BRAD PITT - PITT BANS WESTERN JOURNALISTS

BRAD PITT banned western journalists from a press conference he held in Japan last night (12JAN05) to promote his new movie OCEAN'S TWELVE - fearing they would quiz him on his split from JENNIFER ANISTON.

A number of American reporters travelled out to Tokyo, hoping to glean information from Pitt about the end of the couple's four-and-a-half year marriage, but only Japanese journalists were allowed into the conference.

And even the Japanese were banned from asking embarrassing questions.

Frustrated US TV producer ANTONY BEILINSOHN says, "Given the fact that he is going through a difficult time in his relationship, it's to be expected that the world's media is not allowed inside. Disappointed? Definitely. But to be expected? Certainly."

CART COMMON, a DJ for Japanese radio - who was allowed inside - explained Pitt's decision, "Maybe because the foreign press sometimes is really direct and ask rude questions about personal things... while the Japanese press is very polite."