A few weeks ago, Us Weekly had an exclusive story claiming that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt “wanted” to adopt a child from Syrian. My mind went to the thousands of Syrian refugees being taken in by Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq, Jordan and Turkey. Many of those refugees are children, and many of those children are orphans. But! As I said at the time, it’s not like Angelina and Brad can just stop by a refugee camp and grab a child. The protocol for adopting refugees is actually much more difficult that adopting a child from a stable nation-state, and Angelina would know that. Still, it was interesting to me that Us Weekly’s sources were so insistent on this idea that Brad and Angie were ready to adopt again. And now this…
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are planning to adopt another child, this time from war-torn Syria, according to friends. The Hollywood couple have made no secret of the fact that they want to expand their family of six children. They already have Cambodian-born Maddox, 13, Vietnamese Pax, 11, Ethiopian Zahara, 10, biological daughter Shiloh, eight, and six-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.
A business associate, who has known Brad and Angelina for more than a decade, said yesterday: “She has been moved to tears on several occasions over the plight of youngsters orphaned in the Syrian conflict. Now she has sorted out her health issues, she and Brad believe the time is right to adopt another orphan from there, most likely a daughter.”
In an impassioned plea in November 2013 the actress called on the world to act “to save a generation of traumatised, isolated and suffering Syrian children from catastrophe”. Now she and husband Brad, 51, are ready to follow up on her appeal by legally adopting a Syrian child.
Another friend revealed: “This is something that has become very close to their hearts. They would like to accomplish it, if possible, before the end of summer because, even though they are both busy, their diaries are relatively light for most of 2015. Angelina’s feeling good about turning 40 in June with a clean bill of health but what will make her happiness complete is seeing a new little face at the dinner table.”
I have two simultaneous trains of thought. One thought: where there’s smoke, there’s fire. It seems very suspicious to me that somewhat legit outlets like Express and Us Weekly are saying similar things, claiming that sources close the Jolie-Pitts are telling them that it’s happening. The second train of thought? It’s utter bulls—t because Brad and Angelina’s friends know well enough to keep their mouths shut. Brad and Angelina keep their gossip game pretty tight, especially on matters of their family.
So, what do you think? I’m actually coming around to the idea that Brad and Angelina might be looking to adopt again, but I think these details are wrong – I just don’t see how they could legally adopt a Syrian refugee?
Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN.
Brad’s reps said this story is false. I believe him. Friends of theirs don’t leak this kind of stuff, and they are the type to have it come from them.
Agree. They denied it when US printed it. In fact, it was denied within the body of the story and they have denied this. And again, adopting from Syria is out of the question with their Sharia’ah laws. And their friends don’t talk.
She had her ovaries removed, so this will be the story line now in tabloids. And US is not what I would call legitimate. They are not on the level of In Touch, but they have told quite a few whoppers lately as well.
A rumor went around a few years ago that they were adopting a child. This is just another bogus story.
Repyling to self. This is what is currently on the US Embassy web site: http://damascus.usembassy.gov/service/adoption.html
Information on International Adoptions
Syria, as a Shari’ah law country, does not recognize or provide for adoptions of Muslim children. Several attempts by U.S. prospective adoptive parents have failed, although technically some provision was made for certain Christian denominations to adopt. Presidential Decree number 76 of September 26, 2010 nullified the previous personal status law and did not include any specific adoption provisions for non-Muslims. The Embassy’s understanding is that until specific Decree 76-compliant previsions have been developed to address adoption for specific denominations, it is not possible to adopt in Syria. The Embassy will update our web site as new information is received.
So, unless this has changed, this story should just stop.
Seriously – when will so called journalists do the research before writing their articles?
It’s not possible to adopt from a war torn country especially a Muslim country doesn’t allow non Muslims to adopted.
And a rep from the JPs denied the story via People magazine a few weeks ago.
More importantly – the JPs friends and staff are fiercely loyal and will never break the trust. That has been proven multiple times over the years.
