Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are two of the most famous people in the US. Not only are they known for their successful acting careers but also their charity work and a huge family. Throughout their relationship, they adopted many children and were intent on raising them properly. Within no time, the Shilo became the center of everyone’s attention.
Brangelina
In 2002, Angelina Jolie decided to adopt her first child Maddox, a 6 month- old orphan from Cambodia. This was right after her divorce with Billy Bob Thorton, and she adopted a second baby from Ethiopia three years later. However, the most exciting moment was when Brad and Angelina received this news.
Brangelina
Building The Family
When Angelina first adopted Maddox, she was a single mother going through a recent breakup. However, when she got together with Bradd she finally had some help and they decided to add another member to their family, Zahara from Ethiopia. America was following their journey and was invested in their story. When they learned Angelina was pregnant with Brad’s baby, everyone went crazy.
Building The Family
Escaping the Media
The media was persistently following Brangelina at the beginning of their relationship. While they were hoping to lead a private life, this was difficult with pesty paparazzi following their every move. They couldn’t take a step without being photographed.
Escaping The Media
To Africa
Things got so bad that they were forced to flee to Namibia so she could give birth to her child. This made it difficult for desperate media outlets to capture a photo since they were far away in the south of Africa.
To Africa
Expanding
The family was now at a headcount of five but they weren’t done yet. In 2006, Shilo came into the world and soon afterward the couple decided to adopt Pax, a three-year-old orphan born in Vietnam.
Expanding
Adoption Difficulties
While the family is certainly international and diverse, Angelina makes it her mission to give an equal amount of love and compassion for each of her children. They experienced several struggles with their adoption process, but this made their desire to adopt that more extreme.
Adoption Difficulties
Adopting In Ethiopia
These Hollywood Stars have the same problems regular people face. When they were trying to adopt Zahara in 2005 this process was particularly challenging, and Brad had even greater complications when he tried getting custody of Jolie’s children Maddox and Zahara.
Adopting In Ethiopia
From Jolie To Jolie-Pitt
When he decided to adopt the children, Angelina legally changed her children’s names to Jolie-Pitt that same year. America went wild over this and became in love with Brangelina all over again. To them, this name change signified romance and affection.
From Jolie To Jolie Pitt
Exciting News
Okay, enough about that, now on to Jolie’s first pregnancy. The media was already excited about the couple’s adoptions, but Jolie being pregnant was a whole other story. Although they were constantly being followed, they were intent on keeping their private lives private. This was not as successful as they hoped, but their children were determined to stay lowkey.
Exciting News
Where It All Began
The couple’s origin is a bit messy considering Brad was still married to Jennifer Anniston. They first officially met on the set of the film Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but couldn’t technically be together yet.
Where It All Began
Affair Rumors
Brad was immediately smitten with Jolie and left his wife Jennifer Aniston. The media took this and exaggerated it to say Pitt had cheated on his wife. However, Angelina was the product of a broken family herself (her father cheated on her mother) and she wasn’t looking to repeat history.
Affair Rumors
Much Anticipated Birth
Although their beginning was exactly smooth sailing, the focus soon shifted when Angelina had a bun in the oven. America was more secure with their relationship when pregnancy was involved, and the couple fled to Africa for a private birth. On May 27, 2006, Shiloh, a baby girl, came to the world.
Much Anticipated Birth
Photos For Charity
Funny enough the couple took advantage of how desperate everyone was to get a glimpse of their newborn. They decided to sell pictures of Shiloh, and take the proceeds for charity. Interesting idea, but at the same time pretty smart.
Photos For Charity
Tight Security
The public tries tirelessly to snag a picture of their baby and that’s when they requested the help of local authorities. Their mission was to ensure that the paparazzi did not get near their family. The only people allowed entry to the hospital were those with written permission from Brad and Angelina.
Tight Security
An Incident
At one point there was an even an incident where a rogue photographer tried to get inside the hospital. The security wouldn’t stand for this and fortunately, he was spotted and arrested immediately. Thankfully nothing happened, but boy did he cause a commotion!
An Incident
Big Reveal
Brangelina took their sweet time in Namibia with their newborn, but in America, the news outlets were going crazy. Everyone wanted to get the first picture and they wondered if the couple created a deal for the first pictures. In the end, they understood this was exactly what they did and they sold the photos through Getty Images and landed on Hello! and People magazine.
Big Reveal
Media Frenzy
Just like any big news like this, there’s always the period where the chaos dies down. The media was prepared for this and so were Brad and Angelina. That’s why when this happened everyone was extra shocked.
