Interview/Controversy for the Cover of W
One of the interesting things about writing for this website is that I don’t really have to deal with negative people. Sure, every once in awhile I’ll get the occasional hater who comes on here and makes an ass of themselves, but for the most part you guys, my readers, chase them off. I would have to say that I’m a woman who likes controversy, especially if I have a distinct opinion on the object of the conversation. Take, for instance, the cover of the new W magazine which shows Angelina breastfeeding one of the twins.
I have two children - neither of which was breastfed. It was my decision and I am not sorry about the decision I made. Both of my children are happy and extremely healthy and intelligent beyond belief (seriously, have you ever tried to win an argument with a 7 year old? I finally found myself uttering the phrase because I said so). That being said, I have absolutely no problem with women who choose to breastfeed.
I am with the “it’s a woman’s personal decision” camp. I think there are great reasons why women should breastfeed, and I think there are great reasons why a woman would choose not to. I do tend to be a bit conservative in that I prefer a woman who is breastfeeding in public to sit down and try to be a bit modest about it (the same as I did when bottle feeding my child - to me, sitting down just seems more relaxing for the baby and the mom), but other than that, I’m perfectly fine with breastfeeding and see absolutely no problem with the photo of Angelina on the W cover.
Others, however, do.
The lovely Isa pointed out to me that the post about the cover over at PopWatch has become an all out war against those who are against the cover. Here are a few examples:
JR:I’m just tired of Brangelina (and the rest of the world) acting like she’s the 1st female/actress to give birth and be a mother. GET OVER YOURSELVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sally in ChicagoOne thing I can say about these two: They know to make a buck….and they make money the old fashioned way: they earn it. $Millions for cover photo shoots; $Mill for movies;$Mill for endorsements; $Mill for designing houses….did I miss anything?
FancyPantsi honestly don’t understand how two people, Jolie and Pitt, who consider themselves serious actors can just make public EVERY SINGLE ASPECT of their private lives. i mean just look at the people magazine webiste; every other story is angelina saying something like ‘brad thinks i’m sexy when i’m pregnant’, etc. can’t they keep anything to themselves? we don’t need to know eveything. also, they are doing a disservice to themselves. i’m an avid film fan and i can never believe jolie as a character cuz i know too damn much about her. i really want to see ‘changeling’ but i wish she wasn’t in it. i think Laura Linney would have been a better choice for the role, from the character descriptions i’ve read.
What do you guys think about the controversy going on over at PopWatch?
And since it’s Saturday and I like relaxing (ie - being lazy) on Saturday, I’m putting the tidbits about the interview into the same post!
The breastfeeding photos are not the only thing that is fun to look at in the upcoming W magazine - in it Angelina explains why she changed her mind about never having biological children. Read below!
“One of the life-changing things that he did, one of many, is that I was absolutely never going to get pregnant. I never felt that it was the right thing to do.”
Angelina goes on to explain how she saw him bonding with Maddox and Zahara and how “He stopped talking about having other kids in the other way. So I suppose in my heart I realized he was happy with them as his children, completely. I knew he would never see them as different, and that gave me a certain peace. I suppose I just looked at him and loved him and just felt open to (getting pregnant). I suddenly wanted to. It’s one of those things you can’t explain.”
Angelina also says that she wouldn’t have traded the experience of having her biological children for anything. “Now I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world. It taught me a lot about life, just the process of it, and now we have three other beautiful children that wouldn’t otherwise be here.”
And Angelina says that her pregnancies and the rigors of being a mother haven’t changed the way that Brad looks at her. “I’m with a man who’s evolved enough to look at my body and see it as more beautiful, because of the journey it has taken and what it has created. He genuinely sees it that way. So I genuinely feel even sexier.”
In a short phrase, she explains why she knows that Brad is the right man for her. “I have a lot of respect for him, and he helps me to be better and fight hard for things that I love.”
Are you excited about the magazine cover? What do you think about the controversy going on over at PopWatch?
Thanks again to reader Isa for pointing out the debate going on over there.
October 11th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I think it is one of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen. It is a pure,sweet, visual expression of a mother and childs love. Brad did a great job!!!