US Weekly prints bogus stories half the time. So do all the others like In Touch Weekly like 80 percent of the time, except like People Magazine who celebs seem to go to to release something. People just love to comment on all of them as if true especially if it is someone they don’t like if the story is negative.
We’ve seen time and time again how tight their camp is, we rarely get any leaks. Plus isn’t it very hard or close to impossible to adopt Syrian refugees?
Yes it is virtually impossible. In Syria it is the religious authorities who can determine adoption. The Christian leaders don’t want to upset any apple carts so they won’t get involved. With sharia’s laws on distribution of inheritance they don’t allow adoption. So unless they can change Christian leaders minds (who have refused to be swayed in 80 years) and they get the US Government to protect the child and maybe fight a war or something for it as Syria has not signed up to the Hague agreement, there are no bilateral or international agreements with Syria, there won’t be a Syrian adoption.
Jolie has been vocal in the past about the need for adoptions to proceed very carefully with everything completely legit (I think some people thought she was criticizing Madonna, not by name, because Madonna used her celebrity status/wealth to get around some requirements like to live in the Malawi for a full year before adopting there). My understanding is that adopting orphans in the midst of a humanitarian crisis is *not* considered okay because it may turn out that close relatives are still alive and want them. (Although it seems hard on kids to make them wait for years in an unstable situation, and I wish international adoption had provisions for open adoptions and keeping families in touch).
I think someone misinterpreted the fact that the Jolie Pitt foundation started the construction of schools for children in Syrian refugees camp & the person thought that they were adopting from Syria
It’s possible but difficult. It’s a long process. One of my family friends adopted a Palestinian orphan refugee but apparently it took a long time to do that – there are still some issues. A) most Arab nations have very strict procedures for adoption (couples must be married, sharing the same religion, have to legally be a ‘kafalah’, etc). The fact that they are refugees is problematic b/c extended family of the child can also challenge the adoption and so on. Very difficult, but not impossible.
They could be tho. They did after all get married last summer so I suspect maybe they are?
This sounds like Angelina and Brad were out someplace, the topic of the war in Syria came up. Angelina or Brad made a comment along the lines ” I feel for all the orphans of that war. I wish there was something we could do” Someone overheard this and ran to a tabloid, who then turned it into “Brad and Angelina are adopting a Syrian orphan”
The JPs were able to get married in secret. These people do not leak anything.
get married, AND Jolie had the two surgeries without so much as a peep.
yeah, won’t buy any story of adoption until it comes from them.
I don’t think any of her/their adoptions were known until the process was completed and the child was at home or coming home with them.
When did Us become a legitimate source? I haven’t heard of Express but it sounds like the same story from Us. The adopting from Syria has been around from months and I can’t see how it could be true. These children most likely have family and just got separated when fleeing. I have a hard time believing that the government or international groups would allow foreign adoptions to be be completed.
“just got separated” Just? These families are fleeing slaughter and dying while doing so. To use the word just trivializes the constant, non-stop terror these children are living, breathing and sleeping daily.
I don’t think that’s how Louise meant it.
I think she meant that the child is alone SOLELY due to them being separated from a parent, and NOT because the parents are dead. I really don’t think she was trying to trivialize anything, only point out an issue that will prevent authorities from allowing adoptions during a time like this.
it’s not like “eh, it’s just a scratch” type of usage. hope that makes sense.
I just get the feeling her public persona is a complete facade.
People who have actually met her from her friends, co stars and fellow humanitarian workers all only have nice things to say about her.
You cannot act being good for almost 4 decades – no matter how good an actor you are.
My aunt works in a high position in the UN and has worked with Angelina several times. My aunt has worked with several celebs and never ever said anything about them (good or bad) but she once told us that Angelina was the real deal – friendly, easy going, genuinly compassionate about her humanitarian work and also very very inteligent. I know several of you won’t believe me which I don’t mind – I know my aunt and I trust her words and personally experience over the tabs anytime.
Meaning….she secretly hates kids? Lol
lol. This is such an overreaction.
I think she really carefully manages how she comes across, that’s all. I didn’t say she was bad, or evil or really the witch from Maleficent or anything like that, just that I feel her public persona is a facade.
