Angelina Jolie's older brother has taken part in a rare interview where he has opened up about his relationship with his sister.
The Oscars have seen a few eyebrow-raising moments in its time, but Jolie sharing a kiss with her brother James Haven stands out as one of the most notable.
During her 2000 Academy Award acceptance speech for her role in Girl, Interrupted, Jolie shocked the audience by expressing her love for her brother, saying: "I’m in shock, and I’m so in love with my brother right now. He just held me and said he loved me, and I know he’s so happy for me. And, um, thank you for that."
The controversy escalated at the Vanity Fair afterparty when Jolie and Haven, posing for the cameras, shared a brief kiss on the lips, capturing the attention of the media and becoming a magazine cover sensation.
This came weeks after Jolie and Haven again shared a kiss at the Golden Globes ceremony in 2000.
Now, in a rare interview on the 90Who10 podcast, Haven has opened up about their relationship and his role as a protective brother, especially during challenging times in the public eye.
Haven discussed his close bond with Jolie, addressing his protective instincts towards both the actress and her children amid the public scrutiny of her high-profile divorce from Brad Pitt.
Reflecting on their relationship, Haven shared: "That's where it all started, it started with the protection of her and then of her children, my nieces and nephews. There are those massively formative years, they're becoming young adults in their early 20s."
He emphasized the natural inclination to be protective and expressed a desire to be present for Jolie and her family, much like their late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, had instilled in them.
Haven stated: "[It's] a quality I got from my mom... I set my life up so I can be present with whatever the situation. The formative years, the young adults they're going to become, I want to be there for them - or for her - whatever she's going through."
This interview marked the first time Haven publicly addressed his relationship with Jolie and shed light on their collaborative efforts, often behind the scenes.
He highlighted their shared interests, especially in initiatives focused on helping children. Haven hinted at future collaborations, stating: "And I know there's going to be many things in the future that we'll probably be working on...there's many things in the future that I think we'll do together."
Following the kiss at the Vanity Fair party, Haven addressed the incident in a 2007 interview with the Daily Mail, saying: "I did not give Angie a French kiss. It was something simple and lovely. She was about to go off to Mexico to finish filming Original Sin with Antonio Banderas.
"I congratulated her on the Oscar win and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. It was snapped and became a big thing."
Jolie also addressed it, as she spoke to Entertainment Weekly, dismissing any "incest rumors." She emphasized: "My parents really loved that moment, and that’s what will always matter," clarifying that the kiss was a simple expression of "brotherly love."