October 11th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
4 words = storm in a teacup
October 11th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Number 1: Brad and Angelina do not put all of their lives on display. Their lives and family are intruded upon every single day. To me, this is a way of taking control of that, as well as giving us as fan and lovers of the family a chance to see them through their eyes, not papparazzi. Number 2: People act like Brad took a picture of the babies mouth on her breast, okay maybe that would be overboard, but the shot of Angie smiling and being a mother is a beautiful thing. 3: How can people not love Brad and Angelina? It’s crazy to me not to like them. They are such genuine, rare, honest people. I admire them, not because they were blessed with good looks, but because they are extremely interesting, giving, loving human beings- not only to their own family, but tons of families around the world. They could stop doing movies today, and I’d still love them. Growing up I was in love with Brad Pitt, as soon as I saw Angie in Girl, Interrupted I was in love with her. When they got together I thought “What a great couple” Now I look at them and want to do what they do for this world. If I could do even just a little bit of the humanatarian work they do, I’d be blessed. I love them, and anyone who has an opposite opinion- go suck it
we love them at BradPittWatch.com
October 11th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Tiffany - HEAR HEAR!
October 11th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Go Tiffany!!! It doesn’t matter what the haters think cause everything will never be right to them. A sweet picture like that should be acknowledged, not condemned.
October 11th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Randi, thanks for starting this thread, as I am curious about what people think. Anyway, I didn’t realize that you chose to not to breastfeed so I hope my comment about not understanding why and being sad that some mothers prefer not to when they can didn’t offend you. But I agree that it is a matter of preference for mothers. To each her own. I should at the least try to understand why others choose not to do it.
On to the magazine cover, I think one of the things that ticked off some people is W’s decision to use the words “private photos” in the cover. There’s been a lot of comments about how for people who say they want privacy, Brad and Angie would want to share to the public such “private” photos. But then again, as some people have rightly pointed out, these photos were meant to be published as Brad had an agreement with the magazine, so I guess they’re not really private. It’s probably just a spin on W’s side, I mean it does pique that interest of potential buyers more to say “private photos.”
It is still hard for me to read comments about how they are exploiting their children and selling out, and how they are attention whores, though. There are comparisons made to other couples (e.g. Johnny Depp) who have said they wanted to live private lives, and manage to do so quite successfully, coming out only when they need. But, I think some people forget that these two are sought after far more than other celebrities are right now. They evoke that certain interest, to both lovers and haters alike, and the media knows that and unfortunately exploit. Sad, but that is the way it is. One of the commenters are Popwatch said in response to some comment about “whoring” the photos of the children that they did so for the safey of their kids, and I tend to agree. Had they not done what they did and released the photos of the twins, it is far more likely that when they do come, the paparazzi will do whatever they can to take the photos, without putting their safety into consideration, because let’s face it, the photos of the twins would have brought millions to the paps who would’ve have been able to take it. As Angie has said (can’t remember if it’s in the W interview or in the German Vanity Fair), she finds it bizarre that the media is willing to pay that much money for her children’s photos, but she’s glad she was able to have control of the money and be able to give it to more deserving groups that to have the paparazzi make the millions selfishly (that may be a bit judgmental, but I don’t see the paps giving away whatever they would’ve made from the photos).
Oh my, I’ve rambled on, and I’m so sorry. My final take is that I do believe this is a very beatiful and tastefully done photo, and that it is a very nice magazine cover. It really shouldn’t offend anyone (you can’t see her breasts anyway). Again, since I’m an advocate of breastfeeding, I’m glad she is doing it. And while I still wish more mothers would breastfeed, I’m open minded enough to think that those who choose not to have their own reasons.
October 12th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Thank you Randi. Love the post. I love this photo, she looks so different photographed by someone who loves her as opposed to a pro photographer. There is a peace in her face and eyes. Not only does the camera love Angie, but in this instance she loves the camera.(and cameraman)
October 12th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I read the 3 comments. What i have to say about this is: ignorant people, jealous, closed-minded, dirty-minded, evil-minded, unclean spirit, full of prejudice. They are very small percentage of people, an endangered species.
I applaud Brad and Angelina for this. I hope they continue to publish more photo of themself. Nobody will buy again Star, In touch, Life and Style mag. for cheap photo, cheap story.
October 12th, 2008 at 11:54 am
So what is the big hoopla?
I mean Jerry Hall was on a cover yrs ago breast feeding.. No one complained that i can remember..But then again.it is Jolie we are talking about… so all of Jens fans are going to want to say some sh**!
I get it now..
Get over it people, it a woman breast feeding a newborn..
Women have breasts..and that is what it is for.
October 12th, 2008 at 11:55 am
And looking at the photo..You barely see her breasts..
I have sen more boos form Jen and other celebs than i needed to ..
Can we all remember the Tara Reid disaster?..lol!
October 12th, 2008 at 11:56 am
oops i meant more boobs from Jen cavorting on a beach with her T*** and a*** air shots and other celebs than we all have needed to…LOL!