It has been 25 years since Shania Twain released That Don't Impress Me Much. The song became a top 10 hit because it spoke to a generation of women who had dated their fair share of narcissistic men. While the song was meant to be fun and light-hearted, when it named-dropped one of the most bankable and attractive actors of the time, the song put a face to men who were behaving badly. A man who was already fighting fan perception that he was a narcissist. That man was Brad Pitt. And his name would forever be synonymous with telling men that looks were not the be-all, end-all of attraction.
By using the Babylon star's name in the song, speculation swirled that there was beef between Twain and Pitt. After all, when the song was released, the Come On Over singer was mum about why she included Pitt's name in the lyrics. For his part, Pitt was tight-lipped as well. This all added to the secrecy as to why the Fight Club star was singled out, creating quite a scandal in the process. And as a result, the rumor mill has been fed over the years as to what happened between Twain and Pitt that she would publicly call him out in a song.
Why Shania Twain Singled Out Brad Pitt In Her Song
Try as they might, reporters were unable to find a connection between Twain and Pitt that would cause the You're Still The One singer to single him out in a song. As it turns out, there never was any conflict between the Bullet Train star and Twain.
Instead, inspiration struck the country star as a result of a scandal Pitt was involved in. And the rest, as they say, is history.
"You want to know the truth about this story?... I remember I had a girlfriend visiting me and it was near Christmas and we were baking cookies," Twain explained.
"I was writing this album and there was a scandal of [Pitt] and Gwyneth [Paltrow] where there was naked photos of him [in Playgirl magazine, which Pitt later successfully sued for publishing the paparazzi photos]. And this was like all the rage. I just thought ‘I don’t know what all the fuss is about.’"
Twain went on to say, "I’m like, 'Well that don’t impress me much.' I mean what is all the fuss? We see people naked every day. That’s really what I thought."
"I wasn’t picking on Brad Pitt," Twain concluded. "But that was just the association in that moment and things we make fusses about and whatever. Of course, it could have been any gorgeous guy."
As a result of the circulation of naked photos of Pitt, Twain capitalized on and made a hit song from it. And until recently, his name lived in infamy because of it.
Brad Pitt's Reaction To Being Name-Dropped In 'That Don't Impress Me Much'
Over the years, fans would have expected that Pitt would have had some reaction to being name-dropped in Twain's song. But it was not until just recently that the Ad Astra star made any comment whatsoever about the song bearing his namesake.
In December 2022, Twain shocked audiences when she performed That Don't Impress Me Much at the People's Choice Awards. When audiences expected Twain to belt out Pitt's name, she instead called out Ryan Reynolds.
While the move was all in good fun to update the song, it also allowed fans to finally see how Pitt felt about the song when he was asked about how he felt about being replaced by Reynolds and having the Deadpool star "steal his thunder."
"He didn’t steal it. I think we can share the wealth there,” Pitt lightheartedly stated. "Ryan’s a good egg, too. He deserves some love."
Pitt went on to offer up other names that Twain could include in the song, were she to grow tired of using Reynolds' name.
"Next time she ought to sing it to Austin Butler," The Lost City star said. But then added, "Maybe Leo in between and then Austin Butler."
It appears by Pitt's answer that being called out in Twain's song never left a negative impression on him, revealing just who the real Pitt is, which is someone who can take a good-natured joke.
However, it could also be because Pitt and Twain have never met that Pitt did not really have a reaction to the song in the first place.
Brad Pitt And Shania Twain Have Never Met
Given that the entertainment industry is not all that large, in the decades that have gone by since That Don't Impress Me Much was released, it would have made sense for Twain and Pitt to have come in contact with one another. But as it turns out, the two have never met.
After Twain gave her explanation as to why she included Pitt's name in her hit song rather than any other handsome man, she was asked if Pitt reached out to her.
"He hasn't," Twain admitted "He didn't at the time either, so 20 years later, I don't know — we'll see."
Fast-forward five years to when Twain changed Pitt's name to Reynolds. Again, the question was asked if the You've Got a Way singer and the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star had come into contact. The answer was surprising.
"I wrote about Brad Pitt. I never met Brad Pitt," Twain explained. "I think he's avoiding me — honestly."
Does this mean that there is some hostility that Pitt is holding onto as a result of Twain using his name? Highly unlikely given his recent interviews regarding the song in general.
The more likely explanation is that while those in music and films are not that large a community, they are large enough that Pitt and Twain do not mingle in the same social circles, meaning Twain does not share the same close friends that Pitt has.
But rest assured that if the two ever do meet, the song will become a topic of conversation yet again.