Media Frenzy
A Wax Figure
Although just a baby, Shiloh was already the talk of the town. So much that Madame Tussauds made a wax figure of her. Many criticized this and found it rather bizarre, given she was a newborn. However, she went on to be a staple in pop culture for more professional reasons.
A Wax Figure
Not Quite Done
When they came home from Namibia the couple revealed the big news. They weren’t quite satisfied with the size of their family and decided it was necessary to add another child to their family and that’s when they went on to have their third adoption.
Not Quite Done
Adopting Pax
Not even a year passed since the first of Shiloh and Angelina was eager to adopt a three-year-old orphan from Vietnam named Pax. Unfortunately, due to Vietnam adoption laws that prohibit nonmarried couples from adopting, Jolie was alone in this one.
Adopting Pax
The Jolie-Pitt Family
However, once they returned to American soil, Brad was granted permission to legally adopt Pax, which he did in 2008. The family of six became the face of Hollywood beautifully and diversely. Jolie added a funny remark that Shiloh’s strong resemblance to her father makes her almost look like the adopted one, because of her blonde hair and blue eyes.
The Jolie-Pitt Family
Growing And Changing
The media was all over the Jolie-Pitt family of six and especially Shiloh. Fans were positive she would be stunning, but they were easer to see which celebrity she would look like more. Either way, she was destined for beauty!
Growing And Changing
Mom Or Dad?
Angelina was adamant that her daughter looked like Brad, but the public wasn’t fully convinced. The more photos that were taken showed shocking resemblances between Angelina and Shiloh. Regardless, the young girl had the potential to change her looks.
Mom Or Dad
An Announcement
The focus was Shiloh until May 2008 when Brangelina revealed more shocking news. At the Cannes Film Festival, Jolie was glowing, and she announced that she was pregnant with twins. The media couldn’t believe it and was getting ready for more stunning babies like Shiloh.
Next Came The Twins
Next Came The Twins
July 12, 2008, was a special day when the Jolie-Pitt twins, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline graced the earth. Again, the couple used this as an opportunity to strike a deal with media outlets and use the proceeds for their charity, Jolie-Pitt Foundation. They managed to earn $14 million for the photos.
Next Came The Twins
A Young Brad
The newborn twins were kept private, thus the focus was more on Shiloh. With her bright blue eyes and light blonde hair, the young girl was stunning and so closely looked like her father. The world was in love with seeing Shiloh as “daddy’s girl” and she even started to choose clothing like her father.
A Young Brad
Non-Traditional Style
At all red carpet events, Shiloh came ready in a suit. Her mother and sisters were wearing feminine dresses like most little girls, but she chose a more professional and masculine approach to be like her father.
Non-Traditional Style
Her Hair Too
Not only was her clothing choices drawing attention but also her hairstyle, which very closely resembled her fathers. Although she was a young girl, the media wasn’t too kind with their remarks on her appearance.
Her Hair Too
The Tabloids
In no time, the news articles were posting headlines attacking Brad and Angelina as parents. In 2010, magazine Life & Style even posed this daring question, “Why Is Angelina Turning Shiloh Into A Boy?”
The Tabloids
Media Crosses Boundary
They went so far that they even featured family representatives who mentioned that a lack of gender distinction could be incredibly harmful. They received incredible criticism for this as it’s unethical to attack a child in this way. They requested Shiloh be excluded from all stories and headlines.
Media Crosses Boundary
Defending Choices
The magazine received a lot of hate not just from commentators but even organizations like The National Center for Transgender Equality. They publicly stated, “Our society needs healthy, well-rounded children whose interests and tastes are as diverse as the children themselves and are not limited by outdated stereotypes of gender.”
Defending Choices
Her Mother Speaks
Angelina got involved and had a thorough interview with Vanity Fair where she spoke about her daughter’s decisions. America was always waiting for this, they wanted to hear Angelina and nobody else.
Her Mother Speaks
Telling Interview
So in 2010, she said to Vanity Fair, “[Shiloh] likes to dress like a boy. She wants to be a boy. So we had to cut her hair. She likes to wear boys’ everything. She thinks she’s one of the brothers.”
Telling Interview
All The Speculation
Upon hearing this, many began to wonder if Shiloh resembled a transgender child. Some believed so, while others argued it was normal for children to experience this phane where they test the waters and try out being a tomboy.
