A resurfaced social media compilation has placed Hollywood actor Brad Pitt under renewed online scrutiny, questioning the ethics of several early-career scenes involving underage co-stars.
The viral reel, which has spread rapidly across TikTok and Instagram, highlights moments from Pitt's filmography that many contemporary viewers now deem inappropriate by today's industry standards.
Controversial Scenes Under Modern Lens
One prominent scene featured in the compilation comes from the 1994 gothic horror Interview With the Vampire, where Pitt's 31-year-old character shares a brief lip kiss with Kirsten Dunst's character Claudia, who was portrayed as a preteen vampire. Dunst was actually 11 years old during filming.
In multiple promotional interviews from the 1990s, Dunst expressed clear discomfort about the scene. "I hated [the kiss] so much because Brad was like my older brother on set," she told Entertainment Tonight in 1994. "It's weird because he's an older guy and I had to kiss him on the lips, so it was gross."
When an interviewer later joked that she must have enjoyed kissing Pitt, then 31, the 12-year-old Dunst sharply corrected them: "I mean, I'm 12! He's like 31 now. He's like a man, so why would I like kissing him?"
Despite her discomfort with the scene itself, Dunst has consistently described Pitt as "sweet" and "like a brother," never suggesting he acted inappropriately off-camera or that the kiss was his idea. She maintained that the discomfort stemmed from being a child performing a romantic gesture toward an adult man.
Early Career Roles Reexamined
Before achieving film stardom, Pitt appeared in four episodes of Dallas in the late 1980s as Randy, the boyfriend of Charlotte, played by Shalane McCall, who was 14 years old at the time. Pitt was 24 during filming.
In a 2023 interview with People, Pitt fondly recalled their love scene: "I had to roll around in the hay in a barn. I don't think I had a line. I was just rolling and frolicking." McCall married at 17 in October 1989 and subsequently stepped away from Hollywood entirely.
The compilation has also drawn attention to Pitt's relationship with actress Juliette Lewis, which began when he was 27 years old and she was 17. The pair lived together and co-starred in Kalifornia (1993).
Lewis has never accused Pitt of misconduct. In a Vanity Fair interview, Pitt reflected on their relationship: "I still love the woman. There's some real genius there. I had a great time with her. It was one of the greatest relationships I've ever been in."
Social Media Reaction and Industry Reflection
The resurfaced clips have provoked strong reactions across social media platforms. One user commented: "It seems pretty clearly wrong to direct a 27-year-old actor to make out with an 11-year-old onscreen."
Another added: "Totally unnecessary for the scene," while a third reflected on the impact on young viewers: "I remember feeling JEALOUS as a kid - like, 'she's so lucky.' It normalized older men kissing young girls."
None of the incidents highlighted in the viral reel have ever resulted in accusations of criminal wrongdoing against Pitt, who has never been accused of sexual misconduct in these situations. In each case, Pitt was performing scripted scenes under direction.
The controversy highlights a broader conversation about how audiences are reassessing older Hollywood films and interviews through contemporary ethical standards. Critics argue the industry historically placed child actors in inappropriate situations, while supporters note that 1980s and 1990s Hollywood operated under different norms, with legal guardians and studios approving all content.
Brad Pitt has not publicly addressed the viral reel or the renewed debate. Representatives for the actor declined to comment when contacted by The Daily Mail.
