Is Angelina Jolie the reason for Brad and Jen's breakup?

Posted Monday, January 10, 2005 at 9:38 AM Central

by Tim Briscoe

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston proved the rumors true on Friday when they released a statement saying that they are taking a break. Ross/Rachel references aside, the couple are indeed separating after four and a half years of marriage.

"We have decided to formally separate... We happily remain committed and caring friends with great love and admiration for one another," they said together in their jointly-issued statement.

But what's the reason, you ask? Reports say it could be Brad's desire to become a daddy and Jen's reluctance -- instead wishing to focus on her movie career. Aniston's first post-Friends film, Rumor Has It, arrives in theaters Apr. 15.

The other prevalent rumor is that Angelina Jolie has something to do with it. Pitt and Jolie recently shot the upcoming action flick Mr. And Mrs. Smith together. According to the British newspaper News Of The World (via WENN), "(Brad and Angelina) would speak on the phone all the time -- always speaking in hushed tones. There was no hiding their affection for each other."

The paper added that Aniston allegedly caught the two engaging in phone sex. They reported, "Jennifer listened in on the conversation via another extension. I don't know if she accidentally picked up the phone or deliberately did that. Either way, she went ballistic."

So, could it be Jolie or Brad's wishes for fatherhood? Well, it could be a little of both. England's tabloid Daily Star Sunday said that Brad loves playing papa to Maddox, Angelina's adopted son. The rag reported an insider as saying, "Jen became furious when he pointed out that, at 29, Angelina is six years younger than her and is managing to combine motherhood and a successful career." Ouch.

Pitt's publicist declined to say if he and Aniston would file for divorce.