Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie deliberately cancelled an appearance at a pre-Oscars fundraiser co-hosted by Brad Pitt's ex-wife Jennifer Aniston last month, because she didn't want to hurt the Friends star's feelings, her brother James Haven has claimed.

Jolie, her boyfriend Pitt and Aniston were all due to attend the sixth annual Night Before charity event on the eve of the Academy Awards, but the Mr. and Mrs Smith stars were noticeably absent from the glitzy fundraiser, which was also attended by Hollywood superstars including George Clooney, Cameron Diaz, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

And while Internet gossips claimed a pregnant Jolie and Pitt had pulled out of the event for fear of a showdown with Aniston, Haven insists the rumours couldn't be further from the truth.

He says, "Angie is an incredibly strong but also incredibly sensitive woman, and she would always be careful when another woman's feelings are concerned.

"She'd go out of her way to make sure there was no situation that would hurt another woman because of her, and I'm talking about a situation like one of Brad's ex partners or his ex-wife."

Pitt and Aniston were married for five years before splitting in January 2005. Less than three months later, Pitt began a relationship with Jolie, who he had met on the set of Mr. and Mrs Smith - but both stars denied media speculation of an affair, insisting they only got together after Pitt and Aniston separated.

Jolie and Pitt are now said to be expecting their second biological child, although reports have yet to be confirmed. They already have a daughter, Shiloh, and three adopted kids: Maddox, Pax Thien and Zahara.

(China Daily/Agencies March 7, 2008)