In 1999, the unexpected marriage of Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie made headlines and surprised many people.
The couple had a notable 20-year age difference and were both involved with other partners at the time, which added to the excitement.
One person who was shocked was actress Laura Dern, who was engaged to Billy Bob. Laura found out about Billy Bob’s marriage to Angelina at the same time as everyone else, which upset her plans.
Billy Bob and Laura started dating in 1997, right after Laura split from Jeff Goldblum and Billy Bob was still going through a divorce from his fourth wife, Pietra Dawn Cherniak. After two years together, they were engaged and planning their wedding when Billy Bob met Angelina on the set of “Pushing Tin” in 1999.
Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie’s quickie wedding in Las Vegas in May 2000 took many by surprise, including Laura Dern. Laura was caught off guard and shared her feelings in an interview with InStyle: “I left our home to work on a movie, and while I was away, my boyfriend got married, and I’ve never heard from him again.” She felt a sudden sense of loss and confusion with no closure.
Billy Bob never admitted to any wrongdoing but did express regret in a 2001 interview, saying: “Others may say that you left our girl and married someone else. But it made me and somebody else happy. I’m sorry it caused pain.”
In a strange twist, Laura and Angelina had a past connection; Laura had babysat Angelina when they were children, according to Yahoo.
Laura Dern’s father, Bruce Dern, recalled a time when Laura babysat Angelina Jolie. He explained that since he and Jon Voight were working on the movie “Coming Home” in 1978, Laura, who was about 8 years old at the time, watched 2-year-old Angelina at director Hal Ashby’s house.
After Laura and Billy Bob broke up, Laura received support from her friend Melissa Etheridge. Melissa shared on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM radio show that she helped Laura move out of her home with Billy Bob, even having to break into their house to retrieve Laura’s belongings. Melissa added that she had witnessed some of the difficulties Laura faced due to Billy Bob’s relationship with Angelina.
Following these events, Laura moved on with her life. She married Ben Harper and has two children with him, and has also been linked to former NBA player Baron Davis.
Billy Bob and Angelina divorced in 2002. Billy Bob decided to avoid dating celebrities after this, seeking a quieter life. He later married a puppeteer in 2014, aiming for more privacy.
What are your thoughts on this situation? Share your comments below!
You Won’t Believe What Imane Khelif’s Dad Just Revealed About the Gender Controversy!
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif got caught up in controversy after her opponent, Angela Carini from Italy, suddenly walked away from their fight at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Even though Khelif was born female and identifies as a woman, her participation in the match stirred up a lot of debate.
Now, her father has finally spoken out.
On August 1, during Khelif’s boxing match with Carini, the fight unexpectedly ended when the Italian boxer left the ring early, saying she was experiencing “severe pain” in her nose.
After her opponent left the match, Imane Khelif was automatically declared the winner. But, some people think she shouldn’t compete against other women because she was disqualified from the 2023 world championships for having high testosterone levels.
Imane’s father, Amar Khelif, defended her, expressing pride in her achievements. He said, “Having such a daughter is an honor because she is a champion. She made me proud, and I encourage her. I hope she wins a medal in Paris.” He also mentioned that Imane has loved sports since she was 6 years old.
To clear up any doubts about her gender, Amar Khelif showed an official document that says, “Imane Khelif, female,” dated May 2, 1999. He insisted that this document is the truth.
The controversy led Angela Carini, the Italian boxer, to apologize to Khelif on August 2. She told an Italian news outlet that she was sorry for what happened and that she respects the decision allowing Khelif to fight. Carini explained that she didn’t mean for things to turn out this way and apologized to Khelif and everyone else.
Imane Khelif also spoke out, asking people to stop bullying athletes. She told SNTV, “Bullying can destroy people’s spirits and minds. It can divide people, and that’s why I’m asking everyone to stop doing it.”
Despite all the controversy, Khelif’s story shows the tough challenges athletes face when they’re under public scrutiny. Her father’s support and her own request for kindness remind us how important it is to show respect and understanding in sports.
As the debate goes on, Khelif is still focused on her goal of succeeding in the Olympics and making her family and country proud. The journey hasn’t been easy, but with her father’s encouragement and her own determination, she aims to overcome these challenges and continue on her path as a champion.
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