The picture suggests nothing untoward: Brad Pitt deep in conversation with the young co-star of his Oscar-nominated film.

But on Wednesday a source close to Pitt suggested that the photograph – published by Selena Gomez on Instagram in January – may have contributed to the breakdown of his marriage to Angelina Jolie, 41.

Jolie filed for divorce on Tuesday, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple were together for 12 years, marrying in 2014, and have six children.

Jolie was apparently angered by the photograph posted by Gomez, 24, of her and Pitt at the Golden Globes awards, captioned: “Just discussing The Big Short.”

In 2013, Gomez told the Ellen DeGeneres’ show about her first meeting with Pitt, at the MTV awards that April. “They knocked on my door and they said Brad Pitt would like to come in and I was like, ‘He can come in.’ “I was trying to play cool and be really nice.

“As soon as he walked out I ran and I hid under the craft service table for like two minutes because I couldn’t believe it was happening.”

At the Golden Globes this year, Gomez had told reporters she was “on the look out” for Pitt and Ryan Gosling, who also starred in The Big Short.

A source told the National Enquirer: “Angie blew a gasket when she saw Selena’s Instagram, and heard through friends about how Brad and Selena flirted so shamelessly.”

Hopes for an amicable divorce appeared to evaporate on Wednesday after Pitt was said to have reacted angrily to Jolie’s application for sole custody of the children. He reportedly told friends she had “unleashed hell” by allowing damaging stories about his fitness as a parent to be published.

The actor is said to have claimed his six children have been put at risk CREDIT: MASATOSHI OKAUCHI / REX FEATURES

Pitt, 52, was said to be devastated by Jolie’s decision to seek a divorce and is said to be furious at suggestions that she was concerned by his alleged alcohol consumption, marijuana smoking and “anger issues”.

On Wednesday night it was reported that Pitt had offered to have therapy to help salvage his marriage, with friends saying that the actor still “totally adored” Jolie and would never put her or their children “under threat”.

Jolie supposedly hired a private investigator to follow Pitt on set with Marion Cotillard during the filming of Allied this spring.  The French actress is currently expecting her second child with her boyfriend, the actor Guillaume Canet, and is said to be upset at being dragged into the divorce battle.

By coincidence, a trailer for Allied, a Second World War spy drama due out in November, was released the same day as the divorce was announced.

Mr Pitt has reportedly told friends not to speak ill of Ms Jolie, and praised her parenting skills.

Pitt and Jolie with George Clooney and Stacy Keibler CREDIT: Kevork Djansezian

But her decision to demand sole custody, with Mr Pitt only given visitation rights, was unacceptable to the actor. Mr Pitt has told friends: “There’s no chance that’s going to happen,” according to the gossip website TMZ.

It reported that he said she had “unleashed hell” by allowing friends to discuss their relationship, and he was now concerned for the safety of the children.

The couple have three biological children – Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, eight. They also have three adopted children – Maddox, 15, from Cambodia; Pax, 12, from Vietnam; and Zahara, 11, from Ethiopia.

News the couple’s 12-year relationship was over emerged yesterday after Jolie filed legal papers citing ‘irreconcilable differences’ CREDIT:  Splash News

Jolie guest-edited BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour in June and spoke about her children’s upbringing, detailing the diverse languages and range of skills boasted by her brood.

“All the kids are learning different languages,” she said.

“None of my kids want to be actors,” she added. “They are actually very interested in being musicians.”

Jolie was reported to have been upset by Pitt’s strict parenting.

The couple are said to have been arguing for some time and discussing divorce.

But Pitt was only aware of her decision the day before his wife filed the documents. She “feels like a weight has been lifted,” a source told gossip magazine US Weekly. “This has been coming for some time.”

The actress’s lawyer, Robert Offer, would only say: “This decision was made for the health of the family. She will not be commenting, and asks that the family be given its privacy at this time.”

Jennifer Aniston, 47, the actress, whose marriage to Pitt ended after he and Jolie starred together in Mr and Mrs Smith, reportedly told friends “that’s karma for you”.