The Enquirer reported on a very delicate matter today regarding Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s 21 month old twin children. The magazine is saying that the twins possibly have Down syndrome, and their information is coming from what they perceive to be facial features that the twins are forming as they get older. The Enquirer is basically saying is that this condition has been diagnosed by people online.
There is one quote from a “close family friend” and it says;
“Brad and Angie would subtly try to degstimatize the issue by not hiding them.”
This is as close to specific information as the Enquirer gets in their article: “the online chatter about the babies, Knox and Vivienne, say the kids look as if they have a developmental disorder.”
The chance of non-identical twins with one twin having Down syndrome is rare. The chance for both non-identical twins having Down syndrome is extremely rare according to the online Down Syndrome website.
The Enquirer gives the physical characteristics, as a rounded face, flattened profiles and eyes that slant in an upward direction. Yes, these are some of the characteristics of Down syndrome children, who also have wonderful and sweet personalities. These are also characteristics of children who do not have Down Syndrome.
The Jolie-Pitt twins are adorable and those little round faces and turned up noses can be found on the faces of 80% of my Irish nieces and nephews. As far as eyes slanting upwards, well, I just don’t see it. I see Brad Pitt’s eyes.
The Enquirer has the last line on their article as: “And it’s those descriptions that have sparked the false online speculation”.
If the children have Down syndrome, this is not the end of the world. It would not be a family in crisis. Down syndrome children can go on and lead very productive adult lives.
With Brad and Angie’s love of children and the work they do for kids all over the world, including adopting them, I would think they would have been open about any disorder or sickness their own kids would have. As far as crisis, have you seen pictures of the family in Italy in the last month or so? We all should be so content and happy.
The article started off calling this Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s “heartbreaking new family crisis” and ends up saying that these are false online speculations.
The kids need to be off limits. If there is any diagnosing going on and announcements to be made having to do with the kids, let the doctors and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie handle it.
Reference: Down Syndrome Website
Reference: The Enquirer