There’s nothing wrong with doing that and I may not be right, sure, it was just an opinion I have from reading about her.
You’re the one who decided my comment must be negative. Read what people say before getting tetchy 🙂
Talk about over-reaction. Minx’ comment was playful and tongue in cheek and not aggressive or mean. Re-read your response to her. Totally over the top compared to what she wrote. I think you’re the one overreacting.
I wasn’t tetchy, I was joking about the kids.
But I guess I don’t know what you mean by “facade”–she doesn’t really want to do the humanitarian work she does? She secretly hates Brad? She is a crank towards her children?
To me she seems like a pretty straightforward person; what you see is what you get. One telling thing about her is that she doesn’t have a PR person. If she was so concerned about her public image she would probably hire someone to take care of that.
Ah sorry, I didn’t realise it was a joke. So apologies for that.
Sorry my over the top remark upset you Tarsha.
I actually think she’s probably more flawed and interesting than the official image of her is presented – that’s all.
Not that she’s a crank or hates Brad, no.
eh, I don’t really think she has an “official image”…I think that she IS flawed, which I don’t think she’s ever really shied away from…that is, I don’t she’s ever really tried to hide that she’s flawed…she’s talked about her past and how she’s grown from that person, and acknowledges that she’s a work in progress.
and, I think, that makes her more interesting.
geez,I’m not even a superfan and listen to me!…lol
@klein: Maleficent was a fairy.
Well that’s your problem.
Don’t take it personally.
Well how did you come to this conclusion ?
I agree with you. She seems very calculated in her image. It was proven in those emails that she was campaigning hard for Unbroken to get awards and even Pascal who was defending Angie agreed she is not a good director at all. I don’t get the blind fan worship of Jolie or Pitt. They are just like any other Hollywood stars really. I also don’t like how they flaunted an affair in the open public. Not an Aniston fan but how these 2 treated her was wrong.
lestat there was no affair. Brad and Angelina did nothing wrong and didn’t treat Aniston wrong at all. In fact, they were very respectful, very dignified and never flaunted their relationship at all. Contrast to how Aniston and Theroux flaunted their affair in front of Heidi Bivens, his partner of 14 years who shared an apartment with Theroux and fled their apartment the weekend Aniston and Theroux went public. Aniston and Theroux even did a series of intimate photographs, one week after Heidi fled their apartment. That is insensitive and the very definition of flaunting. Aniston treated Brad and Angelina wrong and Heidi wrong. PS those emails do not ‘prove’ that she campaigned for Unbroken, at all. She passionately believed in it, yes, but there is no evidence whatsoever that she was campaigning for an actual Oscar. I don’t get the blind hatred of Jolie and Pitt, given that they’ve never done a thing to hurt anyone and have always been very restraining, respectful, mindful of others and dignified in their relationship. They do a lot of good, they have never done anything bad. What is there to hate? I don’t get it.
The United Nations put out a press release a few weeks ago, that this story was not true.
Adoption is not allowed from Refugee Camps, Countries in an active Civil War, non Muslims are not allowed to Muslim children.
A few weeks ago it was a Syrian boy called Moussa now it is a girl, what the heck happened to him.
My personal opinion, the baby days are over, the twins will be seven in July, the longest space between their kids, is about two years.
Brad will be 52 and Angie 40 this year, it was like six years of just changing diapers,
The Express story is from the Daily Mail.The story has been denied multiple times.
They might be looking to adopt but Syria seems like an impossibility. Syria does not allow non-Muslim domestic adoptions, and foreign adoptions are prohibited to everyone, Muslim or not.
I think Brad and Angie feel their family is complete, and the adoption rumor, like the pregnant Aniston rumor, has taken on a life of its own.
I’m sure she would love to adopt all the children that she sees suffering in such horrible conditions…how could anyone with a heart, not want to take them all home. But, you can’t…it’s impossible….
