Brad Pitt has explained the real reason behind his now-infamous ‘Maestro’ awards joke about Bradley Cooper, shedding light on how their mutual love of football—and rivalry as fans—played a major part. Addressing the Brad Pitt Maestro awards joke during a recent podcast, Pitt revealed that good-natured teasing between friends and sports fans was at the heart of his comments.
Pitt Sheds Light on the Origins of His Awards Show Joke
The playful jab first surfaced when Pitt presented the Outstanding Performer of the Year award to Bradley Cooper at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Even though Pitt firmly believes that “Maestro” stands among the decade’s best films, he could not resist poking fun at Cooper’s misfortunes on the awards circuit, referencing Cooper’s well-known Philadelphia Eagles fandom. Pitt, who hails from Springfield, Missouri and is a Kansas City Chiefs supporter, discussed this on Travis and Jason Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast, where conversation revolved around F1 racing, sports movies, and the spirited rivalry between the Chiefs and Eagles. Cooper has long been a prime Eagles fan—a fact Pitt used to fuel his joke during the ceremony.
“I have a confession to make: I’m friends with Bradley Cooper,”
—Brad Pitt, Actor
“He was getting an award for ‘Maestro,’ [which] is still probably one of the best movies of this decade. And I was giving him this award and he’s been nominated like 18 times for the Oscars.”
—Brad Pitt, Actor
In reality, Cooper has been nominated for 12 Academy Awards, not the exaggerated figure Pitt joked about. Cooper not only starred in but also directed and co-wrote the Leonard Bernstein biopic, “Maestro,” for Netflix.
During the awards presentation, Pitt made a pointed reference to Cooper’s sports allegiance:
“I closed with ‘Listen, he’s been nominated the 19,000th time. You know, if he doesn’t get it, it’s OK, he’s used to it. He’s a Philadelphia Eagles fan.’”
—Brad Pitt, Actor
Sports Rivalry Fuels the Banter Between Friends
The timing of Pitt’s Eagles joke was significant. It came nearly one year after the Chiefs’ dramatic win over the Eagles at Super Bowl LVII—a game where both Travis and Jason Kelce played on opposing teams. Pitt’s words were also delivered soon after the Eagles’ elimination from the 2024 NFL postseason, right as the Chiefs advanced to Super Bowl LVIII.
Despite Cooper’s impressive 12 Oscar nominations, he has yet to win an Academy Award. Meanwhile, Pitt has garnered seven nominations and won as both actor and producer.
“I’m not saying that I have the power to affect a game in any way,”
—Brad Pitt, Actor
“I don’t adhere to that kind of hubris.”
—Brad Pitt, Actor
Jason Kelce promptly responded to Pitt’s humility with enthusiasm, reinforcing the playful nature of the exchange. Following this, Pitt noted that even after the Eagles, without Jason, defeated the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, the dynamic between him and Cooper changed—at least temporarily. Pitt remarked that Cooper was “happy this year.”
“We didn’t talk for two months,”
—Brad Pitt, Actor
Pitt added that Cooper gave him space to process his disappointment after his team’s loss, a testament to their friendship despite fierce fandoms and ongoing football rivalry.
The Interplay of Hollywood, Sports, and Friendship
This recent episode gives new context to the widely discussed Brad Pitt Maestro awards joke, showing how competitive sports loyalties can spill over into Hollywood’s biggest nights. Pitt’s comments highlight the bonds formed through both professional admiration and shared rivalries, with humor serving as a bridge. As both men continue their careers—Cooper with his notable work in “Maestro” and Pitt with his ongoing projects—their vibrant friendship and good-natured competition remain major talking points, especially when industry awards and NFL teams intersect.
