Angelina Jolie says Maddox is learning Korean, Russian after self-isolating with her instead of Brad Pitt
Angelina Jolie has revealed that her eldest son Maddox was learning new languages while self-isolating with her—and not her former husband, Brad Pitt—due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The 'Maleficent' actress revealed that the 18-year-old was not wasting his time while practicing social distancing. He is temporarily away from formal education as Yonsei University, in Seoul, South Korea, was forced to close amid the outbreak, she said in an interview with DongA Daily, a South Korean media outlet.
"I could not be happier about Mad‘s choice of university. It is, of course, closed at the moment because of the pandemic. But he's not transferring school," she explained. "He‘ll be going back as soon as things settle. He's using the time to focus on his Korean and Russian studies."
During the interview, Jolie confirmed after his university was closed, Maddox was back living with his mum and his other siblings in Los Angeles, instead of his dad. “We are all so happy, as a family, that we will have the opportunity to get to know South Korea even better through Maddox, and with him, during his studies,” Jolie added.
In order to not let any of her children slack off during their temporary break from schooling, Jolie has opted for a structured routine of "waking them up early" and setting her kids' educational tasks.
A source previously told E! News that the kids had not completely severed touch with their father as they continue to live with their mother. "All the kids are home with Angelina but they have continued seeing Brad and go over for their regular visits. They are keeping up with their schoolwork, practicing their languages, playing instruments, board games and helping cook dinner. They are having a lot of family time and just hanging out together watching movies," the insider said.
We had previously reported that Jolie had reopened the custody battle over five of the six kids that she shared with Pitt - 16-year-old Pax, 15-year-old Zahara, 13-year-old Shiloh, and 11-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox - as she pushes for sole custody of the kids this time around. "Brad and Angie are so far apart on what they think is reasonable, but they’re both digging in and refusing to budge or compromise," the source revealed in a New Idea report.
As a result, the case returned to the Los Angeles County Court after "private mediation" failed. If reports are to be believed, the 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' costars are prepared to "fight to the death" over the kids.
Jolie's "burning desire to move abroad" and take the kids with her had made negotiations more complicated as the court has disallowed her from doing so given that Pitt is settled in LA and hence the kids have to be in town to visit him on scheduled dates.
“LA is the kids' home and he'll be damned if he's going to fly around the world for partial visitation. He also makes the argument that he's paid many millions over the years in child support – something that Angelina bitterly contests," the source added.