Brad Pitt Defends Not Marrying Angelina Jolie, Admits To Smoking Pot In His Youth

Brad Pitt has once again defended his and partner Angeline Jolie’s decision not to get married, despite their ever-expanding family, which includes six children.

“I have love in my life, a soul mate — absolutely,” he said in a new interview with Parade magazine’s Sunday edition. “When someone asked me why Angie and I don’t get married, I replied, ‘Maybe we’ll get married when it’s legal for everyone else.’ I stand by that, although I took a lot of flak for saying it — hate mail from religious groups.”

The “Inglorious Basterds” star explained that his decision stems from his position – that all people should have equality.

“I believe everyone should have the same rights. They say gay marriage ruins families and hurts kids. Well, I’ve had the privilege of seeing my gay friends being parents and watching their kids grow up in a loving environment,” he said.

Brad said he is angered over the criticisms he and Angelina have received for not getting married.

“I resent people telling others how to live! It drives me mental! Just the other night, I heard this TV reverend say that Angie and I were setting a bad example because we were living out of wedlock, and people should not be duped by us,” Brad recounted. “It made me laugh. What damn right does anyone have to tell someone else how to live if they’re not hurting anyone? How many times do you think real love comes to someone in a lifetime? If you’re lucky, maybe two or three.”

While criticisms continue to upset him, Brad is focused on being a dad.

“Children are a dominant value in my life now, and they weren’t before,” he said. “They were always something I thought I’d get around to having when the time was right. It wasn’t what I was really seeking. In a way, I think I had to go and exhaust me before I could be good at being a parent. This family is full of life! There are laughs, aggravations, irritations, but at the end of the day, it’s fun. When life is really good, it’s messy.”

Brad also said he supports his youngsters – Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox – and he wants for them, what they want for themselves in life.

“Would it bother me if a child of mine turns out to be gay? No, not one bit. Listen, I want my kids to live the lives they want to live. I want them to be fulfilled. I hope I teach my kids to be who they really are,” he said.

But while Brad opened up about his youngsters, he also talked about his own younger self, including the revelation that he used to smoke marijuana.

“I liked to smoke a bit of grass at the time, and I became very sheltered. Then I got bored. I was turning into a damn doughnut, really. So I moved as far away from that as I could. I was done,” he added. “In Missouri, where I come from, we don’t talk about what we do — we just do it. If we talk about it, it’s seen as bragging.”