How British rapper Akala, 40, supported Angelina Jolie, 49, at her Maria premiere amid her bitter legal battle with ex Brad Pitt – but what is REALLY going on between the rumoured couple?

Angelina Jolie was supported by her rumoured new love interest the British rapper Akala as she attended the premiere for her new film Maria in NYC on Sunday night.

Actress Jolie, 49, has been seen in public several times with political activist Akala, 40, amid her continued bitter legal battle with ex husband Brad Pitt.

The actress sparked romance rumors with Akala when the pair were seen emerging from her hotel in Italy during Venice International Film Festival in August even though sources have told People that they are just friends.

And in a public appearance together on Sunday he accompanied her at the Maria premiere as part of the 62nd New York Film Festival held at the Lincoln Center.

Angelina looked on proudly as Akala and son Pax, 20, shared a sweet embrace at the event. 

Angelina Jolie was supported by her rumoured new love interest the British rapper Akala as she attended the premiere for her new film Maria in NYC on Sunday night

Actress Jolie, 49, has been seen in public several times with political activist Akala, 40, amid her continued bitter split from ex husband Brad Pitt

Actress Jolie, 49, has been seen in public several times with political activist Akala, 40, amid her continued bitter split from ex husband Brad Pitt

They also went ‘Instagram official’ recently after Akala could be seen at a New York City party that was hosted by Jolie for her company Atelier Jolie.

Akala can be seen clearly in a photo at the event just before images of the Oscar-winning actress appeared in the same photo gallery. 

Despite their apparent closeness sources have continued to insist that the couple are not an item, with an insider telling that Angelina ‘is friends with him and his partner, Chanelle [Newman] who was also there’.

In the wake of her bitter split from Brad Pitt, Angelina grew close with the rapper and political activist. 

Yet the pair do share a strong bond, with a second source stating: ‘They share the same passion when it comes to social and humanitarian causes.

‘They did several collabs over the years that focus on global issues like human rights. Angie speaks very highly of him.’

It had been claimed by In Touch that the actress had been privately seeing the musician for ‘more than a year’.

However, People’s source claimed Angelina is ‘currently single and not dating seriously’.

Actress Jolie, 49, has been seen in public several times with political activist Akala, 40, amid her continued bitter legal battle with ex husband Brad Pitt (seen with Brad in 2015)

Actress Jolie, 49, has been seen in public several times with political activist Akala, 40, amid her continued bitter legal battle with ex husband Brad Pitt (seen with Brad in 2015) 

Angelina looked on proudly as Akala and son Pax, 20, shared a sweet embrace at the event in NYC

Angelina looked on proudly as Akala and son Pax, 20, shared a sweet embrace at the event in NYC 

The actress sparked romance rumors with Akala when the pair were seen emerging from her hotel in Italy during Venice International Film Festival in August

Jolie pictured at the Venice International Film Festival in August 2024

The actress sparked romance rumors with Akala when the pair were seen emerging from her hotel in Italy during Venice International Film Festival in August 

MailOnline contacted Angelina’s representatives for comment at the time.

Jolie has been seen in public several times with Akala amid her continued bitter split from Pitt, even though sources have told People that they are just friends.

The actress sparked romance rumors with Akala when the pair were seen emerging from her hotel in Italy during Venice International Film Festival in August.

It had been claimed by In Touch that the actress had been privately seeing the musician for ‘more than a year’.

The rumors first began when Akala joined Jolie and her daughters Zahara, 19, and Shiloh, 18, at the Calabash Literary Festival in Jamaica in May of last year. 

An eyewitness shared at the time that Akala was ‘very protective of them as he shepherded them around.’

They enjoyed dinner together in Milan six months later, In Touch also claimed. 

In addition to Zahara and Shiloh, Jolie and her ex-husband Pitt share sons Maddox, 22, Pax and 15-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox.

Akala – born Kingslee James McLean Daley – started out as a rapper before moving into political activism, endorsing former Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 UK general election. 

His older sister is also the famous singer and rapper Ms. Dynamite.  

Ms. Dynamite, 43 – real name Niomi Arleen McLean-Daley – enjoyed a string of hits in the early 2000s with her debut album A Little Deeper, which won the prestigious Mercury Music Prize.

Akala is reportedly in a relationship with Chanelle Newman who is co-founder and executive producer of Akala’s music and the Hip-hop Shakespeare Company. 

In Touch also claimed that the Maleficent star has been seeing another man as well, Broadway composer Justin Levine. 

Jolie and Levine were seen together on Monday at the A New York Evening With The Outsiders at The Greene Space on in New York City. 

‘Angelina has been seeing two different men over the past year or so,’ a source claimed to the outlet. 

Tony-award winner Levine was a part of the Broadway production of The Outsiders, the musical Jolie produced. 

In Touch reports he co-wrote the book and score for the play. Jolie’s daughter Vivienne also worked as a producer’s assistant on the program. 

‘Angie just adores Justin, and they’ve been spending so much time together that a lot of people think the relationship could turn romantic,’ the source said. 

An insider also shared with the site that the men are ‘totally different’ but Jolie is ‘falling for both of them.’ 

The new romance rumors comes five years after Jolie was declared legally single from Pitt. 

Jolie and Pitt are also still engaged in a legal conflict over the Chateau Miraval, the winery they shared as a couple in the South Of France.

The feud over the property stems from the fact Angelina sold her half to Russian billionaire Yuri Shefler for $62 million in 2021, amid her divorce proceedings.

Akala, 40, - born Kingslee James McLean Daley - started out as a rapper before moving into political activism, endorsing former Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 UK general election

Akala, 40, – born Kingslee James McLean Daley – started out as a rapper before moving into political activism, endorsing former Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn in the 2017 UK general election 

Akala also has a famous older sister, singer and rapper Ms. Dynamite (pictured in 2009)

Akala also has a famous older sister, singer and rapper Ms. Dynamite (pictured in 2009) 

It has been claimed that the Maleficent star has been seeing another man, Broadway composer Justin Levine; pictured at this year's Tony Awards

It has been claimed that the Maleficent star has been seeing another man, Broadway composer Justin Levine; pictured at this year’s Tony Awards 

Pitt sued her over the sale, insisting that she was contractually obligated to obtain his consent before offloading her portion of the Chateau Miraval.

Jolie has brought up her abuse allegations and the custody battle over the course of her years-long legal feud with Brad over the Chateau Miraval.

She has asked Pitt to ‘end the fighting’ and drop the winery lawsuit against her so that their family can have a chance to ‘heal.’

However sources told DailyMail.com that Pitt has ‘no intention’ of dropping the lawsuit, claiming that Angelina only asked him to do so after she discovered that her case is weaker than she initially anticipated.

‘Brad is not going to drop this lawsuit – why would he? This was a very standard business dispute but unfortunately, Angelina has consistently introduced personal elements that are meant for a divorce court,’ an insider said.

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk