For eight years, they’ve waged a bitter public war against each other – with little sign of reprieve. But some of the finer details of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s ongoing court proceedings have paled into insignificance in recent months, following their son Pax’s e-bike crash in July. The 20 year old, who has reportedly been estranged from Brad ever since his parents split in 2016, suffered “complex trauma” after colliding with a car, with reports flooding in after the accident that onlookers initially believed he’d died on impact. Thankfully, he regained consciousness soon after paramedics arrived, and has been recovering ever since.

But earlier this week, we got a hint as to just how severe Pax’s injuries were, as he made his first official appearance since the near-fatal incident. Joining Angelina on the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival for the premiere of her new film Without Blood, which she’s written and directed, Pax wore a smart suit and shades; but it was the painful-looking scars etched across his forehead, and an arm cast under his black suit jacket, that attested to his ongoing recovery. This was the second time Pax has been seen since hurting himself, after being pictured in LA last week; but the hat he was wearing at the time – emblazoned with the word “miracle”– hid the extent of his facial scars, while his appearance on the red carpet this week left little doubt as to just how serious his accident was. And nobody has been more shocked by the images than Pax’s father.

According to insiders, Brad has respected Pax’s wishes and kept his distance in the wake of the collision, relying instead on friends and family to keep him updated. But seeing pictures of his son’s injuries this week really hit home for the movie star and, according to insiders, it’s left him worrying about his welfare, especially since it’s since been revealed that Pax wasn’t wearing a helmet at the time. So, Brad is making tentative steps to reach out and offer his support in any way he can; and – happily for all – it seems that Pax’s health and safety is one thing that Brad and Angelia can actually agree upon. It’s not going to herald a peace deal between the pair anytime soon, but it might just lessen the bitterness between them. 

“Brad is very relieved to hear that Pax is on track with his recovery, but it was still pretty shocking for him to see those photos of him on the red carpet,” says an insider close to the actor, who has been making his own very public appearances in recent weeks with his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. “It reinforced just how horrific this accident was, how lucky Pax is to be alive, and how it was just a few inches away from being something even more serious. Obviously, the scars Pax showed were just a glimmer of the overall injuries he suffered, and Brad’s very conscious that it will be a long road to recovery moving forwards with physiotherapy and regular check-ups. He’s very pleased that Pax is on the mend, but he’s still anxious and praying he doesn’t suffer any more setbacks. He’s also praying that he’s learned from this nightmare and that, if he rides a bike again, he’ll wear a helmet at all times.” 

Pax had reportedly been driving down Los Feliz Boulevard in LA during afternoon rush hour on the 29 July when he crashed his e-bike into the back of a car, which had stopped at a red light. He was quickly rushed to an intensive care unit after he apparently complained of head pain, and – according to insiders – has since been told he faces a long road to recovery. What’s made the incident all the more worrying for Pax’s friends and family – not least Angelina, who’s been with her son constantly ever since, alongside his five siblings – is that he’s reportedly been involved in other road accidents in the past. In fact, one source recently said friends are “worried” that he’s being “reckless”. Pax has made it clear in the past that he wants little to do with Brad, but that hasn’t stopped the latter from making efforts to stay updated on his son’s condition, and making it clear that he’s just as worried as the rest of Pax’s inner circle. 

“It’s terrifying for Brad to think of what might have happened,” says our source. “He’s devastated that Pax suffered a head injury, and it’s tough not to worry about the rehabilitation and what the road to recovery will really mean in the long-term. He’s also struggling not to be angry that Pax put himself in such a dangerous situation. But the main focus for everyone right now is just trying to look beyond all that and focus on the fact that Pax is out of hospital and healing every day. Angelina appreciates Brad’s concern and is making sure he does get updates, albeit not directly from her.”

Though legally divorced, Brad, 60, and Angelina, 49, are still at loggerheads over the sale of their Miraval estate in France, with recent court documents proving they’re still as angry and bitter towards each other as ever. But it’s Brad’s fractured relationship with the majority of his kids that seems to be the most upsetting part of the puzzle. Although he’s said to still have a relationship with twins Vivienne and Knox, who – at 16 – are now the only two who qualify for custody arrangements, he’s reportedly not on speaking terms with Maddox, 23, Zahara, 19, and Shiloh, 18, who recently legally removed Pitt from her surname. Still, it’s Pax that he’s most famously estranged from, after an Instagram post that Pax originally shared in 2020 resurfaced last year, labelling Brad a “world class a**hole”. It’s this very public animosity towards Brad that has made the latter’s concern for Pax’s safety in the wake of his accident all the more difficult to navigate. 

Still, if anything can heal emotional wounds, it’s the shock of almost losing someone for good – and Closer is told that Brad and Angelina know this all too. Our source reveals, “The accident seems to have stopped the blame game, and – while Brad is respecting Pax’s boundaries – he’s made it clear he’ll pay anything towards his medical bills and would love to send gifts or see him in person. Angelina appreciates his concern and seems more open to communicating. It’s just so sad that the one trace of hope for peace between these two has come as a result of something so tragic.”