As Zahara and Maddox Officially Distance Themselves From Brad Pitt, Questions Grow Over Angelina Jolie’s Influence

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s children, Zahara and Maddox, have officially taken another significant step toward removing “Pitt” from their legal names. According to court documents, both siblings published notices of their petitions for a leg

al name change in a California legal newspaper, fulfilling a state requirement before their requests can receive final court approval.

For Zahara, the notice appeared in the Los Angeles Daily Journal once a week for four consecutive weeks, from June 16 through July 7. The publication also stated that anyone wishing to object to the name change could file a written opposition before the final court hearing.

Court records indicate that Zahara is scheduled to appear at a hearing on September 28. If no valid objections are filed, a judge may approve the request, officially changing her legal name from Zahara Jolie-Pitt to Zahara Jolie.

Meanwhile, her older brother Maddox has completed the same legal requirement. His petition was published in the same newspaper over four consecutive weeks, from June 10 through July 1. Under California law, publishing a notice of a proposed name change is one of the mandatory steps before a court can review and approve the request.

In reality, Zahara had already signaled that she no longer wished to use her father’s surname long before beginning the legal process. During her graduation ceremony at Spelman College in May, she was introduced to the audience as Zahara Marley Jolie rather than Zahara Jolie-Pitt. The moment quickly drew public attention and was widely viewed as a clear indication of the decision she would later formalize.

The fact that both Zahara and Maddox are pursuing legal name changes further highlights the long-standing distance between Brad Pitt and several of his children following the actor’s highly publicized split from Angelina Jolie. Their family relationships are widely believed to have been profoundly affected by an incident aboard the family’s private jet in 2016.

Following that incident, Angelina Jolie filed for divorce, ending a marriage that had lasted two years after more than a decade together as a couple. The actress accused her former husband of abusive behavior toward both her and their children during the flight, allegations that Brad Pitt has consistently denied. Subsequent investigations did not result in any criminal charges against the actor.

The divorce quickly became one of Hollywood’s longest-running and most complicated legal battles. In addition to disputes over child custody, the former couple has spent years fighting over shared assets, most notably the ownership of the French winery estate Château Miraval.

Over the years, numerous media reports have suggested that Brad Pitt’s relationship with most of his children has shown little sign of improvement. Maddox, in particular, has often been described as the child most estranged from his father. During an interview in 2019 while studying in South Korea, he avoided directly answering whether reconciliation was possible, saying only, “Whatever happens, happens.”

Maddox and Zahara are not the only members of the family who appear to have distanced themselves from the Pitt surname. In 2024, daughter Shiloh filed a legal petition to remove “Pitt” from her name shortly after turning 18, and the request was later approved by the court. She has since been legally known as Shiloh Jolie.

Daughter Vivienne also attracted attention when she worked as a production assistant on the Broadway musical The Outsiders. In the production credits, she was listed as Vivienne Jolie rather than Vivienne Jolie-Pitt. Although she has not publicly confirmed whether she has legally changed her name, the way she chose to be credited was widely seen as another notable sign.

Meanwhile, Pax Thien has frequently been seen alongside Angelina Jolie at international events and is known to share a close relationship with his mother. Since his parents’ divorce, he has rarely been photographed with Brad Pitt.

The Jolie-Pitt family was once regarded as one of Hollywood’s most influential families. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt began their relationship after co-starring in Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2005. Together, they raised six children: adopted children Maddox, Pax Thien, and Zahara, as well as biological children Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne.

Throughout their years together, the couple regularly participated in humanitarian efforts around the world. Angelina Jolie became internationally recognized for her work as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador before later serving as a Special Envoy. She often brought her children on humanitarian missions, exposing them to different cultures and global issues from an early age.

Zahara was adopted from Ethiopia when she was only a few months old. She later enrolled at Spelman College, a prestigious historically Black women’s college in the United States. Beyond her academic pursuits, she has been actively involved in charitable work and has joined her mother in supporting initiatives focused on women’s rights and efforts to combat domestic violence.

Maddox was Angelina Jolie’s first adopted child and was born in Cambodia. He studied biochemistry at Yonsei University in South Korea and has worked closely with his mother on several film projects. He served as a production assistant on First They Killed My Father, directed by Angelina Jolie, and has also participated in various behind-the-scenes filmmaking roles.

As for Brad Pitt, the Oscar-winning actor has continued to enjoy a successful film career following the divorce, starring in major productions and collaborating with acclaimed filmmakers. In recent years, he has also built a new life with his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. Nevertheless, his relationship with his children continues to attract significant public attention.

In the few interviews where he has spoken about his personal life, Brad Pitt has acknowledged that the years following the divorce were among the most challenging of his life. He has said that he attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and worked to improve himself. Even so, there have been few public signs of reconciliation with his children, particularly as more of them have chosen to stop using his surname.

For that reason, Zahara and Maddox’s latest legal filings are being viewed as another significant milestone in establishing their own identities. If their upcoming court hearings proceed without valid objections, both siblings will officially carry the Jolie surname under the law, continuing a pattern already seen among some of their brothers and sisters and marking yet another chapter in the complex post-divorce story of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.