X is certainly comely, it’s safe to say she ain’t no Aniston. If Brad is indeed stepping out on the missus, he certainly has his choice of top-shelf arm candy–hell, no less than Britney Spears has publicly professed her lust for the actor, gay icon Melissa Etheridge has fantasized about him and his ex-squeezes include a Who’s Who of Hollywood hotties: Gwyneth Paltrow, Juliette Lewis, Julia Ormand, Uma Thurman, Robin Givens and director Katja von Garnier. So why mack on a relatively anonymous assistant? Her reputation for discretion? Lack of desire for personal publicity? A very binding non-disclosure contract with her boss, Pitt’s new pal?
In any event, we hear word filtered back to Aniston, who onlookers say was already in a rotten mood that was about to get worse, what with her hubby’s wandering lips soon to be plastered all over the tabloids (we hear Jen has MAJOR jealousy issues, especially with his ex Paltrow). Even if everything did boil down to a “just friends” explanation, such a situation may have led, in even in sun-soaked L.A., to a chilly Christmas indeed upon Brad’s return from Turkey.
At this rate, it could be that Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie may have the most rock-solid marriage in Hollywood.
