Brad Pitt Made ‘Fantastic’ Proposal to Gwyneth Paltrow, She Says — She Blames Herself for Their Breakup

• Gwyneth Paltrow was frank as she spoke about her past relationship with Brad Pitt.
• The actress recounted the “fantastic” proposal Pitt once made.
• Paltrow admitted that she blamed herself for their breakup.

On May 2, 2023, Gwyneth Paltrow, then 50, took to the Call Her Daddy podcast to speak on her past relationship with Brad Pitt, then 59. The former couple began dating in 1994, got engaged, and then called it off three years later.

The actress recalled they’d connect immediately after meeting on the set of “Seven” and that it was love at first sight. In December 1996, after dating for two years while in Argentina, the pair hung out on the balcony of a house they rented in a small town.

Paltrow confessed that she didn’t remember Pitt’s exact words, but he proposed, and it was “fantastic,” leaving her “thrilled.” The former couple had discussed getting married before the proposal, but the actress was still left surprised when the engagement happened at age 24.

Sadly, the duo called the engagement off months later and went their separate ways. The actress called the whole thing off because she wasn’t ready to marry, and in hindsight, she had to grow some more.

The star said she only came into herself at age 40, after struggling to listen to her instincts or do what was right for her. In the past, the celebrity always tried acting in the best interests of other people but herself.

Paltrow admitted that she was more of a child back then compared to 22 and 24-year-olds now. Back then, she hadn’t learned what was important to her, who she was, or set her boundaries, but she was “heartbroken” regardless of when they broke up.

The “Avengers” star noted how “hard” it was to separate but knew it was the right move. Being nine years older than her, she felt Pitt was old enough to know what he wanted and was ready for marriage while she was still all over the place.

Paltrow felt she wasn’t ready and realized the familiar refrain popping up that she was not ” living up to the standards again.” The road to the former couple’s relationship ending came with many good times but ultimately ended in heartbreak.

In 1997, Pitt revealed that he “knew immediately” that Paltrow was the one for him the minute he got within ten feet of her during their first meeting in 1994. The actor admitted feeling “goofy” and failing to speak when he met her.

However, on her side, the actress was clueless, didn’t realize Pitt liked her, and thought he was just friendly. Luckily, she started having a crush but tried to hold back, but their feelings were strong, and they started dating.

On April 26, 1995, they made one of their first most prominent appearances together at Pitt’s “Legends of the Fall” UK premiere after party. In 1995, Harvey Weinstein allegedly made a pass at Paltrow while she worked on his movie “Emma,” and she told Pitt about it.

When the couple attended Broadway’s “Hamlet” opening in May 1995, Pitt physically and verbally confronted Weinstein using his fame and power to protect his girlfriend, who wasn’t a star yet. In 2017, the actress was one of the women who openly accused Weinstein of sexual harassment.

The same month as the Weinstein incident, the actors went on a ten-day romantic getaway to St. Barts in the Caribbean. Paparazzi took nude images of them, and Pitt later sued one of the magazines for republishing them.

On January 21, 1996, Paltrow’s boyfriend won a Golden Globe for “12 Monkeys” and thanked many, including his girlfriend whom he called “my angel” and “the love o’ my life.” In August of that month, the actress attended the screening of “Emma” at the White House with her boyfriend.

The honor was bestowed upon her by then-President Bill Clinton, and Pitt was proud. That same month, the actress admitted that her relationship was happy and that she and the actor were best friends who went out on movie dates, made or went out for dinner, and sometimes had friends over.

However, she refused to get into private details about their relationship. In December 1996, Pitt proposed in Argentina while filming “Seven Years in Tibet” while she was there with him for the duration of the shoot.

The actor recalled how “excellent” it was to have his girlfriend with him that month. For Christmas Day, Pitt took Paltrow to Missouri to meet his parents and Jane, his former school counselor, and the family celebrated their engagement – which Pitt once called “one of the greatest moments” – at a Red Lobster.

Paltrow revealed that divorce wasn’t an option and that choice to get engaged wasn’t a rushed one. Her fiancé anticipated becoming a father and having many children while reminding himself to be a good parent.

On March 13, 1997, the couple attended New York City’s “The Devil’s Own” premiere with matching haircuts! Looking back at the clip, Paltrow gushed over it and revealed they’d gone to the same hairstylist to get it.

At the end of the month, the pair went on another romantic getaway to Paris, where Pitt was photographed kissing the side of his fiancée’s head. On April 3, 1997, the actor confessed he couldn’t wait to marry the actress!

Unfortunately, on June 16, 1997, the duo announced they’d broken up weeks ago, and it wasn’t because of one specific thing. That same year, Pitt pulled out of starring with his former fiancée in “Duets.”

In 1998, Paltrow said she couldn’t understand the obsession with discovering why she and the actor had broken up. However, by October 9, 2003, the actress had reflected on being upset for long about the breakup.

In an interview, the Oscar winner said she’d been a “mess” in that relationship and blamed herself for its end. The star felt her issues affected the relationship, but she and Pitt were now amicable.

In 2015, the actress confessed on “The Howard Stern Show” that she was too young to get married back then and wasn’t ready. The “Country Strong” star felt that making such a big decision at 22 wasn’t wise.

Two years later, while speaking in the “Girlboss Radio with Sophia Amoruso” podcast, Paltrow admitted having messed up many relationships. She confessed to having done the same to her relationship with Pitt.

The actor [Brad Pitt] said she [Gwyneth Paltrow] had always been a curator, and the business was a “creative outlet for her.”

In 2019, Pitt admitted confronting Weinstein about the incident with Paltrow when they were dating. He explained that he’d wanted to ensure Weinstein never repeated his alleged actions because the actress was still set to do two more films with him.

The following year, Paltrow said she and Pitt didn’t have any “bad blood,” as it was with almost all of her other exes. On June 14, 2022, the former exes had a joint interview for the actress’s Goop website.

They spoke about Bruce, Paltrow’s late father, and the close bond he once had with Pitt. The Goop CEO said she found the “Brad” she was supposed to marry, even though it took 20 years, and her ex noted how “lovely” it was to have her as a friend now, and she agreed.

The former couple also told each other they loved each other. Since revealing that they were now friends, Pitt and Paltrow have been great support systems to each other, and the latter’s husband wasn’t threatened by their friendship.

In September 2022, Pitt showed how far he and Paltrow had gone by saying her business, Goop, had influenced him to launch his Le Domaine Skincare. He revealed she was one of his dearest friends, who’d built an empire.

The actor said she had always been a curator, and the business was a “creative outlet for her.” He also noted how she taught him about good skincare and was the one who might’ve gotten him to wash his face twice daily!

In October 2022, Brad Falchuck, Paltrow’s husband, was described as secure in their relationship and the least judgmental person she knew. The actress said she and Pitt rekindled their relationship before she married her husband.

She shared how she adored the actor and that he was an incredible person, entrepreneur, creative, and a good person. Falchuck’s wife confessed to being a big fan of Pitt, and in May 2023, Paltrow was still opening up about her romance with the actor, as seen in the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.