Brad Pitt's Children Drop His Last Name in Latest Brangelina Family Drama
The ongoing saga of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's tumultuous family life has taken another dramatic turn, with multiple children now publicly distancing themselves from their father by dropping his last name. This development adds fuel to the long-simmering tensions that have plagued the former Hollywood power couple since their 2016 split.
Maddox Jolie Leads the Way in Name Change
Maddox Jolie, the 24-year-old eldest son of the former couple, has become the latest to make a public statement by removing 'Pitt' from his professional credits. While he previously used Maddox Jolie-Pitt when working on Angelina's 2024 film 'Maria,' his involvement in her latest project 'Couture' lists him simply as Maddox Jolie.
This symbolic gesture has reportedly caused significant concern in Brad Pitt's camp, with sources close to the actor expressing dismay at what they perceive as a calculated move to further separate the family.
A Pattern of Name Changes Among the Jolie-Pitt Children
Maddox is not the first of the six Jolie-Pitt children to make this significant change. Zahara, now 21, introduced herself as Zahara Marley Jolie at a college sorority event last year, while 17-year-old Vivienne dropped 'Pitt' for her Broadway debut in 'The Outsiders.'
Perhaps most notably, Shiloh took the most formal approach by waiting until her 18th birthday to legally petition a court to remove 'Pitt' from her name. She even hired her own attorney to emphasize that this was her independent decision, not influenced by her mother. By August 2024, the change became official, and she is now legally Shiloh Jolie.
Family Dynamics and Allegations of Alienation
Sources close to Brad Pitt have reportedly expressed deep concern about what they describe as a systematic campaign to alienate the children from their father. One friend told TMZ, "It's sad, this is a textbook example of what a successful campaign to separate a family looks like."
The remaining children—Knox and Pax—have not made public statements about their last names, but both appear to maintain distance from their father. Knox's close relationship with his mother was particularly evident when he accompanied her as her date to the Governor's Ball at last year's Oscars.
Background of the Jolie-Pitt Family Rift
Maddox's story adds particular poignancy to the situation, as he was adopted from Cambodia by Angelina Jolie long before her relationship with Brad Pitt began. Following their romance and subsequent marriage, he took the hyphenated last name Jolie-Pitt, which he used for many years before the recent change.
Neither Brad Pitt nor Angelina Jolie has made public comments about their children's decisions to drop the Pitt surname. The silence from both camps speaks volumes about the ongoing tensions that continue to define this high-profile family's dynamics years after their divorce.
This latest development represents another chapter in the complex narrative of one of Hollywood's most watched families, with implications that extend far beyond simple name changes to touch on deeper issues of family loyalty, parental relationships, and the long-term effects of celebrity divorces.
