In a surprising move, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, the daughter of Hollywood A-listers Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, has decided to drop “Pitt” from her name as she celebrated her 18th birthday. According to TMZ, Shiloh legally filed to change her name to “Shiloh Jolie,” a request that is likely to be approved soon.
This development is the latest in a series of distancing moves by the Jolie-Pitt children from their famous father. Just days before Shiloh’s legal filing, theatergoers noticed that Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, who helped her mother produce “The Outsiders” on Broadway, was listed in the Playbill as simply “Vivienne Jolie.” Although it is unclear if the 15-year-old has legally changed her name, the omission of “Pitt” is telling.
The trend started six months ago with the couple’s eldest daughter, Zahara, who introduced herself with only her mother’s maiden name while joining Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. at Spelman College. Zahara referred to herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie,” signaling her own choice to distance herself from Pitt.
Us Weekly reported in 2021 that their eldest son, Maddox, now 22, avoids using “Pitt” on non-legal documents, preferring “Jolie” instead. Although Angelina Jolie did not support his desire to legally change his name at that time, it highlights the ongoing family rift.
The public distancing comes in the wake of a contentious and high-profile divorce. Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt in 2016, seeking full custody of their six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne. The split has been mired in allegations and bitterness, casting a long shadow over the family’s public image.
Pax, now 20, has been particularly vocal about his feelings toward his father. In a private Father’s Day post in 2020, obtained by the Daily Mail, Pax reportedly blasted Pitt, calling him a “world-class a–hole” and accusing him of being a “terrible and despicable person.” Pax’s post referenced a 2016 incident aboard a private jet, where Pitt allegedly had a physical altercation with Jolie and two of their children.
“Happy Father’s Day to this world-class a–hole!! You time and time again prove yourself to be a terrible and despicable person,” Pax allegedly wrote. He went on to accuse Pitt of having no empathy for his youngest children, making them live in “a constant hell.” The post concluded with, “So, Happy Father’s Day, you f–king awful human being!!!”
Despite being declared legally single in 2019, Pitt and Jolie have yet to finalize their tumultuous divorce. The ongoing legal battles and personal strife have clearly taken a toll on the family, leading to the children’s decisions to distance themselves from their father in such public and significant ways.
As Brad Pitt navigates this challenging chapter, it is evident that the wounds within the family run deep. The choices of his children to drop “Pitt” from their names underscore a desire to carve out their own identities, separate from the painful memories and controversies surrounding their parents’ high-profile split.
