A New Chapter for Maddox Jolie-Pitt
Maddox Jolie-Pitt, the eldest son of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, has taken a significant step in his personal journey by officially filing to drop his father’s last name. The 24-year-old requested to legally remove ‘Pitt’ from his surname, changing his full name to Maddox Chivan Jolie. His reason for the change was listed as ‘personal.’
This move comes after Maddox had informally dropped the surname in February when he was listed in the end credits of his mother’s movie, Couture, as Maddox Jolie rather than Maddox Jolie-Pitt. This decision marks another instance of distancing himself from the Pitt name, following similar actions by several of his siblings.
Siblings Also Ditching the Pitt Name
Maddox is not alone in this choice. His sister Shiloh, who turned 20 last year, legally changed her name to Shiloh Jolie. Similarly, Zahara and Vivienne have also informally dropped the name. These changes reflect a growing trend among the family members to distance themselves from their father’s legacy.
The couple, who were married from 2014 to 2019, faced a tumultuous end to their relationship years before their divorce was finalized. The Daily Mail has reached out to Pitt’s representatives for comment on these developments.
Background of the Divorce
The breakdown of Pitt and Jolie’s marriage followed a volatile incident on a private flight in 2016, which led to allegations of abuse. Pitt has denied these claims. In a lawsuit Jolie filed against the FBI in 2022, she claimed that Pitt fought with Maddox on the plane and poured beer on her, alleging physical and verbal assault.
The FBI cleared Pitt of any wrongdoing in the incident, which occurred during a private jet flight. Days after the incident, Jolie filed for divorce and sought full custody of their children.
Legal Changes and Family Struggles
In addition to Maddox, the couple has five other children: Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne, Pax, and Knox. Last year, Shiloh legally changed her name to Shiloh Jolie shortly after turning 18. Her lawyer stated that she made an independent decision following painful events.
One month after Shiloh’s name change, a source told People that Pitt’s relationship with his older children remained strained. The insider noted that his engagement with the younger kids was limited due to his filming schedule.
Family Dynamics and Public Perception
The family divide became more evident when Pitt’s mother, Jane Etta Pitt, died last year at the age of 84. Sources revealed that Jane had been cut off from Pitt’s kids for about nine years, and they did not get a chance to speak before her death. An insider alleged that Angelina kept the kids away from their grandparents.
Pitt’s relationship with son Pax, who previously called him a ‘world class a**hole,’ doesn’t seem to be any better. A source told the Daily Mail that Pitt feels no concern for what Pax does or doesn’t do, considering their relationship unfixable.
Adoption and Custody Issues
Jolie adopted Maddox from an orphanage in Cambodia in 2002. Pitt went on to adopt him after he started dating Jolie in 2005. The couple adopted Zahara from Ethiopia in 2005 and Pax from Vietnam in 2006. They welcomed their first biological child, Shiloh, in 2006, followed by twins Knox and Vivienne in 2008.
In June 2021, Pitt’s 50-50 custody deal with Jolie was tossed out when a California appeals court ruled that the private judge overseeing the divorce was disqualified. Since then, Pitt’s relationship with the kids has never been the same. Despite the challenges, some sources believe that time may heal wounds and that the family might one day reconcile.
