Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s relationship have always taken the spotlight from when they first got together to when they announced their divorce in 2016.
Discover our latest podcast
It has been years since they officially split up, but their relationship is still in the headlines. Unfortunately, this is because their separation has been nothing short of messy. Brad Pitt filed a lawsuit against his former wife for selling shares of the winery without his permission, a pact that the both of them made when they were together. Angelina Jolie also made some damning accusations about Pitt herself.
As per BBC, she filed court papers accusing Pitt of attacking her and two of their children while he was drunk on a flight from France to Los Angeles. Charges were not pressed, but this was not the first mention of abusive behaviour from Pitt.
In 2021, Pitt lost child custody of all his children and many of them have also made major steps to separate themselves from their father—despite him dedicating his Oscar award for Best Supporting Actor to his kids in 2020. He said in his acceptance speech:
This is for my kids, who color everything I do. I adore you.
So, how is his relationship with his children right now?
The two have six children, Maddox, 23, Pax 20, Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16.
It has been reported he is not on speaking terms with many of his children including Maddox, Pax, and Zahara.
Maddox
As per OK!, their oldest son, Maddox, even testified against Pitt during the custody battle. He has distanced himself from his father and prefers to use Jolie as his last name, although Pitt has not legally been dropped yet.
Pax
While Maddox has always kept his feeling about his father private, Pax has definitely been more public about it. After Brad Pitt dedicated his Oscar award to his children, Pax called him out on an Instagram story saying:
Happy Father's Day to this world class a******!! You time and time and again prove yourself to be a terrible and despicable person.
You have no consideration or empathy toward your four youngest children who tremble in fear when in your presence. You will never understand the damage you have done to my family because you are incapable of doing so.
You have made the lives of those closest to me a constant hell. You may tell yourself and the world whatever you want, but the truth will come to light someday. So, Happy Father's Day, you f****** awful human being!!!"
One-by-one, his children have slowly been dropping his sir name and using just Jolie.
Shiloh
Indeed, in 2024, Shiloh made the headlines after she requested to legally drop the name Pitt and be known as Shiloh Jolie.
Zahara & Vivienne
As per Newsweek, Zahara and Vivienne have done the same but it is not clear whether it has been changed legally. Reportedly, Zahara removed the name when she introduced herself at a college event. Vivienne did the same while working on the broadway musical The Outsiders.
Knox
As for Knox, Vivienne's twin, little is known about him and his relationship to his father.
Sources used:
US Magazine: 'Brad Pitt Is 'Extremely Protective' of His Children: Inside Their L.A. Hangouts'
BBC: 'Angelina Jolie accuses Brad Pitt of abuse on private plane'
OK Magazine: 'Brad Pitt Is 'Super Upset' About His Strained Relationship With Son Maddox'
OK Magazine: Brad Pitt 'Holding Out Hope' His Estranged Kids Will 'Eventually Come Around' as 'They Don’t Speak to Him Anymore'
Your Tango: 'Why Brad Pitt Allegedly Hasn't Spoken To His Older Children In Years'
Newsweek: Everything Brad Pitt's Children Have Said About Actor
Read more:
⋙ Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt: Here's why the couple split up in 2016
⋙ Angelina Jolie v. Brad Pitt: FBI investigation, possible link to Putin... Here's everything we know
⋙ Brad Pitt reveals his surprising hidden talent publicly for the first time
⋙ Brad Pitt's latest business venture comes from vineyard he owns with ex Angelina Jolie