In a dramatic move that underscores the deepening rift between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, their daughter Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, now 18, has decided to distance herself from her father by removing his surname from her legal name. The young adult has published a legal notice in the Los Angeles Times, officially announcing her intent to drop “Pitt” and be known solely as Shiloh Nouvel Jolie.
The legal notice, which follows California law requiring such announcements to be made in a widely circulated newspaper, marks a significant shift for Shiloh. She filed the petition on her 18th birthday this May, a symbolic gesture that seems to coincide with the ongoing tumultuous relationship between her parents. Sources close to the situation suggest that this decision reflects Shiloh’s desire to separate herself from her father’s name amidst his high-profile and contentious divorce from Jolie.
Despite initial reports suggesting the notice was merely an advertisement, Page Six has confirmed that it was indeed a formal legal notice. This step is in line with California’s requirements for such name changes, adding an official stamp to Shiloh’s personal decision.
The move has sparked considerable speculation and concern. According to insiders, Shiloh took the initiative to hire and pay for her own attorney, an action that suggests she is acting independently of her mother, Jolie. This has led some to question whether this decision truly reflects Shiloh’s own desires or if it has been influenced by external pressures.
A source close to Pitt has expressed dismay over the situation, noting that the actor, who was overjoyed at the birth of his daughter, is deeply hurt by the name change. “He’s never felt more joy than when she was born. He always wanted a daughter,” the source revealed. Pitt’s ongoing struggle with his ex-wife, Jolie, over custody and other issues has undoubtedly strained his relationship with his children. The source added, “The reminders that he’s lost his children are, of course, not easy for Brad. He loves his children and misses them. It’s very sad.”
This development is part of a broader trend among the couple’s children. Last fall, their eldest daughter, Zahara, made headlines by announcing her shortened name during a sorority induction ceremony, proudly declaring herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie.” Similarly, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, 16, opted to use only “Vivienne Jolie” on the Playbill for the Broadway adaptation of “The Outsiders,” where she worked with her mother.
Such actions have fueled accusations that Jolie is using the children as pawns in her ongoing battle with Pitt. “It’s extremely upsetting,” one source lamented. “She has used the kids as a weapon against Brad … she has separated them from him.” The source further suggested that Jolie’s actions appear to be retaliatory, pointing out that any legal victory for Pitt is often met with a counter-move involving the children.
Pitt and Jolie’s split in 2016 set off a bitter custody battle that has persisted despite their legal single status since 2019. Recent court documents from the family’s former security guard, Tony Webb, allege that Jolie has encouraged their children to avoid their father during visits, further complicating an already strained relationship.
As Pitt and Jolie continue their legal wrangling over custody and their jointly owned Chateau Miraval winery, Shiloh’s decision to drop her father’s surname adds a poignant chapter to their ongoing saga.
