George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s longstanding friendship appears to have deteriorated amid ongoing allegations against Pitt related to domestic abuse, prompting a notable distancing by Clooney and his wife, Amal. Sources close to the Clooneys indicate that Pitt has been excluded from the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s upcoming Albies awards and fundraiser, set to be held in October at London’s Natural History Museum.

The decision to omit Pitt from the event reflects concerns about the potential impact of his presence on the foundation’s reputation. The Albies, named after South African anti-apartheid judge Albie Sachs, honor advocates for justice and human rights. George Clooney, 65, and Amal Clooney, a human rights lawyer, reportedly prioritized the foundation’s global humanitarian standing over their personal relationship with Pitt, 62, who remains embroiled in a protracted legal and family dispute.

Insiders explain that although Pitt has denied all abuse allegations made by his ex-wife Angelina Jolie and their children, the controversy continues to cast a shadow. The Clooneys, particularly Amal, who has a public profile centered on human rights advocacy, are said to have viewed including Pitt on the red carpet as incompatible with the event’s mission. The decision has been described as a move to safeguard the foundation’s image, even at the expense of a friendship dating back more than two decades.

Pitt and Clooney’s close bond developed after co-starring in the 2001 film Ocean’s Eleven and its sequels in 2004 and 2007. Their friendship was so close that Pitt was once considered a likely best man at Clooney’s 2014 wedding. However, recent developments appear to have created an unbridgeable divide. Notably, Matt Damon, another Ocean’s co-star, continues to receive invitations to the foundation’s events, underscoring the extent of the split.

Adding complexity to the situation is Pitt’s recent admission of relapse in his sobriety after seven years, including a return to alcohol consumption at a moderate level. He disclosed in an interview that he recently started drinking again after a prolonged period of abstinence and is cautious about managing it responsibly.

This personal struggle is intertwined with the public allegations lodged by Angelina Jolie, who accused Pitt of abusive behavior during a 2016 incident on a private flight. According to reports, the altercation involved claims of physical violence towards Jolie and their children, prompting an FBI and child protective services inquiry. While Pitt was later cleared of wrongdoing, the incident had significant repercussions for his family, including custody restrictions and a strained relationship with his children.

In recent years, several of Pitt’s six children have reportedly taken legal steps to distance themselves from their father, including requests to change their surnames. The youngest, Vivienne, 18, recently joined her older siblings Maddox, Zahara, and Shiloh in legally seeking to remove “Pitt” from their names, signaling further familial discord.

The ongoing legal and personal challenges facing Pitt continue to affect his professional and social connections, exemplified by his exclusion from the Clooneys’ high-profile humanitarian event. The Clooneys have yet to publicly comment on the matter, but sources emphasize that the foundation’s commitment to justice and human rights remains the overriding consideration.