Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's marriage looked unshakeable until an argument on their private jet where the actress had to jump between the actor and their son changed everything.
Angelina Jolie is an extremely talented actress who has dazzled fans with her performance for years. Behind the scenes, however, she is also a doting mother of six children from two different marriages.
The actress has enjoyed a not-so-perfect personal life, including multiple adoptions and two painful divorces. Here are details about the actress's challenging adoption of her first son, Maddox; her troubled marriages, and eventual divorces.
Angelina Jolie and her child, Maddox Jolie-Pitt,[left] Maddox Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at an event [right] | Photo: Getty Images
JOLIE'S ADOPTION OF HER FIRST CHILD, MADDOX, WAS PROBLEMATIC
Jolie was in a relationship with Billy Bob Thornton in 2002 when she decided to adopt a child instead of having a biological baby.
The actress felt there were a lot of kids that needed good care and a better life, and it was better to be a mother to a baby who desperately needed good care.
Later, the couple visited an orphanage in Cambodia, a country Jolie fell in love with while filming her "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" in 2000.
Angelina Jolie at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on March 25, 2001 | Photo: Getty Images
While at the orphanage, they decided to adopt a seven-month-old baby they named Maddox. Jolie chose him because the child smiled at her. It was revealed that:
"When she visited the place [orphanage] and saw Maddox, he smiled at her and got up, instead of crying like all the other babies. it touched her heart; that's why she chose Maddox."
The attempts to adopt the child turned problematic because baby trafficking was terrible at that time in Cambodia, and a lot of legal issues had to be sorted out.
Angelina Jolie at The Museum of Radio and Television on September 12, 2005 | Photo: Getty Images
Afterward, Jolie sought the help of her ex-business associate and Cambodian native Sarath Mounh to assist with the adoption. Mounh acted as the baby's dad on his adoption court documents to ease proceedings.
In addition, having a Cambodian father helped ease many of the actress's issues due to being a foreigner. After signing as the father's child, Mounh subsequently signed a document for Jolie to adopt the child.
The actress later received custody of the baby while she was on her refugee-themed movie, "Beyond Borders's" set.
Afterward, Jolie and Thornton declared they were happy to have added him to their family and for him to meet his half brothers. They said in a statement:
"We are very grateful to have him in our lives; his brothers Willie and Harry are very excited to meet him."
On his part, Mounh, who helped the celebrity out with the adoption, revealed he has had no regrets about doing so. He said: "Cambodian people, we were proud and happy for him growing up in such a high-class life."
Actress Angelina Jolie with son Maddox attend the World Premiere of "Shark Tale" in San Marco Square, as part of the 61st Venice Film Festival on September 10, 2004 | Photo: Getty Images
He also wished the child would not forget his Cambodian heritage and culture due to being raised in a foreign land.
Mounh wanted Maddox to learn how he got into an orphanage and appreciate not ending up as a street kid who would otherwise have gotten into drug addiction or glue sniffing. Mounh asserted:
"He is a lucky boy compared to many, many in Cambodia. So it would be nice for him to come back and help the community."
REASONS FOR JOLIE AND THORNTON'S SPLIT
Jolie and Thornton met on the "Pushing Tin" set before they dated and later married in 2000. The wedding ceremony was held in Las Vegas at the Little Church of the West Wedding Chapel. The pair did not share a biological child.
A couple of months after the adoption, Jolie and Thorton's relationship worsened, with them splitting shortly after. After that, a couple of reports revealed that their separation was due to infidelity on Thorton's part, but the actor denied it.
After the split, Jolie revealed that things changed after she adopted Maddox. According to the media, Jolie explained that Thornton was not "ready" for the adoption, adding, "but, uh, he sent me his love. It's kind of uh... tragic."
On his part, Thorton revealed he felt inferior to the actress because while she was working with The United Nations, he just wanted to stay home and watch baseball. He
"I never felt good enough for her."
Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie, pose for photographers, June 5, 2000 | Photo: Getty Images
The pair were also regularly invited to top-notch parties due to their celebrity status, but Thorton always declined because being around rich and important people made him uncomfortable.
The couple also had a reputation for wearing a vial of each other's blood. However, the actor revealed it was all Jolie's idea. The actor declared:
"She thought it would be interesting and romantic if we took a little razorblade and sliced our fingers, smeared a little blood on these lockets, and wore it around our neck."
