The birth mother of Angelina Jolie’s adopted daughter Zahara has pleaded to be allowed to see her child, according to reports.
Ethiopian woman Mentewab Dawit Lebiso told the Daily Mail about her desperation to meet the 12-year-old, who Jolie adopted as an infant in 2005 believing her mother had died from AIDS.
“I just want her to know that I am alive and here and long to be able to speak with her,” Mentewab told the Daily Mail.
“I do not want my daughter back but just to be in contact with her and be able to call her up and talk with her.”
Mentewab, now 31, was first interviewed in 2007, telling Reuters she ran away from her home because she believed her infant was dying, causing her mother to eventually assume Mentewab had died and put the baby up for adoption.
“My baby was on the verge of death. She became malnourished and was even unable to cry,” she said in 2007.
“I was desperate and decided to run away, rather than see my child dying.”
It is thought that Jolie, and Brad Pitt, who adopted Zahara in 2006, didn’t know their daughter’s mum was alive until that interview.
However, it’s been nine years since then and Mentewab reportedly said she has had no contact with her daughter and has not received any money from the Jolie-Pitts, although she insisted she doesn’t expect any.
Mentewab told the online news outlet that she doesn’t want to disrupt her daughter’s life or take her from Jolie, but just wants to have contact with Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt.
“She has a life that I could never give her, but I would still like to have some contact. I would like to see her face,” she said.
“She has grown into a beautiful woman and I am so proud of her. My heart bursts because I am so proud.”
Top Comments
Seems like a Money Grab! Sorry, it just does.....many people are saying the same thing on other websites!
This mother has every right to seek contact with her daughter. It is healthy and possibly healing for the biological parents and children to have contact. This poor girl had little education, support, options when she panicked and ran away. Her life must have been immeasurably hard. As an adoptive mother, I would give anything for my children to re-connect with their birth families. The joy in my life is the grief and loss in theirs. I would love for us to be able to thank them, get to know them and give my children the opportunity to close the circle of love.