( CNN ) -- Angelina Jolie may not have been by Brad Pitt 's side , but she was certainly on his mind . Pitt attended the New York premiere of his new film , `` World War Z , '' without Jolie , who was `` getting ready for World Refugee Day , '' Pitt told the assembled reporters . But asked to describe his feelings for his fiancee , he did n't mince words . `` She has always been the brave , bold individual that I fell for -- and sexy as ever , '' he said . Jolie recently announced she had undergone a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery after learning that she carried a mutation of the BRCA1 gene , which sharply increases her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer . Jolie 's mother , Marcheline Bertrand , died from ovarian cancer in 2007 . Jolie was with Pitt at the London premiere earlier this month and said that she felt `` great . '' `` I feel wonderful , and I 'm very , very grateful for all the support . It 's meant a lot to me , '' the actress told the BBC . However , not everybody was 100 % behind Jolie . In an interview with the Washington Blade , singer Melissa Etheridge said she believed Jolie had made a `` fearful choice . '' `` I have that gene mutation too and ( the preventive mastectomy ) is not something I would believe in for myself . I would n't call it the brave choice , '' she said . `` I actually think it 's the most fearful choice you can make when confronting anything with cancer . '' Etheridge , a cancer survivor as well , said she prefers to focus on good nutrition and reducing stress levels . Pitt , however , characterizes Jolie as `` heroic . '' He told USA Today in May that the past few months have been `` emotional and beautifully inspiring . '' `` I 'm quite emotional about it , of course , '' he said . He and Jolie have six children . `` World War Z '' opens Friday .
Pitt pays tribute to Brad Pitt . Brad Pitt attended World Refugee Day London premiere alone ; Jolie was preparing for another event . Melissa Etheridge disagrees with Jolie 's course of action for cancer .