Their divorce was finalized in 2003, three years after initially tying the knot. Despite this, the pair remain close friends.
Actress Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt arrive at AFI FEST 2015 Presented By Audi Opening Night Gala Premiere Of Universal Pictures' 'By The Sea' at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on November 5, 2015. | Photo: Getty Images
JOLIE AND PITT'S RELATIONSHIP AND PARENTHOOD SEEMED PERFECT
Jolie and Brad Pitt began a romantic relationship while co-starring in the 2005 action movie "Mr. & Mrs. Smith." The early stages of their relationship were full of controversy because Pitt, at the time, was still married to actress Jennifer Aniston.
Aniston and Pitt separated in January 2005 before the former couple filed for divorce three months later. Their divorce was finalized in October 2005. Speaking about the nature in which they started their relationship Jolie said:
"We spent a lot of time contemplating and thinking and talking about what we both wanted in life and realized that we wanted very, very similar things."
Actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the "Kung Fu Panda" premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 61st Cannes International Film Festival on May 15, 2008 | Photo: Getty Images
She explained they remained friends for as long as the actors could, till the opportunity to become romantic came along, and they felt like they should do something.
In 2006 Jolie became pregnant, and Pitt adopted the actress's child from her previous relationship, Maddox. Afterward, the pair went to Ethiopia and adopted Zahara. The kids took on the surname Jolie-Pitt.
Their child Shiloh was born in May 2006, and the couple adopted son Pax from Vietnam in 2007. Their twins, son Knox and daughter Vivienne, were born in July 2008.
US actor Angelina Jolie (L) holds daughter Zahara as husband and actor Brad Pitt (C) carries son Maddox during a stroll on the seafront promenade at the historic Gateway of India, (R) outside their hotel in Mumbai, 12 November 2006. | Photo: Getty Images
Afterward, Pitt praised Jolie for her role as a mother to his kids. He said one of the smartest things he ever did was having her as his kids' mother:
"She's such a great mom. Oh, man, I'm so happy to have her. With a partner like Angie, I know that when I'm working, the kids are happy, safe and prospering."
In 2012 the pair announced their engagement and later exchanged marital vows in France in August 2014.
Actress and UN Goodwill Ambassador for High Commissioner for Refugees Angelina Jolie attends the launch of "Global Action for Children" April 26, 2007 | Photo: Getty Images
JOLIE'S DIVORCE FROM PITT AND SON'S PROTECTION
Jolie and Pitt were arguing on the family's flight home from France when son Maddox verbally jumped in to defend his mother. The actor allegedly lunged at the 15-year-old before Jolie stepped in between them to protect her son.
Pitt was reportedly drunk, and it was the first time he had ever attempted to physically abuse any of his kids. This incident influenced Jolie's decision to file for divorce and request sole physical custody of their children.
The altercation also led to a child abuse investigation by Children and Family Services. Jolie's timing to file for divorce surprised Pitt, who had pleaded with her to do it quietly and consider the well-being of the children.
Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt is seen in Midtown on June 19, 2016 | Photo: Getty Images
During the divorce hearing, Maddox testified against Pitt, and it was revealed he had stopped using Pitt as his last name. He also wanted to change his last name to Jolie legally, but his mother did not support his decision.
After their separation, Jolie explained that she decided to protect her kids. She said, "I separated for the well-being of my family... I continue to focus on their healing." There have also been reports the iconic actress will not consider getting married again.
Angelina Jolie with children Knox Leon Jolie-Pitt, Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt, Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt and Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt attend "The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind" Special Screening at Crosby Street Hotel on February 25, 2019 | Photo: Getty Images
INSIDE BRAD PITT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH MADDOX NOW
Since the private jet altercation that led to his divorce from Jolie, Pitt has experienced a strained relationship with his son Maddox.
The actor has not spent a lot of time with Maddox since the divorce. As a result, he was not even aware of the teen's decision to study biochemistry at South Korea's Yonsei University until moments before the news dropped.
) Actor Brad Pitt, actress Angelina Jolie and son Maddox Jolie-Pitt arrive at The Board Of Governors Of The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences' Governor Awards at Dolby Theatre on November 16, 2013 | Photo: Getty Images
He was also not invited to join Jolie to take Maddox to school. The actress revealed that their relationship is so bad that "Maddox doesn't really see himself as Brad's son," but Jolie has urged her son to "move forward on a new path with Brad."
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