Brad Pitt Responds to Melissa Etheridge’s Dig at Angelina Jolie

June 18, 2013 by Emma Reynolds

Angelina Jolie’s admission of her double mastectomy shocked the public. But her decision to undergo such a procedure was supported by millions of fans and fiance Brad Pitt.

Her decision to talk about her surgery was to help other women deciding between getting the surgery to help reduce their risk of breast cancer. Jolie’s decision was brought on by her hereditary breast cancer gene to reduce her risk of contracting the disease to under 5%. She made the decision with her six children and partner in mind to be there for them as long as they can.

A few days ago, Melissa Etheridge said that Jolie’s decision was “fearful” not “brave.” She said that, “cancer comes from inside you” and has to do with the “environment of your body.” Etheridge, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, has been cancer-free for nine years. She also said that “stress will turn that gene on or not” when referring to developing the disease. Etheridge and Pitt have been longtime friends, even attending his wedding with Jennifer Aniston in 2000.

Pitt was asked what he thought of Etheridge’s comments on the red carpet for his movie premiere for World War Z, to which he replied he hadn’t gotten any news of these comments, but he’d have to “call her on the phone” to see what’s up with the dig at his wife. Pitt, who has voiced his strong support and love for his wife following the procedure, believes it was a powerful decision for the family. Hopefully Pitt and Etheridge continue to stay on good terms despite these comments.