When you think of a celebrity interacting with people, there’s a reputation for them being self-involved and aloof. In the case of Brad Pitt, it might be due to an undiagnosed condition.
Recently, GQ did a profile on the 58-year-old A-lister, where he talked about what he did during the pandemic, writing down his dreams and how his relationships to others and his work has changed.
And on top of all that, is his problem remembering people’s faces, at a time when he wants to meet and remember new people.
The idea is absolutely wild, but not all too uncommon.
\u201cBrad Pitt thinks he has undiagnosed 'face blindness' and that's why he seems aloof and self-absorbed https://t.co/tRxEIpjG1f\u201d— Healthcare Insider (@Healthcare Insider) 1655935212
\u201c@VitalVegas Oh, the irony.\n\nPoor fellow. \n\nMarry me Brad!\u201d— Vital Vegas (@Vital Vegas) 1655944058
\u201c@TMZ @TooFab he should put those fly fishing lessons he learned years ago to good to use..he might feel some relief from depression.\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1655914805
\u201c@VitalVegas I have a mild form of this which has mostly resulted in me seeming extremely happy to see people I've never met before, mostly because I can never be sure.\u201d— Vital Vegas (@Vital Vegas) 1655944058
\u201cIs it strange that diseases most celebrities got are mostly not common.\n\nYesterday Justin got Ramsey Hunts. Today Brad pitt got face blindness, and\u201d— \ud835\udd05\ud835\udd1e\ud835\udd26\ud835\udd2a\ud835\udd36\ud835\udd32\ud835\udd30 (@\ud835\udd05\ud835\udd1e\ud835\udd26\ud835\udd2a\ud835\udd36\ud835\udd32\ud835\udd30) 1655427400
\u201cBrad Pitt apparently wants to meet a fellow faceblind person. If anyone knows how to reach him, please pass along this message. (Source: https://t.co/NvXOUFOL29 ) @GQMagazine\u201d— Sadie Dingfelder (@Sadie Dingfelder) 1655932822
The disorder is called prosopagnosia and an estimated 1 in 50 people have some form of it.
Those that suffer from it have a difficult time visually processing the different pieces of someone's face into a distinct, recognizable identity.
There are levels of severity to face blindness, but at its most extreme, you couldn’t recognize close family, friends, or possibly even yourself in photos or the mirror.
This isn’t the first time Pitt has talked about the possibility of having this disorder. Back in 2013, during the promotion for his then upcoming film World War Z, Pitt speculated on the same idea in an interview with Esquire magazine.
Nowadays, Pitt says he struggles at parties and social situations because of this face blindness.
The most difficult part of all this?
According to Pitt:
“Nobody believes me!”
However, not everyone seemed to buy it.
It’s been nearly a decade since he first told the public he thinks he may have this disorder, but he hasn’t gotten tested. This is despite the fact that Carnegie Mellon University offered to have his brain scanned to test for face blindness.
Others pointed to the nasty lawsuit the actor has against his ex-wife Angelina Jolie. The couple split in 2016, and despite being officially divorced, they are still entangled in legal battles over the couple’s children, Pitt’s wine company and an incident involving the two and the FBI that possibly led to their divorce.
Amongst all of this, a lot of commenters were less than sympathetic.
\u201cIs it strange that diseases most celebrities got are mostly not common.\n\nYesterday Justin got Ramsey Hunts. Today Brad pitt got face blindness, and\u201d— \ud835\udd05\ud835\udd1e\ud835\udd26\ud835\udd2a\ud835\udd36\ud835\udd32\ud835\udd30 (@\ud835\udd05\ud835\udd1e\ud835\udd26\ud835\udd2a\ud835\udd36\ud835\udd32\ud835\udd30) 1655427400
\u201c@UlrikaCampbell That's why I don't want anyone to mistake me for Brad Pitt \ud83d\ude09\u201d— Ulrika Campbell (@Ulrika Campbell) 1655980917
\u201cReminder: Brad Pitt is self-diagnosed with face blindness. At least he thinks it was self-diagnosed. He didn't get a good look at the guy.\u201d— Nick Sinnott (@Nick Sinnott) 1379563021
\u201c@TMZ @TooFab Good for him...\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1655914805
\u201c@TMZ @TooFab\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1655914805
\u201cI wish he'd share the secret how to, next. \ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\u201d— Jenn Houseman (@Jenn Houseman) 1655914909
\u201cThe reason #BradPitt has always felt alone is because Angelina Jolie has been playing the roles of both Mom & Dad to 6 amazing children while he continues to lower himself by hanging out with Ex's & suing #AngelinaJolie for any little thing for attention. Now he wants Sympathy.\u201d— David Marco (@David Marco) 1655921101
The profile in GQ has Pitt talk about his attempts to quit smoking during the pandemic, feeling he couldn’t just cut back. He had to quit, now preferring to chew nicotine mint.
He also got sober, spending a year and a half attending Alcoholics Anonymous. This came directly after Jolie filed for divorce.
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