All The Speculation
Outpouring Support
The announcement regarding Shiloh’s identity and appearance was gradually becoming the focus of everyone. LGBT speakers and other celebs even started speaking out. Then, one person, in particular, made a difference.
Outpouring Support
Someone Speaks Out
Back in 2011, Chaz Bono, the son of Cher, who happens to be transgender, put out a statement. He said, “I would love to talk to them at some point, [And] at least let them know we have this resource for them if they ever need it. For a child who had grown up in the spotlight, under the watchful eye of the media, it can be too much to handle.”
Someone Speaks Out
Speaking Out Of Context
The scandal was going out of control and Amber Rose decided to put her foot in. As soon as the pictures of the 8-year-old on the red carpet went viral, Rose went to Instagram and posted a photo of Shilo but called her “John,” accompanied by hashtags like #LoveurKidsNoMatterWhat#Support. Many were outraged by this, considering she did not know the topic or right to get involved.
Speaking Out Of Context
Concern Over Child’s Needs
Jolie tried ignoring this and shifting the attention to her love and dedication to her children and family. However, the media was making striking associations between these statements and Shiloh’s unusually behavior. Then she made an announcement that made people think.
Concern Over Child’s Needs
Born With “Privilege”
Angelina admitted that she may have been putting more attention to Madd, Zahara, and Pax since she rescued them. Despite this, she realizes the importance of focusing on Shiloh’s needs because they are equally important and shouldn’t be overlooked.
Born With Privilege
Plight For Attention
America quickly shifted their accusations that Shiloh was transgender, to the possibility she was just acting out. She grew up in a huge family of all adopted children and it would make sense she was doing something for attention. The whole subject was dropped when something bigger happened in 2016.
Plight For Attention
Strain for the Family
The happy family of six was about to get a little less happy considering Brangelina was splitting up and it was all public. It wasn’t the happiest divorce and this wasn’t the end of the story, just wait.
Strain For The Family
Father/Son Altercation
After news broke that the couple was divorcing more information was brought to the public. Supposedly when on their private plane, Brad and his son Maddox, who was 15 years old at the time had a bad fight because he was defending his mother. The story was revealed and many defending Brad.
Father/Son Altercation
Public Searches For Reason
The family was doing everything possible to keep the story lowkey but word spread and there was no stopping it. The scandal was running ramped and rumors were revealed that Brad may have an alcohol problem. Also, they said this was the cause of his strange behavior.
Public Searches For Reason
A Suspected Affair
Even more rumors about Brad were revealed. Such as his potential affair with Marion Cotillard, a -star from Allied. It was just speculation but America was sure something bigger was causing this.
A Suspected Affair
Investigation Of Brad
The story continued when moving trucks were pictured at their home and posted online. The media soon discovered that the FBI along with the LA Department of Child and Family Services was involved in an investigation of Pitt for child abuse. Nobody could believe this given he spent so much time giving back. Fans began to wonder if it was all an act, but the investigation came out clear and Brad was free from scandal.
Investigation Of Brad
Hard Times
The children struggled to watch their parents go through a divorce, especially under the spotlight. Many revealed that Shiloh struggled the most and one source said that Shiloh was not the same child she was before. Daddy’s girl is not the same bubbly girl she once was and it’s been told that she still doesn’t fully understand why Brad can’t join family trips to Disney.
Hard Times
Separation
Jolie went to court to get sole custody, and the children were not given a say in the matter. This was particularly challenging for Shilo, and she wasn’t coping well with not seeing her father like before.
Separation
Kids First
Angelina Jolie had an intense and dramatic interview in 2017 where she mentioned the importance of not crying in front of her children. She said that kids need to know that in the end, it will be okay, regardless of how sure you are of it. Many were impressed with this and commented that she was a loving and caring mother who prioritizes her children above all else.
Kids First
Undying Bond
The divorce was heard by everyone but Brad wasn’t willing to not be part of his kid’s lives. Shiloh had nothing to worry about because things would relatively stay the same. Shiloh has two loving parents and can choose how she wants to live. The public was certain this “mini brad,” would always keep her close relationship with her father.
Undying Bond
Supporting Her Kids
At the LA premiere of The Breadwinner, an animated movie about a girl in Afghanistan that Jolie produced, Jolie was spotted with her children. She touched on the change since the divorce and emphasized that everything from then would focus on the children. She even said she took a break from work to be with her children. She doesn’t accept any new acting jobs without understanding how it will affect her children and consulting with them.
Supporting Her Kids