Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, has made a significant legal move to distance herself from her father amid ongoing family tensions. Shiloh, who recently turned 18, has filed to officially drop “Pitt” from her surname, opting to be known simply as “Shiloh Nouvel Jolie.” This decision follows similar actions by her siblings, Zahara and Vivienne, who have also chosen to stop using their father’s last name, though Shiloh is the first to make it official through legal channels.
The legal documents, obtained by The Blast, reveal that Shiloh cited “personal” reasons for her decision. This move comes at a time when her parents are embroiled in a bitter legal battle over the sale of Angelina Jolie’s shares in their French winery, Château Miraval. The timing of Shiloh’s filing, on her 18th birthday, suggests a desire to sever ties with her father, Brad Pitt.
Brad Pitt has had a strained relationship with his children since his acrimonious split from Angelina Jolie in 2016. Reports indicate that Jolie has tried to limit Pitt’s involvement with their children, a claim supported by insiders who say she has ensured the kids had “limited involvement” with their father. However, now that Shiloh is legally an adult, she has the autonomy to decide the nature of her relationship with Pitt.
Sources close to Pitt express hope that he can rebuild his relationship with Shiloh now that she is of age. An insider shared that Pitt is optimistic about rekindling their bond, emphasizing that Shiloh’s choices are now her own. The source added that Pitt will continue to love Shiloh unconditionally, regardless of her decision to drop his last name.
The strained dynamics between Pitt and his children have been a topic of public interest. Pitt has faced challenges in maintaining relationships with all six of his children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Vivienne and Knox. Despite these difficulties, sources close to Pitt assert that he remains committed to being available for his children, hoping that as they grow older, they will make their own decisions about their relationship with him.
In early May, court filings at the LA Superior Court alleged that Jolie had attempted to drive a wedge between Pitt and their children. Former British SAS soldier and ex-bodyguard Tony Webb claimed that Jolie encouraged her children to avoid their father during custody visits. This revelation came as the couple neared the end of their lengthy legal battle, with Jolie maintaining primary physical custody of the children and Pitt having visitation rights.
Vivienne, another of Pitt and Jolie’s children, has also been distancing herself from her father’s surname. She was recently listed as “Vivienne Jolie” in the Playbill for “The Outsiders” musical, where she assisted her mother as a producer. This change follows Zahara’s decision to introduce herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie” while joining Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at Spelman College.
Maddox, the eldest of the Jolie-Pitt children, has also reportedly stopped using Pitt’s last name on non-legal documents, opting instead for “Jolie.” Despite these changes, it remains unclear how much contact the children have with their father. Reports suggest that Pax, another of the Jolie-Pitt children, has expressed strong negative feelings towards Pitt, calling him a “world class a–hole” in a 2020 Father’s Day post.
The ongoing legal and personal battles between Jolie and Pitt have undoubtedly impacted their children. While the former couple was declared legally single in 2019, their divorce has yet to be finalized. The custody arrangements and the children’s decisions to drop Pitt’s surname highlight the complexities of their family dynamics.
As Shiloh takes this significant step to change her name, it underscores the ongoing challenges within the Jolie-Pitt family. The public will undoubtedly continue to watch closely as these relationships evolve and as the legal battles between Jolie and Pitt unfold.
