It’s possible that most people on the internet were unaware of Barack Obama’s unexpected relationship to a very well-known actress.
Investigating your family tree can take you in some intriguing directions, both positively and negatively, but it also demonstrates that, in the end, it’s a small world.
In the realm of celebrity, there have been some strange familial ties between the most unlikely individuals, such as Kevin Bacon and his wife Kyra Sedgwick or Madonna and Pope Leo XIV.
Even Madonna was amazed by her and Pope Leo’s shared ancestry, though she isn’t the only celebrity he shares blood with.
But Obama also has a strange family history because he is distantly related to one of the most well-known figures in Hollywood. And back in 2008, he was more than willing to discuss it.
Before Obama defeated Republican candidate John McCain in the presidential election, he was questioned about his well-known relative during a visit on The View.
However, who is it? Yes, it is Brad Pitt from Fight Club.
When asked by Joy Behar about his relation to Pitt, the former president answered: “I guess we’re ninth cousins, something removed – or something.”
He then joked: “I think he got the better-looking side of the gene pool.”
Now while that may sound bonkers, it is actually 100 per cent correct as both Obama and Pitt are linked by mutual ancestor, Edwin Hickman, who died in Virginia in 1769 – making them ninth cousins.
However, Obama is hardly the only former politician with a well-known Hollywood relative.
Nine cousins also include Hillary Clinton and Angelina Jolie, who was married to Pitt until their divorce was finalized this year.
According to Reuters, NEHGS researchers discovered that they are both linked to Jean Cusson, who passed away in Quebec in 1718.
The singers Alanis Morissette, Celine Dion, and Madonna are distant cousins of Clinton, who is of French-Canadian ancestry on her mother’s side.
Child went on to add: “It shows that lots of different people can be related, people you wouldn’t necessarily expect.”
