In a new interview with Vogue India, the usually extremely private Angelina Jolie is opening up about the reasons behind her decision to divorce her now ex-husband, actor Brad Pitt. Pitt is also the father of all six of her children.
According to BuzzFeed, after being together for 11 years and married for two, Jolie cited “irreconcilable differences.” However, now the actress and humanitarian is elaborating on that.
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While the interview mostly focused on her work with refugee camps, “I found myself a student at their feet,” Jolie told Vogue India. “I have learned more from [refugees] about family, resilience, dignity, and survival than I can express.” The mom of six did get personal when prompted.
When Vogue’s Liam Freeman asked, “After choosing to separate from your partner and children’s father, actor Brad Pitt, how have you sustained a healthy environment for your children,” Jolie didn’t mince her words when responding.
“I separated for the wellbeing of my family. It was the right decision. I continue to focus on their healing. Some have taken advantage of my silence, and the children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds. In fact, they are six very brave, very strong young people.”
Jolie didn’t go into detail about why her and Pitt’s divorce was for the wellbeing of their children, but it is clear that she does not regret her decision.
Freeman also asked Jolie about raising both adopted and biological kids. “You have three adopted children, Maddox, Pax and Zahara, and three children by birth, Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox,” Freeman began. “What are the most important things to consider when raising adopted and biological siblings?”
The key, as Jolie revealed is making sure they all know that “each is a beautiful way of becoming family.”
“What is important is to speak with openness about all of it and to share. ‘Adoption’ and ‘orphanage’ are positive words in our home. With my adopted children, I can’t speak of pregnancy, but I speak with much detail and love about the journey to find them and what it was like to look in their eyes for the first time.”
“All adopted children come with a beautiful mystery of a world that is meeting yours.”
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Despite the pandemic, Jolie is continuing her work caring and supporting refugees and camps from afar.