That's my boy! Angelina Jolie beams alongside her son Maddox, 21, at the White House after he returns to US following college stint in South Korea

Details

Published on Saturday, 06 May 2023 14:47

Written by Daily mail

         Angelina Jolie and her son Maddox were among the high-profile names to attend the White House state dinner in the nation's capitol on Wednesday. This year, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK alliance. Angelina, 47, and her eldest child, 21, were dressed to the nines for the lavish affair and had the pleasure of witnessing President Yoon belt out Don McLean's 1971 hit American Pie.Maddox - who was adopted by the actress from Cambodia in 2002 - is very familiar with South Korea after studying biochemistry at Yonsei University in Seoul. Angelina flew to South Korea to send her son off to college in August 2019.Although he 'got accepted to other universities,' Maddox ultimately decided that Yonsei was the right fit for him, as reported by PEOPLE at the time. Along with biochemistry courses, the outlet claimed that Maddox was 'studying Korean language.' But Maddox's study abroad was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic which forced him to trade in-person classes for online school. As a result, he returned to his family home in Los Angeles in March 2020, according to Angelina, who opened up about her son's education in an interview with Extra that year. Because his classes remained on Korea time, the Changeling star revealed that Maddox had no choice but to become a night owl. 'He had to stay back from Korea. He's going online, and so I think he starts at 6pm at night,' she told the outlet. Maddox eventually retuned to South Korea in March of 2021 after a year of remote learning. The Sun reported in 2021 that classes - specifically 'labs, studio and field study courses' - recommenced that April.Angelina previously gushed over her son's ambitious academic pursuits to PEOPLE in 2019, telling the outlet that she is 'nothing but proud' of him. She added: 'I look forward to all he will do.' It's unclear whether or not Maddox has officially completed his degree at Yonsei.
         For Wednesday's White House state dinner, the mother-son duo walked into the Oval Office arm-in-arm. Angelina looked radiant in an off white, vintage Chanel blazer worn over a flowy white dress with a deep V-neckline. The Hackers star accessorized with a strand of large pearls and matching drop earrings. Her light brunette hair fell onto her shoulders in loose curls and her famously plump pout was painted bright red. Maddox cut a stylish figure for the occasion by wearing a fitted black peacoat over a white button-down shirt and tie. He slipped on slender trousers and black dress shoes to complete his White House look.Angelina looked all too proud to be attending the annual soiree with her son by her side. Friendship and cooperation were the theme of President Yoon's visit, which included a new military pact to counter the growing nuclear threat to North Korea; an Oval Office meeting between the two leaders; a formal welcome ceremony on the South Lawn; and a visit to the Korean Warm memorial. At the dinner, held in the East Room of the White House under the hundreds of cherry blossoms decorating the area, Biden toasted their relationship as 'allies and friends' and Yoon described it as an 'ironclad alliance,' despite leaked documents suggesting the U.S. was spying on Seoul. Along with Angelina and Maddox, home improvement stars Chip and Joanna Gaines and one Congressional Republican - Sen. Mitt Romney, who voted in favor of former President Donald Trump's impeachments - were among the famous attendees. Angelina and the Gainses were seated at the head table, as well as Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim, Romney and departing Amb. Susan Rice, who has been serving as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council. The menu for Wednesday's dinner was designed by Chef Edward Lee, a Korean-American chef who's known for infusing traditional American classics with Korean flavors. The entertainment portion of the evening consists of Broadway stars Norm Lewis, Lea Salonga and Jessica Vosk performing American musical classics. Angelina shares Maddox, as well as sons Pax, 19, Knox Léon, 14, and daughters Zahara, 18, Shiloh, 16 and Vivienne, 14, with her ex-husband Brad Pitt. Maddox, Pax and Zahara are all adopted. Maddox was adopted as an infant by Angelina in 2002 - prior to her relationship with Brad.In 2006, Brad legally adopted Maddox and his last name was changed to 'Jolie-Pitt.' Angelina and Brad, 58, split in 2016 after just two years of marriage but over a decade together. They are still in the midst of a contentious divorce and it's been alleged that a 'physical altercation' between Brad and Maddox in 2016 was the final straw for Angelina. It's also been alleged that Maddox later testified against his adoptive father as part of the former couple's ongoing divorce proceedings, which involves hashing out custody and the division of assets.

source : Daily Mail