Us Magazine says they have a “well placed source” within the Brangelina circle who claims that the couple’s newborn twins were conceived via in vitro fertilization because they were impatient to get pregnant again.

Forget Mother Nature – Us Weekly reports in its new issue, on newsstands now, that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt turned to fertility treatments to quickly conceive twins Knox and Vivienne.

“They conceived through in vitro fertilization,” a well-placed source within their camp tells Us. “They both desperately wanted more babies soon.”

The chance of having fraternal twins at Angelina’s age (33) naturally is under 1 percent; with in vitro, the chances are 25 percent. Says Dr. Arthur Wisot of L.A.’s Reproductive Medical Group (who did not treat the couple), “We live in an era of reproductive freedom, so anybody can do anything they want within legal limits.”

The actress chose the procedure (which can cost around $12,000 a pop) so “she wouldn’t have to deal with the stress of trying to get pregnant,” the source tells Us. “She could just knock it out.”

Indeed, Jolie has spoken about her goal to do just that.

“If we’re going to have 10 kids, we’d like to raise them while we’re young,” she told Elle U.K. last year. Brad Pitt turns 45 on December 18.

A source adds: “They were too impatient.”

Knox and Vivienne – born in Nice, France on July 12 – join the couple’s adopted brood of Maddox, 6, Pax, 4, Zahara, 3, and biological daughter Shiloh, 2.

[From Us Weekly]

There has been a lot of speculation regarding how the babies were conceived because Jolie was very thin in the months leading up to her pregnancy. Statistically, if a mother is underweight, her chances of conceiving are reduced. Star Magazine reported way back in January that the couple had relied on in vitro, but, you know, it’s Star. In interviews, Jolie has made it sound like she and Pitt conceived the twins the old fashioned way. In her recent Entertainment Weekly interview, she gestures to her belly at one point and says, “I got myself in this state!” I suppose that could be interpreted a number of ways.

Brad and Shiloh shopping on 5/19/08. Credit: WENN

Brad Pitt and his lawyers are planning legal action because photographers took pictures of their family playing in their backyard.

Lawyers for Brad Pitt on Thursday threatened legal action against anyone publishing recent photographs they say were taken by paparazzi of the actor and his newly enlarged family at their French estate.

Pictures of Pitt and his family in France were “surreptitiously” snapped using a powerful telephoto lens and sold to an unidentified buyer, the Los Angeles lawyers said in a letter published by the U.S. Web site The Smoking Gun (http://www.thesmokinggun.com).

The lawyers did not say which family members were in the pictures.

Pitt and actress Angelina Jolie, the mother of his children, have reportedly sold exclusive picture rights to the first photographs of their newborn twins to a U.S. publication for $11 million. The money would go to charity.

Rueters

Now I understand that the backyard is a private place and they should be able to play there and not get photographed. I even think that they should be able to walk down the street and get milk, or take their kids for a seatbelt-free ride on a golf cart without getting their picture taken. But somehow I think that the family is going to lose a bit of sympathy in this lawsuit. You have sold pictures of your children to various magazines for huge profit, even if that money has been donated to charities. Just let it pass, and enjoy your time with the family. You have two new babies to get to know, and could probably really use some sleep!

France has much stricter laws about paparazzi photographers than any other country in the world, but if someone secured the first pictures of the twins it would be a huge financial boost. How can a fine and a few days in jail compare to that kind of windfall?

The Smoking Gun website, which got the letter from Camp Brangelina, says that they have never purchased a paparazzi picture in the eleven years of their site being in action. You can view the full letter there, which states that it is a “confidential legal communication and not for publication”.

Buried at the bottom of a long article about the birth of Knox and Vivienne Jolie-Pitt in the latest issue of Hello! Magazine is a story I’ve yet to hear about some of Brad and Angelina’s very tangible charity work. A hospital spokesperson told Hello! that Brad had hundreds of toys delivered for sick children at Lenval hospital on the French Riveria where Angelina gave birth. What’s more is that he visited the kids himself when he was there. This is the first I’ve heard of this story and it seems like the Jolie-Pitts didn’t make an announcement because it hasn’t hit the US press yet, not even People, which is reporting every detail of the birth, has this story.

