Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon made a rare public appearance at the 2026 Albies in London, joining George Clooney and other guests for an evening devoted to human-rights defenders. Inevitably, much of the attention went to the famous people wearing formal clothes.
Pitt, 62, and de Ramon, 33, attended the fifth annual awards ceremony at the Natural History Museum on October 9. The event was hosted by the Clooney Foundation for Justice, founded by George Clooney and Amal Clooney.
The F1 actor wore a black tuxedo, bow tie and aviator-style glasses. De Ramon chose a sheer, off-the-shoulder green lace gown, with her dark hair worn loose in curls and natural-toned makeup.
They posed together on the red carpet, while Vogue reported that Pitt sat beside Clooney, his longtime friend and co-star, during the ceremony.
Why were Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon at the Albies?
Pitt and de Ramon were there to support the Clooneys and the foundation’s work. The couple were first linked in 2022 after reportedly meeting through a mutual friend.
They were initially seen together at a Bono concert in Los Angeles that year. A holiday in Cabo followed in 2023, along with occasional appearances at major events. Their relationship has remained relatively private by celebrity standards, meaning they do not document every dinner as though required by law.
A source told People in 2022 that de Ramon was “cute, fun and energetic,” adding that Pitt enjoyed spending time with her. De Ramon was previously married to The Vampire Diaries actor Paul Wesley from 2019 until their separation in 2022.
The London appearance came four years after Pitt and de Ramon reportedly began dating. While their arrival supplied the expected red-carpet photographs, the purpose of the night extended well beyond celebrity couples and wardrobe credits.
Who did the 2026 Albies honour?
The Clooney Foundation for Justice launched the Albies in 2022 and named the awards after Albie Sachs, the South African anti-apartheid activist and former Constitutional Court judge.
The awards recognise people and organisations pursuing justice, often while facing imprisonment, violence or political pressure. The foundation also provides free legal support in cases involving freedom of expression and women’s rights across more than 40 countries.
The 2026 recipients were:
- Kyrgyz journalists Bolot Temirov and Makhabat Tazhibek Kyzy
- Malawian girls’ rights advocate Vanessa Mwangala
- Photojournalist Lynsey Addario
- Congolese human-rights organisation Justice Plus
- Microsoft president Brad Smith
George Clooney told Vogue that the foundation selects honorees partly to place a “protective shield” around people at risk of imprisonment or death. He described fundraising in less glamorous terms as an effort to “keep the lights on” and maintain attention on threatened defenders.
Journalist Christiane Amanpour also argued that prominent organisations must continue protecting human-rights work as others reduce their involvement. It was a useful reminder that the gala’s central story was not Pitt’s tuxedo, despite what the photographs might suggest.
What is happening with the Jolie-Pitt surnames?
Pitt’s appearance also arrived amid continued reporting about his relationship with the six children he shares with former wife Angelina Jolie: Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, Zahara, 21, Shiloh, 20, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 18. The former couple adopted Maddox, Pax and Zahara.
Pitt and Jolie separated in 2016 after two years of marriage. Their divorce became final in December 2024, according to The Independent.
Several of their children have since taken steps to stop using Pitt as part of their surnames. The legal chronology is more complicated than some reports have suggested because using a different name publicly, filing a petition and receiving judicial approval are separate stages.
TMZ reported that Maddox filed to change his surname earlier in 2026 and received court approval on September 14. The Independent reported that Zahara’s change became legally official on September 28. Reports published in July concerned required newspaper notices rather than the original filing.
Vivienne filed a petition in July seeking to change her name from Vivienne Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Jolie. TMZ reported that she published the required notices between July 24 and August 14, but no final court approval had been reported by October 13.
Shiloh filed paperwork to become Shiloh Jolie on her 18th birthday in 2024. At the time, a source told People that Pitt was “aware and upset” by her decision and that he loved and missed his children.
The name changes have attracted intense attention, but court paperwork does not explain each child’s reasons. What it does establish is that multiple members of the family have pursued formal changes, not merely shortened their names for a theatre programme or social-media profile.
