Nothing romantic is going on with Angelina Jolie and British rapper Akala — who has a partner — Us Weekly can confirm.
Despite a recent report claiming the Oscar winner and musician (full name: Kingslee James McLean Daley) are spending quality time together in London, a source close to Jolie said they are just friends.
“Angelina is close friends with Akala’s girlfriend [Chanelle Newman], who has also been at every event,” a source exclusively shared with Us on Tuesday, October 22. “They all work together. Angelina remains focused on her family and is not dating at this time.”
Jolie, 49, was recently in the UK for the London Film Festival premiere of her new movie Maria. In the flick, the actress portrays the famed 20th century opera singer Maria Callas.
A source told Us that Jolie’s latest trip was jam-packed with press and screenings every night.
For one evening, Studio Canal — who are distributors of the film — hosted a dinner at Soho House with cast, crew and executives from the company. Soon after, Studio Canal hosted a cocktail reception at the Corinthia hotel, where a press junket took place over two days.
Despite a report, Us has learned there was no overnight stay or intimate dinner with just Jolie and Akala, 40. In fact, Akala’s partner Chanelle was present at each event and is closer to Jolie than the rapper.
This isn’t the first time Jolie and Akala have sparked romance rumors. Earlier this month, Us confirmed the pair are just friends after they were spotted at a party for her fashion brand Atelier Jolie in New York City.
While Jolie’s schedule may be filled with work commitments, she continues to make her six children a priority.
In September, Jolie made the New York Film Festival a family affair when she walked the red carpet with three of her children: Maddox, 23, Pax, 20, and Zahara, 19. (Along with that trio, Jolie also shares Shiloh, 18, and twins Vivienne, 16 and Knox, 16, with ex Brad Pitt.)
“It’s meant everything,” Jolie told Extra about her kids’ support. “Before you get out in these things, you’re as nervous. They just said, ‘No matter what, Mom, good luck and we know how hard you work and we love you.’ You know, you just have that moment where the people who are with you tell you, succeed or fail, they care about you.”
Maria is scheduled to hit select theaters on November 27 and is available to stream on Netflix December 11.
With reporting by Brody Brown