Angelina Jolie followed Jennifer Garner’s example and brought her oldest child, 21-year-old Maddox Jolie-Pitt, to a White House state dinner. The mother and son arrived dressed impeccably in all white (Angelina, in a dress made for her many years ago, per People, and a vintage Chanel jacket) and black (Maddox, in a suit). They joined other distinguished guests at President Joe Biden’s state dinner for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee yesterday evening at the White House.
Maddox has ties to Korea, where he attended the country’s esteemed Yonsei University. While Maddox has supported his mother before at her red carpet premieres, this is by far the most prestigious event the pair have ever attended together—and a poignant one, given Maddox and Angelina’s history with the country.
A source close to Angelina spoke to People about the reasoning behind her and Maddox’s decision to attend the dinner: “Asia-America relations are important to Angelina’s family,“ the source said. “She and the children have had close ties to the region, including South Korea, for many years. Maddox studied at Yonsei University in Seoul. Angelina has visited South Korea many times for her humanitarian and refugee advocacy over the past two decades, and as an artist. Angelina and Maddox are honored to attend this State Dinner.”
Angelina went viral when footage of her dropping Maddox off at Yonsei University surfaced in August 2019. She was asked by students how long she’d be staying on campus, and she replied, “I leave today. Today’s the day I go home. I know. I’m trying not to cry.”
Senior News and Strategy Editor
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.