Brad Pitt is facing renewed public scrutiny after reports claimed he did not congratulate his daughter Zahara Jolie on her graduation from Spelman College. The allegation came as Zahara marked a major personal milestone, turning what should have been a celebratory family moment into another flashpoint in the long-running public discussion about Brad Pitt’s relationship with his children.
According to the report, Pitt did not attend the graduation ceremony or contact Zahara afterward, prompting criticism online and reviving questions about his strained ties with several of his six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne. The story quickly spread, with critics suggesting the actor had missed an important chance to show support. However, people close to Pitt strongly disputed that account, saying the situation is more complicated than it appears.
Insiders defending Pitt said he has repeatedly tried to maintain a relationship with his children and has been pushed away over time. They argued that he should not be blamed for distance if access has been limited. Those sources also said Pitt’s extended family made multiple attempts to stay in contact with the children over the years, including with cousins who had once been close to them, but that those connections gradually faded. Friends and family around Pitt reportedly believe he has been doing his best under difficult circumstances and have continued to support him privately rather than publicly judging the family conflict.
The emotional strain reportedly deepened last year when Pitt’s mother, Jane Etta, died at age 84. Some sources claimed she had not spoken with the children for nearly nine years before her death, adding to the pain of the family divide. Pitt has reportedly felt especially hurt by the separation, with one insider saying he has struggled with the role Angelina Jolie has played in limiting contact between him and the children and questioning how the family break occurred.
Supporters of Jolie, however, maintain that Pitt’s damaged relationship with the children is the result of his own actions. They argue that he is trying to cast himself as a victim while avoiding responsibility for past behavior. Pitt has denied allegations of physical abuse and was never charged after the FBI investigated the 2016 private plane incident that became a major turning point in the marriage. Still, sources close to him say he has acknowledged mistakes from that period and taken responsibility for his conduct, though not for criminal wrongdoing.
Pitt and Jolie were married from 2014 until 2019, but their split followed years of tension and legal battles. One source said Pitt has now accepted that there may be little else he can do except remain available if his children eventually choose to reconnect. Others suggested that Jolie’s close bond with the children has shaped how they view their father, making reconciliation even harder. Jolie has rarely commented publicly on the dispute, but in a 2020 interview she said leaving the marriage was the “right decision” and emphasized that her focus was on healing and helping the children trust their own truth despite media controversy.
