Angelina Jolie and her eldest son Maddox Jolie-Pitt made a rare public appearance together on Wednesday for a very special mother-son date – at a White House state dinner. The pair were guests at an event hosted by US President Joe Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden in honour of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee.
The dinner celebrated “the 70th anniversary of the U.S.–ROK alliance”, and saw guests treated to an incredible music performance which you can see below. The duo dressed to the nines for the soirée, with Angelina looking radiant in a gorgeous ethereal white dress and matching vintage Chanel jacket, and her son looking dapper in a black suit, which he paired with a long black coat.
Maddox, who has loved experimenting with his look over the years, was nearly unrecognisable with his new shaggy hairstyle.
The 21-year-old, who was adopted by Angelina from Cambodia in 2002, is very familiar with South Korea after studying biochemistry at Yonsei University in Seoul.
© Getty ImagesMaddox showed off a new hair style at the event
Explaining their joint appearance at the event, a source close to the actress told PEOPLE, “Asia-America relations are important to Angelina’s family. She and the 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren have had close ties to the region, including South Korea, for many years. Maddox studied at Yonsei University in Seoul.”
Maddox first moved to Seoul in 2019 but was forced to return home to California when the pandemic began in 2020. He continued lessons online, and had to become a “night owl” – as his lessons remained on Korean time.
© Getty ImagesAngelina and Maddox, 21, were dressed to the nines for the lavish affair
“He had to stay back from Korea. He’s going online, and so I think he starts at 6pm at night,” Angelina told Extra that year.
Maddox eventually returned to South Korea in March of 2021 after a year of remote learning.
© Getty ImagesAngelina Jolie and her son Maddox arrive for a State Dinner US President Joe Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden
Angelina previously gushed over her son’s ambitious academic pursuits to PEOPLE in 2019, telling the publication that she is “nothing but proud” of him.
© Getty ImagesAngelina and her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren, Shiloh, Zahara, Angelina, Vivienne, Maddox and Knox at the The Eternals UK Premiere in 2021
She added: “I look forward to all he will do.”
Maddox through the years: in pictures
© Getty ImagesAngelina Jolie and her son Maddox attend the World Premiere of “Shark Tale” in 2004, two years after his adoption
Angelina with Maddox arriving at the 61st Venice Film Festival in 2004
Angelina pictured with daughter Zahara and Maddox as the visit the Central Park Carousel in New York City in 2007
Before separating, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were often photographed travelling with their six 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren
Maddox accompanied his parents, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Awards back in 2013
Maddox with dad Brad Pitt, from who he is estranged now, and siblings Pax and Shiloh at the ‘Unbroken’ film premiere in Los Angeles in 2014
Maddox looked dapper back in 2014 whilst supporting mum Angelina at the Los Angeles Maleficent premiere
Maddox pictured back in 2016 in New York
Maddox supports Angelina at the “First They Killed My Father” premiere during the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival
Source: hellomagazine