When news broke last week that Angelie Jolie had filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, it sent the tabloid media into a spin.
Sadly, but perhaps inevitably, another big Hollywood name got sucked into the vortex of speculation and suspicion around the split: French actress Marion Cotillard.
Now, the 40-year-old’s partner of nine years, Guillaume Canet, has stepped up to defend her against rumours she was having an affair with her Allied co-star.
Couple goals. Image: Getty.
In a furious Instagram post, the actor/director took aim at the tabloids and the trolls that have perpetuated the "stupid and unfounded" accusations about his long-term partner.
"I don’t usually make it a habit to comment on rumours made about us," he wrote [translated from French].
"I also don’t usually talk about my private life until now. I have always protected it attentively. But the fury of the tabloids, the venal stupidity of some people calling themselves journalists, the haters who feel braver behind a keyboard, drive me to speak of the pride, love, respect and admiration I have for Marion staying so strong and intelligent in the face of all these stupid and unfounded accusations.
"I think we’re all living with much more important things at the moment and now it’s time to move on and raise the bar a bit. Even if there’s so much work for some, I want to be positive.
"And as Marion said so well, I hope you get better and aspire to something else in your life besides constantly sending shit!"
Listen: Mamamia Out Loud dissects the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie split. (Post continues after audio.)
The 43-year-old's passionate takedown follows Cotillard's own post last week, in which she dismissed the "crafted conversation" happening in the press.
The 43-year-old's passionate takedown follows Cotillard's own post last week, in which she dismissed the "crafted conversation" happening in the press.
"Many years ago, I met the man of my life, father of our son and of the baby we are expecting," she wrote on Instagram. "He is my love, my best friend, the only one that I need.
"And to all the media and the haters who are quick to pass judgment, I sincerely wish you a swift recovery."
Canet and Cotillard have a five-year-old son, Marcel, and are currently expecting their second child.