French director Guillaume Canet has hit out at rumours Marion Cotillard was romantically entangled with Brad Pitt.
Marion, 40, was dragged into Angelina Jolie and Brad’s divorce when reports claimed she and Brad had an affair while filming upcoming Second World War drama Allied.
Marion has already responded to the rumours, confirming she is expecting her second child with actor and director Guillaume.
The couple already have a five-year-old son, Marcel.
Now Guillaume has also addressed the rumours, hitting out at the “venal stupidity” of the rumours.
Je n'ai pas non plus l'habitude de commenter les rumeurs faites à notre sujet… Je n'ai pas non plus l'habitude de parler de ma vie privée, que jusqu'à présent j'ai toujours protégé avec beaucoup d'attention… Mais l'acharnement de la presse people, la bêtise vénale de certaines personnes se faisant appeler journalistes, la haine de certains internautes se sentant plus forts derrière un clavier, me poussent quand même à dire la fierté, l'amour, le respect et l'admiration que j'ai pour Marion, de rester aussi forte et intelligente face à toutes ces accusations débiles et non fondées. Je pense que nous vivons tous des choses autrement plus importantes en ce moment et que maintenant il serait temps de passer à autre chose et d'élever un peu le niveau. Même si il y a beaucoup de travail pour certains, j'ai envie d'être positif. Et comme dit si bien Marion je vous souhaite d'aller mieux et d'aspirer à autre chose dans votre vie que d'envoyer constamment de la merde !
A photo posted by Guillaume Canet (@guillaumecanetofficiel) on
He wrote in French on Instagram: “I do not usually comment on rumours about us … I do not usually talk about my private life, which until now I have always carefully protected …
“But the fury of the tabloids, the venal stupidity of some people calling themselves journalists, the hatred of some users feeling stronger behind a keyboard, push me to speak of the pride, the love, respect and admiration I have for Marion, for staying so strong and intelligent in the face all these stupid and unfounded accusations.
“I think we’re all living with much more important things at the moment and now it is time to move on and raise the bar a bit.
“Even if that is a lot of work for some people, I want to be positive. And as Marion said, I hope you become better and aspire to something else in your life other than constantly coming out with shit!”
The La Vie En Rose star previously said she had to “speak up” as rumours had been “spiralling and affecting people I love”.
She wished Angelina, 41, and Brad, 52, “peace in this very tumultuous moment”.
Angelina filed for divorce from Brad on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences and has asked for physical custody of the couple’s six children.
It has since emerged the FBI is considering an investigation into an alleged altercation between Brad and one of his children on a private plane.
According to reports, Brad had been drinking at the time of the incident and several media outlets, using anonymous sources, have reported that the Ocean’s Eleven star is under investigation by a child welfare agency after allegedly clashing with one of his children, reportedly his adopted 15-year-old son Maddox.
In a statement, the FBI said allegations involving an “aircraft carrying Mr Brad Pitt and his children” had been referred to the agency.
Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services has said it cannot confirm or deny whether it is investigating Brad.
