Angelina Jolie Finally Breaks Silence Over ‘Difficult’ Divorce From Brad Pitt Amid ‘First They Killed My Father’ Premiere

For the first time after filing for divorce from Brad Pitt in September, Angelina Jolie finally broke her silence about the “difficult” breakup in an exclusive interview. The 41-year-old actress-director’s confession about her married life came amid the promotion and premiere of her new movie, “First They Killed My Father,” in Cambodia.

During an interview with BBC News, Jolie admitted the divorce was a “very difficult time” for her and her family. Even though she didn’t want to divulge any information, Jolie got emotional and said her children are her priority. She also shared that she is finding a way to cope.

“It was very difficult,” the “By The Sea” star told the publication. “Many people find themselves in this situation. My whole family have all been through a difficult time… My focus is my children, our children. We are and forever will be a family and so that is how I am coping. I am coping with finding a way through to make sure that this somehow makes us stronger and closer.”

Aside from her personal life, Jolie also opened up about how Cambodia became her “awakening,” as she promoted her new film in the country. “First They Killed My Father” depicted the real-life account of the Khmer Rouge genocide through a child’s perspective.

“I came to this country and I fell in love with its people and learned its history, and in doing so learned, how little I actually knew about the world,” Jolie told Yalda Hakim of BBC. “This country, for me was my awakening. I'll always be very grateful to this country. I don't think I ever could give back as much as this country has given me.”

Speaking of Jolie’s film, she and her six children made their first public appearance since the divorce news broke out in September. According to Huffington Post, Jolie’s kids — 15-year-old Maddox, 13-year-old Pax, 12-year-old Zahara, 10-year-old Shiloh and 8-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne — attended the press event and the premiere of the film with their mom. The family also got to meet the king of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni.

“First They Killed My Father” was directed by Jolie. It was based on a memoir of the same title, which was written by Cambodian human rights activist Long Ung.

Meanwhile, New York Post delved deeper into the reason why Hollywood reportedly sided with Pitt over Jolie after the Brangelina marriage fallout. The publication wrote it was clear that Pitt won the “custody of Hollywood.”

“What couldn’t Angelina Jolie do?” writer Maureen Callahan asked. “After Pitt’s triumphant appearance at the Globes, Jolie apparently realized there was, in fact, one thing even she couldn’t do: make people in Hollywood hate Brad Pitt. The subtext was even worse: they tolerated her only because of him.”

The publication further noted a Page Six report about Jolie as she reportedly tried to reach out to top Hollywood publicists to help her redeem her image. She has also reconciled with her controversial manager, Geyer Kosinski, whom Jolie fired in 2013.

What are your thoughts over Jolie’s latest revelations? Sound off in the comments section below.