The famously philanthropic couple, who have given millions to charity through their Jolie-Pitt Foundation, have also been characteristically generous with the hospital. Brad “ordered hundreds of toys for the sick children here and has visited the wards to speak to the younger patients,” said a clinic spokesperson.

The spokesperson added, “They have charmed everyone who works here. It has been delightful having them to stay and we shall all be very sorry to see them go.”

[From Hello! Magazine, print edition, July 28, 2008]

Of course they knew the news was going to get out but they didn’t go bragging about it, and Brad himself went and visited the kids there. He didn’t have to do that at all and he was probably touched by the young patients he met and wanted to do something nice for them.

Bauer-Griffin has new faraway photos of Brad and Angelina and some of the kids playing in the background. It looks like Brad’s mom is there along with his brother and what could be his brother’s son. The comments are pretty negative about the photos and encourage the paparazzi to let the Jolie-Pitts have their peace after the birth of their fifth and sixth child. They also report that Brad and Angelina are planning a cruise in Greece on Paul Allen’s yacht and that they were supposed to be leaving yesterday.

Angelina Jolie managed to escape the paparazzi in what seems like a nearly impossible escape. Somehow she and her newborn twins managed to sneak out of Lenval Hospital in Nice, France in the middle of the night last on Saturday morning. Which you’d think the paparazzi would be expecting. Given Angelina’s security team, if I were a photographer I’d half-suspect them to teleport her out of there somehow. In comparison, her departure was relatively low-key.

Jolie’s departure began at about 3:50 a.m. when, according to an eyewitness, a grey Volkswagen minibus with darkened windows arrived outside the hospital on its Promenade des Anglais.

“There was a sudden spray of light out of the hospital’s garage way and then four or five people came out of that through a rear doorway,” the witness said. “They stood behind the hospital in a small courtyard in the dark.”

The courtyard entrance, a gated area for emergency access has been closed during Jolie’s stay, “was suddenly opened by someone who was waiting in the bus stop beside the hospital,” the witness said. “This group of people got into the van, very quickly. . . . It was all done in a hurry. And they were very quick organizing themselves inside. Very rapid. And then ‘Pouf!’ they were gone.

“With all the press attention around them, a constant watch on the front of the hospital, they managed to leave so quickly, my hat’s off to them,” the witness added.

At 9 a.m., Dr. Michel Sussmann, who delivered the twins by Cesarean section on July 12, confirmed the family’s departure, telling reporters, “You can go home. The story is over.”

Added Bauer: “We enjoyed having her and her family here very much.”

[From People]

Yeah I bet it was a blast for all of you. I love the description of Angelina’s exit. Especially the “sudden spray of light.” It’s very heaven-sent, isn’t it? I half-expected the next line to be something about the magnificent glow emanating from their halos” or something. It was cute, but a little overdone.

A few less reputable sources said that Brad was along for the departure, though no one seems 100% certain about that. Still, it seems like the kind of thing he’d probably manage to show up for. Supposedly Angelina had originally wanted to leave the same way she arrived – by helicopter. But the hospital told her she couldn’t, because that was for emergences only. Which begs the question: was there some sort of emergency when she arrived?

No matter what, it sounds like Angelina’s security team did a remarkable job with her exit and ensuring whatever amount of privacy she could get. It sounds like she and the twins are all doing well, and now will get to have some family bonding time.

I don’t buy into the notion that Jennifer Aniston is nearly as obsessive or upset over the whole Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie romance. It’s been a long time, I’m sure she’s moved on. However magazines keep asking – or her friends keep feeling compelled to share – just how she’s doing. So Jen has to make the requisite “I wish them all the best” speech.

