Brad Pitt Breaks His Silence on Divorce From Angelina Jolie

Brad Pitt has broken his silence. 

On the heels of his estranged wife Angelina Jolie‘s divorce filing after two years of marriage and more than a decade together, the Oscar winner has made a request to the public on behalf of his six children. 

“I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the wellbeing of our kids,” he said in a statement to People. “I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time.”

Jolie and Pitt famously adopted Maddox Jolie-Pitt, 15, Pax Jolie-Pitt, 12, and Zahara Jolie-Pitt, 11, while Jolie gave birth to Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, 10, and twins Knox Jolie-Pitt and Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, 8, in the 12 years they spent as a couple. 

Meanwhile, Geyer Kosinski, Jolie’s longtime manager, told E! News in an exclusive statement Tuesday, “Angelina will always do what’s in the best interest of taking care of her family. She appreciates everyone’s understanding of their need for privacy at this time.”

Just a few weeks after their second wedding anniversary, the Oscar-winning actress filed for divorce from her longtime partner on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences. 

Jolie requested physical custody of the six kids, but also asked that Pitt receive visitation rights. 

This will be the second divorce for Pitt, who was previously married to Jennifer Aniston, and the third divorce for Jolie, who was also married to Billy Bob Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller.