The high-profile relationship between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, famously dubbed “Brangelina,” captivated global media attention after they met on the set of “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” in 2004. Their family grew to include six children: Maddox, Zahara, and Pax, who were adopted, and biological children Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne. However, their seemingly idyllic union dissolved in 2016, leading to a protracted and often acrimonious divorce, heavily punctuated by a contentious custody battle and public reports of strained relationships between Brad and some of their children, particularly Maddox.

The unraveling of their marriage was further complicated by the resurfacing of a redacted confidential FBI report in 2022, detailing an alleged incident of a drunken argument and physical altercation between Brad and one of their children on a private jet in 2016, days before Angelina filed for divorce. While no longer a couple, the intense media scrutiny surrounding Brad, Angelina, and their children has persisted, extending to the children’s personal choices, including decisions to seemingly distance themselves from their father’s surname.

In 2022, their daughter Zahara’s enrollment at Spelman College garnered attention, followed by a video in November 2023 showing her introducing herself at a sorority event as “Zahara Marley Jolie,” notably omitting “Pitt” from her name. This seemingly minor detail ignited widespread speculation about Zahara’s relationship with her parents, eliciting reactions ranging from sadness and accusations of Angelina influencing the children to support for Zahara’s autonomy as an adult. The public discourse highlighted the unfortunate reality of their family drama playing out in the media spotlight.

Zahara was not the only child to seemingly drop “Pitt” from her name. In 2023, when Vivienne assisted her mother in producing the musical “The Outsiders,” her credit in the playbill simply read “Vivienne Jolie.” This observation further fueled speculation about the children’s relationship with their father. Soon after, in May 2024, following her 18th birthday, reports surfaced claiming that Shiloh had filed a petition to legally change her name to “Shiloh Jolie,” completely removing “Pitt.” These actions collectively suggest a growing distance between Brad and some of his children, although the legal status of these name changes remains unconfirmed.

As Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s divorce proceedings continue, the public remains invested in the family’s dynamics, with social media platforms serving as a forum for opinions and judgments. Some accuse Angelina of alienating the children from Brad, while others suggest Brad’s actions led to this estrangement. Regardless of individual perspectives, the situation is widely acknowledged as a sad and complex family matter playing out under intense public scrutiny, with many expressing hope that the children will eventually have the opportunity to forge their own relationships with their father.