Jennifer Aniston couldn’t be happier for her ex Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

“She hopes the twins are beautiful,” a pal of the actress, 39, tells Us Weekly in its latest issue, on stands now.

“She’d never want anyone to be unhappy with their kids,” the friend adds.

Aniston – who would have celebrated her eighth anniversary with Pitt, 40, on July 29 – has been heating up her summer with John Mayer.

[From Us Magazine]

Oh come on. Look I doubt that Jen’s wishing evil on Brad’s babies or anything, but I doubt she hopes they’re beautiful either. Who the hell would in that situation? I think the best you can do is feel nothing at all. It’s certainly not a Tom Cruise/Nicole Kidman thing where one sends the other a roomful of flowers after the birth of their child. It’s not fair to expect Jen to wish years of pristine happiness on the couple or their offspring; and it’s kind of unnatural to imply that she should.

Despite what the tabloids say, I highly doubt Jennifer is sitting at home crying over Brad’s life. She has bigger things to worry about – like what’s bound to happen when you date John Mayer. Who would have thought he’d already be hitting on other women?

Here’s Jennifer Aniston doing a spot of shopping at one of her favorite stores ‘Noodle Stories’ in West Hollywood yesterday. Images thanks to Splash.

Protesters gathered outside of Angelina Jolie’s hospital in Nice Monday night to decry the intense media focus on the couple and their new babies. They were incensed by mayor Christian Estrosi’s effusive praise for Brad and Angelina in light of his lack of response to the recent murder of a young man. The family is trying to get the remains of the victim released in time to have a traditional Islamic funeral, which dictates that burial rites take place as soon as possible.

It’s a conflict as old as the media - why do we give so much coverage to celebrities when there are people dying and starving in the world? It’s particularly painful for this young man’s family, who have to see the story of their murdered son, brother and cousin quickly fade from the headlines and aren’t even given his body to bury while it’s big news that Angelina gave birth there.

They probably can’t even get a meeting with the mayor and while they were desperately trying to plead for their dead relative’s body Estrosi went on TV holding Knox’s birth certificate and talking about how proud he was that Brangelina picked Nice. As someone who works to bring attention to the plight of refugees and children of war, Angelina probably empathizes with the protesters. She thought she picked a nice safe place to give birth, but there’s no escaping controversy when you’re that famous. Maybe the mayor will think twice about snubbing victim’s families now that these people were able to get some attention for their cause.

Update: I have no idea if the mayor specifically snubbed this family or didn’t meet with them, and I overstated that in order to make the title short and make a point. From the Access Hollywood report above, and on reports from X17 photographers, the protesters wanted attention to their cause which received little or no media coverage especially compared to the Brangelina twins. They were especially incensed that the mayor put so much focus on the celebrity story while they were anxiously trying to get the stabbing victim’s body released for burial.

Thanks to BreitBart for the video and to Megan for the tip.

It’s all about the Brangelina twins today, and since Angelina reportedly wants to shed that moniker I’ve decided to use it as much as possible. It’s a lot easier than calling them Knox and Vivienne, which sounds suspiciously similar to the names J.Lo chose for her fraternal boy and girl twins, Max and Emme.

There are new details emerging about the birth of the twins that seems like way too much information. People are clamoring for details and Brad and Angelina have only so much control over what leaks out, but I think that birth room scenes are privileged information despite all the “Baby Story” episodes I watched on TLC when I was pregnant.

People Magazine has a whole section of their website dedicated to the birth of the twins with a big red banner across the top in all-caps italics that reads “ANGELINA & BRAD’S TWINS ARE BORN!” and it’s really too much. They had the babies, we’ll get to see them soon, good for them.

Brad “Very Emotional” at Birth, Angelina was talking and laughing during C-section
Angelina’s doctor revealed in his statement that Brad was “very emotional” when the babies were born. What dad isn’t, even for the fifth and sixth child? Dr. Sussman gave a lot of information to the press and I’m not sure I would want all those details made public if it was my family even though it’s all perfectly normal stuff.

