Content Advisory: This article discusses suicide, grief, sobriety, family estrangement, and the death of Chris Cornell. Reader discretion is advised.
Brad Pitt was reportedly crushed by Chris Cornell’s death, and nearly a decade later, he is still finding ways to honor that friendship.
Cornell, the Soundgarden frontman, died by suicide on May 18, 2017, at age 52. He left behind three children: Christopher, Toni, and Lillian. Pitt, 62, reportedly had a “brotherly relationship” with the late rocker, and insiders say Cornell’s death left a “gaping hole” in his life.
Now, Pitt is said to be staying close to Cornell’s children, especially as Toni Cornell builds her own music career.
Brad Pitt Reportedly Supports Chris Cornell’s Kids
A source claimed Pitt’s bond with Cornell’s children has become part of his own healing process.
“A huge part of Brad’s sobriety journey over the last five or six years has been showing up for people, supporting them, and helping them step into the spotlight themselves,” the insider said.
The source added that Pitt has been especially supportive of Toni. “You see that in action with Chris’ kids, especially Toni, where Brad is actively opening doors for her as she becomes a full-blown singer,” the insider continued.
Toni has been developing her own career as an artist and has released music in recent years. In 2019, Pitt appeared emotional when he introduced her on stage at ‘I Am The Highway: A Tribute To Chris Cornell’ in Los Angeles, where she performed with Ziggy Marley.
Cornell Was Reportedly Part Of Pitt’s Sobriety Support
Another friend claimed Pitt took Cornell’s death “very hard,” almost as if he had lost a family member.
“Brad trusted Chris on every level,” the source said. “It was a friendship that was honest, loyal and sparked by a mutual understanding.”
The insider also claimed Cornell supported Pitt during his sobriety journey. “When Brad came to terms with his demons, Chris was right there for him,” the friend said. “He helped Brad live a happy, sober life.”
The source added that some people believed Cornell acted almost like Pitt’s Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor because he reportedly spoke with him daily and gave him an AA book. “Chris was part of Brad’s support group and now he is gone,” the insider said.
Pitt’s Own Family Rift Adds Another Layer
Pitt’s reported bond with Cornell’s children comes as his relationship with several of his own children remains strained.
The actor shares Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne with ex-wife Angelina Jolie. In recent years, several of the children have dropped or distanced themselves from the Pitt surname in some form. A source previously claimed Pitt had “virtually no contact with the adult kids.” That family distance makes his role in Cornell’s children’s lives more noticeable.
“That doesn’t change his fatherly instincts one bit,” an insider claimed, adding that Pitt has channeled those instincts outside his own family. The source said Pitt takes his obligation to Cornell’s kids “incredibly seriously” and is finding connection with them at a time when his own children have pulled away.
For Pitt, the bond appears rooted in grief, loyalty, and a friendship that did not end with Cornell’s death.