I finally watched Unbroken, this weekend…You all know I love Angie, but the movie wasn’t very good…I don’t know if it was the Cohen’s script, which was awful or the directing, or both. But, this was a story that should have had me in tears…I cry very easily, and a movie that should have moved me and it didn’t…something was lacking…jmo
Oh, thanks for that. I had heard it wasn’t very good so was on the fence. I think I’ll skip it, because I’m sure parts of it are awful to watch and it doesn’t sound worth it.
GNAT….I really, really wanted to love it! Louie story is so inspiring….but, it just wasn’t very good. I did turn to my husband, after a particularly, brutal part watching the POW’s being abused, and say “we can never complain about anything, ever again, after what these men went through”… Thanks to all our brave soldiers! My beloved Dad was in WWII. He was in Africa, Germany and France. He never told us (his kids) any horrible war stories. He would tell us about all the men he met, from all over the the United States and how they were all brothers. He went to reunions for many years, and met up with the guys he served with. He was so proud…and at his funeral soldiers draped his coffin with a flag and played taps, and then folded the flag and gave it to my Mom…It gave me chills and made me even prouder of my Dad, than I already was….
You should be proud of him. I can’t imagine what he went through. My dad was in the navy for three months and the war was over, so he was just too young, but my husband’s father was in for years and he couldn’t talk about it, either. We take so much for granted, sometimes, including the enormous sacrifices other have made for us. I am so grateful to your father and all of his fellow soldiers.
Mrs.BPitt I think I was 40 years old before I found out my father fought in the Battle of the Bulge and received a Purple Heart. They really didn’t boast or brag, they just did their duty. And they were so young, doing a monumental task. I am so proud of my father and miss him every day.
I was so surprised about the script. When I first heard about the project, everyone was going on and on about how the Coen Bros were writing the script. And it was not great. It was okay. Serviceable. But it’s like they needed some $$, so they took it for a weekend.
With Angelina’s directing, while I loved the film (and for me, “loved” means I need to not want to turn off a movie within ten minutes), I think the pacing was off. It was good up until the last quarter, when they go to that new camp, have to dig coal, and The Bird tortures Louis one final time…..I think something about that part was off. I don’t know. It’s hard, because then it’s true. Louis was almost completely broken down…and then he had to pick up a heavy wooden beam and hold it over his head, and he did it.
But you may not have liked the torture scenes? I didn’t think they were all that brutal. I guess I’m of the generation that is used to blood and gore. It was more psychologically horrifying to me. To know that that person had it out for you, and *could* beat you whenever they wanted….but you didn’t know when.
It was not the Cohens script since they were just editors. It was Angie’s lack of directing skills and most of the actors except for Jack O’Connell were weak in their roles. Garrett Hedlund, Finn Wittrock, and especially Miyavi were poor actors I thought.
It’s pretty much impossible to adopt from Syria even for the great Brad and Angie . If they want more kids, there are plenty in America with bad lives too. They probably have the family they want and are done adopting. 6 kids is more than most can handle and spend time with, if they can that’s perfect
I saw Unbroken and was disappointed. If she does more, I hope they’re better. I knew it wasn’t going to be great from comments I read, but I thought it was going to be a little better
They’ve already adopted three children, so a story about them adopting another one has a high likelihood of becoming true eventually, just like a story that Charlie Sheen is planning to beat up his next girlfriend, or that Leo is planning to date a Victoria’s Secret model.
There Jolie-Pitt Foundations is building homes in Syrian Refugee camps to give those people displaced a better place to live. That should be the story; but no the silly adoption story is what is making news..
They have 6 kids. Why is it still news for them to add more. I think after 7 years of not having any kids they seem to be DONE>
Which country would make it legal? Syria won’t. Jen2’s link shows that Syrian law wouldn’t allow such an adoption. Also, it would bring favorable attention to the rebels, which Syria would be against.
I think what she might do instead is donate time and money to organizations that take care of Syrian refugee children.
I would expect them, after six kids and at their age, to focus on helping communities so children don’t have to leave their home culture to have a healthy and happy life. Which seems to be what they are doing on Syria.