During the labor and delivery, the couple “were talking, they were together,” Dr. Michel Sussmann told reporters outside Fondation Lenval Hospital in Nice, France, where twins Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon were born on Saturday. “It was an epidural, so [Angelina] was awake and speaking and laughing. They were happy.”

Pitt never left Jolie’s side – “he was my assistant!” Sussmann said jokingly – and even cut the babies’ umbilical cords.

“He was … perfectly calm, totally determined, very pleased to be at the birth of his children, very moved and very emotional,” said Sussmann.

Asked whether the birth had been a textbook delivery, Sussmann replied, “absolutely no problems.”

[From People.com]

Dr. Sussmann said Angelina will stay in the hospital for a few more days, which is how they do it in Europe and that “it isn’t like in the United States, where the patients go home after three days. ” He later clarified that the babies are in good health at 5 pounds each, but that they need to gain some more weight before they go home and are likely to stay in the hospital for about a week.

Dr. Sussmann also told the press that Angelina’s c-section was moved up ten days “for the mother’s comfort.”

The Associated Press reports that Brad Pitt chose to give the French daily newspaper the Nice-Matin the scoop on the birth because he wanted a local paper to have the story before the other outlets.

The mayor of Nice held a press conference and gushed in his praise for Angelina and Brad. He said it was a great honor that such big stars had chosen his city to give birth. He stood on the steps of the hospital while holding Knox’s birth certificate and said:

“On behalf of the inhabitants of Nice, I congratulate the happy parents, the most famous couple of the world who have chosen our city for this happy event.”

He also called the birth “a pride to Nice and all its citizens.” [Details From People.com]

It’s all a bit over the top, but congratulations to Brad and Angelina and it is kind of amazing that they had twins to add to their brood of four other children - whether they had IVF or not. And let’s wish them well for their babies no matter how you feel about them personally. They’re certainly willing to be open with the press and there are millions of people who want to read every little tidbit about them. Maybe they think if they open up all the doors and unlock everything people will get bored and go home. It’s pretty damn comfortable and perfect-looking in their house, though.

Angelina Jolie gave birth to boy and girl twins, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline last night in Nice France. The babies weighed 5.03 lbs and 5 lbs and were delivered by c-section. Earlier reports were confused as to whether Angelina had giving birth to twin girls, was still pregnant, or had boy and girl twins. Now the Associated Press and People have confirmation from her doctor along with the names of the babies. He said that everyone is doing well and that Brad was by Angelina’s side during the birth:

“The babies are doing well. The operation went just perfectly,” Dr. Michael Sussmann told PEOPLE Sunday. “Angelina is in very good spirits. Brad Pitt was at her side. He was there and all was well.”

“The mother and father are very, very happy,” Sussmann told PEOPLE.

[From People.com]

Knox and Vivienne will join their four siblings Maddox, 6, Pax, 4, Zahara, 3 and a half, and Shiloh, 2. Both Brad and Angelina have been outspoken about their quest for a large, happy family, with Brad saying at separate times that they wanted a soccer team, and that they would stop at somewhere between seven and nine children.

Little Vivienne’s middle name, Marcheline, is surely in honor of Angelina’s late mother, Marcheline Bertrand. It’s hard to tell what the twins’ other names mean and there’s sure to be a lot of speculation over the next few days.

Congratulations to the entire family on their new editions, and best wishes for a happy life together.

The media is all up in a tizzy. Reports are coming in again that Angelina Jolie may have given birth to her twins, following an article in the French newspaper Nice-Matin. The paper claims that Angelina gave birth sometime before 10 p.m. on Saturday night; and had a boy and a girl, named Knox Leon and a girl named Vivienne Marcheline. A few other websites are claiming she gave birth to two girls. Many other magazines have jumped on board announcing the birth, but even more are holding off, after the Entertainment Tonight debacle last month.

