Brad Pitt is reportedly upset over the continuing distance between him and the children he shares with Angelina Jolie, following news that another child may be dropping his surname. According to a recent report, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, 24, has formally filed to remove Pitt’s last name, a move that comes after his sister Shiloh also sought to legally drop “Pitt” from her name in 2024. Maddox, who was adopted by Jolie before her relationship with Pitt began, later became Pitt’s legal son after the couple was together. If the filing is approved, he would be known as Maddox Chivan Jolie.
An insider quoted by Us Weekly claimed Pitt fears becoming permanently disconnected from his children and still wants a chance to repair the relationship. The source said the actor is concerned that the longer the estrangement continues, the harder reconciliation may become. The report suggests Pitt is deeply hurt by the idea that his children do not want a public association with his family name.
The name changes appear to be part of a broader pattern among Jolie and Pitt’s children. Shiloh filed to remove Pitt’s surname shortly after turning 18 and was later granted the request, officially becoming Shiloh Nouvel Jolie. Zahara was recently referred to as Zahara Marley Jolie at her Spelman College graduation, although her program still listed Jolie-Pitt. Vivienne also appeared to omit “Pitt” in a playbill credit for The Outsiders. These developments have fueled renewed attention on the family’s long-running tensions.
The article also revisits the fallout from Angelina Jolie’s allegations that Pitt was physically and verbally abusive during a 2016 private flight involving the family. Pitt has denied those accusations through his legal team. Since their divorce, reports about the children’s relationship with their father have varied, with some sources previously describing the bond as decent and others now portraying a more distant reality.
Pitt’s absence from important moments in Zahara’s life, including her sorority induction and graduation, has also drawn scrutiny. While some reports claimed he could have attended the graduation but chose not to, a source from his camp argued that he was not welcome and pushed back against the “estrangement” narrative. Despite the public tensions, another insider said Pitt still hopes for eventual reconciliation with all of his children, though he recognizes it is ultimately their decision.
For now, the status of Maddox’s name-change request remains unclear. The reported filing adds another chapter to the ongoing public narrative surrounding Pitt, Jolie, and their family, which continues to attract attention years after their separation and divorce.
