Angelina Jolie and British rapper Akala appeared to arrive at the Venice Film Festival together, as the pair were spotted boarding a boat in the Italian city

Angelina Jolie and Akala have cleared up rumors they’re dating after they were spotted arriving at the Venice Film Festival together.

The pair sparked an internet frenzy when they showed up at the festival, with Angelina wearing a chic brown dress, complementing it with dark sunglasses and a handbag. Meanwhile, Akala donned a sharp gray suit as he joined Angelina on a boat, heading out to support her at the premiere of her latest film Maria.

Fans went crazy following their appearance. “Akala dating Angelina Jolie was not on my 2024 bingo card,” one person posted on X. Another questioned: “Now what the hell is akala doing with angelina jolie.”

A third confused fan posted: “Wait what?” However, Akala and Angelina have now put the relationship rumors to bed. “She and Akala are not dating,” a source said.

Angelina Jolie and Akala arrived at the Venice Film Festival together ( Image: COBRA TEAM / BACKGRID)

She was there for the premiere of her new film ( Image: Getty Images)
Speaking to People Magazine, they added: “She is friends with him and his partner, Chanelle, who was also there.” A second source revealed Angelina is single and “not dating seriously”.

Angelina and Akala have been friends for years, having collaborated on projects which focus on global issues, such as human rights. Back in December, during the filming of Maria, Angelina and Akala were spotted going to dinner.

Last May, they were seen shopping for books at the Calabash Literary Festival, where they were also joined by Angelina’s daughters Shiloh and Zahara. Angelina and Akala’s appearance at the Venice Film Festival comes as she narrowly avoided an uncomfortable encounter with her ex-husband Brad Pitt, where his film Wolfs is premiering.

Angelina managed to avoid bumping into her ex-husband ( Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Alberto Barbera, the festival’s artistic director, revealed to Vanity Fair the steps they took to make sure the warring exes didn’t reunite.. He explained that their appearances were carefully timed apart.

“Angelina will be on the first day, on Thursday [Aug.] 29, and she will leave right after with [Maria director] Pablo Larrain to go to Telluride [Film Festival],” he said. “Brad will arrive only on Saturday, to Venice.” “There is no way that they can cross each other at the Lido,” Alberto added

Brad and Angelina’s divorce is still ongoing, after their split in 2016. After being together for nine years, the couple got married in 2014 but Jolie filed for divorce two years later. They share six children: Maddox, 23, Pax, 20, Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16.