First thing’s first: As far as we know, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s twins have not made a break for it just yet. Nadine Bauer, the spokeswoman for Fondation Lenval, Jolie’s five-star seaside hospital, told E! News Saturday night that any official word on the birth would be posted on the facility’s website.

That appears to shoot down two reports claiming les bébés had been liberated earlier today. Saturday started off innocently enough, with the general consensus that Jolie-Pitts 5 and 6 were due to arrive via C-section this Tuesday. But then In Touch Weekly reported that twin girls arrived around 7 p.m., citing an unnamed hospital source. After which, Bauer was quoted in various outlets, including Us Weekly, Extra and OK!, that ITW had “wrong information.”

But judging that response semantically, it could be that the birth simply didn’t occur, that it took place at a different time or that it didn’t involve two girls—those latter storylines were covered by a local newspaper.

Apparently in an earlier incarnation of that story, though, the newspaper had some strikingly different information. According to the Agence France Press wire service, Nice-Matin initially reported Jolie and Pitt are now the parents of another daughter and a son, even going so far as to give the little ones’ names, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, and weights.

[From E! News]

So Angelina may or may not have had babies. And they may or may not be girls or boys. If she didn’t have them… she is still pregnant. Really, the story here is that everything is still up in the air. Angelina was widely reported to be scheduled for a C-section on Tuesday. It would make sense for the hospital to circulate a later date if they wanted to throw the press off. We’ll keep you updated and let you know if Brangelina #5 and #6 have indeed entered the world in all their sparkling glory.

Angelina Jolie is starting to get pretty crotchety while waiting for her babies to be born – if you believe In Touch magazine and the Daily Mail. According to staffers at the hospital, Angelina is demanding special food, getting short with the staff, and laying about lazily. Yes, they’re implying a woman pregnant with twins that seem to be about half her total bodyweight is lazy for staying in bed.

Angelina Jolie is growing increasingly grouchy with staff while she waits to give birth to twins in a French hospital, according to a new report. The heavily-pregnant actress has been holed up in the private Lenval hospital in Nice for a week now ahead of her scheduled Caesarean section next Tuesday.

While staff there were amazed by her extreme politeness when she first arrived, Angelina’s mood has darkened over the last few days, American magazine In Touch Weekly has claimed. An insider told the publication: ‘She’s starting to feel that the staff are starstruck and not attentive enough. She’s throwing fits if she rings and they don’t come quick enough.’

Angelina has even insisted she be served salmon for lunch, despite the dish not being on the hospital menu. The source added: ‘And I don’t mean asked - demanded. The food at Lenval isn’t very good - it’s hospital food - and I think she was fed up. A staffer went out and bought some and it was made for her.’

The insider continued: ‘I think she’s in meltdown mode. She’s been getting upset if there’s not enough ice in her glass. ‘She’s not walking around anymore. She doesn’t even take a shower early in the morning. She just stays in bed, talking on her phone, typing on her computer, reading magazines and watching TV.’

[From the Daily Mail]

Well the absolute nerve. To think Angelina doesn’t rise EARLY in the morning to shower. Or walk around enough for the staff. Really, I doubt anyone as pregnant as she is would give a damn what the hospital thought about her. And I’m guessing a lot of women would be pretty cranky at this point. I know they say walking is good for inducing labor, but I’m guessing Angelina is probably supposed to be on bed rest. The “source” frames it as though she’s being lazy and just laying about.

And when you’re in the hospital, please tell me what else you’re supposed to do besides talk on the phone, work on the computer, read magazines, etc? Should she be out mowing their lawn? Perhaps grocery shopping? This whole story really irritates me. I’m sorry that Angelina is being grouchy with the staff, but it also sounds like they’re over analyzing her every move. Luckily it sounds like she’ll be out of there in a relatively short period of time.

Here’s Angelina and Brad at Cannes on May 15th. Images thanks to PR Photos.