Angelina Jolie has stirred up fresh romance rumours, this time involving British rapper and activist Akala. The speculation began after the two were spotted leaving a hotel together in Venice, Italy. Angelina, 49, and Akala, 40, have reportedly been seeing each other for over a year, according to sources.
In May of last year, Akala joined Angelina and her daughters Zahara, 19, and Shiloh, 18, at the Calabash Literary Festival in Jamaica, adding weight to the romance rumors. Six months later, they were seen dining together in Milan, fueling further curiosity about their relationship. Despite this, some reports, including those from TMZ, suggest that the two are merely friends.
Akala, whose real name is Kingslee James McLean Daley, is well-known for his rap career and political activism. He has championed various social justice causes and supported former Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn during the 2017 UK general election. Akala is also the younger brother of the celebrated singer Ms. Dynamite, who gained fame in the early 2000s with her Mercury Music Prize-winning debut album, A Little Deeper.
In addition to Akala, Angelina has recently been linked to Broadway composer Justin Levine. Justin, a Tony Award winner, worked on the Broadway production of The Outsiders, which Angelina produced. Reports suggest that Justin co-wrote the book and score for the musical, with Angelina’s daughter Vivienne also involved as a producer’s assistant.
Angelina Jolie and rapper Akala were spotted leaving their hotel to attend the "Maria" premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Hello Magazine
These new romance rumors come five years after Angelina’s legal separation from Brad Pitt. Their marriage ended abruptly in 2016 following a highly publicized incident on a private plane, where Angelina alleged that Brad had assaulted her and some of their six children. Brad has consistently denied these allegations. The couple’s divorce has remained unresolved due to ongoing custody disputes.
Since the split, Angelina has been linked to other prominent figures, including musician The Weeknd. Despite the speculation, she has been cautious about entering a new relationship. Angelina has admitted to having a “very long list of no’s” when it comes to dating again and acknowledges that she has been “alone for a long time.” However, she remains open to the possibility of finding love again.
Reflecting on her life since her separation from Brad, Angelina has emphasized the importance of her six children—Maddox, 22, Pax, 20, Zahara, 18, Shiloh, 17, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 15—in keeping her grounded. She has shared that her children have become more attentive to her well-being, noting, “I’ve got to make sure they’re mentally OK,” but now it’s her children who are concerned about her. “We’re such a team, so I am very, very lucky,” she said, acknowledging the strength she finds in her close-knit family.