As Shiloh Jolie-Pitt files to legally drop her father's surname, Brad Pitt is reportedly heartbroken, highlighting lingering strains within the famous family following his divorce from Angelina Jolie.
- Jun 4, 2024
AceShowbiz - One week after Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's 18-year-old daughter Shiloh filed to drop "Pitt" from her last name, a source close to Pitt tells PEOPLE that the father of six is "aware and upset" about the change.
"He's aware and upset that Shiloh dropped his last name. He's never felt more joy than when she was born. He always wanted a daughter," says the source. "The reminders that he's lost his children, is of course not easy for Brad. He loves his children and misses them. It's very sad," adds the insider.
Shiloh's decision to go by "Shiloh Jolie" instead of "Shiloh Jolie-Pitt" shows the complex and often strained relationships within the Jolie-Pitt family, particularly following Angelina Jolie's divorce filing in 2016 after an alleged abuse committed by Brad Pitt during the family's flight.
Legal documents confirm that Shiloh's name change request was officially filed on her 18th birthday, May 27. She hired her own lawyer and used her own money, months after being rumored to move in with Brad Pitt.
Brad Pitt, 60, and Angelina Jolie, 48, share six children: Maddox, 22; Pax, 20; Zahara, 19; Shiloh, 18; and twins Knox and Vivienne, 15. The name change is not unique to Shiloh within their family. Their daughter Vivienne is credited simply as "Vivienne Jolie" in the Playbill for the new musical "The Outsiders", and during a 2022 university event, Zahara introduced herself as "Zahara Marley Jolie."
Brad's relationship with his children has faced numerous challenges since the high-profile divorce. A source close to Pitt mentioned that the actor has been eager to rebuild connections with them, describing the situation as "very difficult" due to extended periods without contact.
In a continued legal dispute over their French winery, Chateau Miraval, a former security guard alleged that Jolie "encouraged" their kids to "avoid spending time" with Pitt during visitations - an accusation that was vehemently denied by Jolie.
An attorney for Jolie, Paul Murphy, said that "all Angelina has ever wanted was separation and health, with positive relationships between all members of their family, including Mr. Pitt."
As the Jolie-Pitt children continue to establish their identities and navigate their parents' tumultuous split, Brad Pitt grapples with the emotional toll of their growing independence. "He still loves all of his kids tremendously," the source shared with PEOPLE. "This whole process has been very hard for the whole family."
The ongoing saga of the Jolie-Pitt family serves as a poignant reminder of the personal struggles that can accompany public lives, even as they strive to find a balance between fame and familial bonds.
