Brad Pitt Reportedly ‘Hurt’ by his 4th Kid Dropping His Last Name as He Has ‘No Power’ Over His Children Siding with Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s children have made it clear they want nothing to do with the F1 actor. In fact, several of the kids have already dropped his last name, the latest being their eldest, Maddox.

In a May 28 report from TMZ, it was revealed that Maddox filed to officially remove “Pitt” from his surname, seeking to be known as Maddox Chivan Jolie. The request is still pending approval.

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A day later, a source told Us Weekly that Pitt wishes his relationship with his children were different.

“He feels most hurt out of everything that happened with Angie that his children don’t want a public association with his last name,” the source explained. “It’s been very difficult.”

Despite the ongoing tension, the source said that Pitt “still does hope and keeps the door open to eventual reconciliation, hopefully with all of them, but it is their decision. He has no power and he can’t force them.”

Related: Brad Pitt’s GF’s Relationship with His Kids Revealed After He Didn’t Attend His Daughter’s Graduation as 4 of His Children Drop His Last Name

Pitt and Jolie share six children, and at least four have publicly distanced themselves from their father. Maddox’s legal name change request follows reports that Zahara omitted “Pitt” from her name during her Spelman College graduation ceremony. Pitt was not present at the event and reportedly did not reach out to Zahara beforehand or attempt to get a ticket to attend the ceremony.

Additionally, in May 2024, Vivienne was credited as “Vivienne Jolie” in the Playbill for the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical The Outsiders. That same month, Shiloh—born Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt—legally changed her name to Shiloh Jolie on her 18th birthday.

“[Brad’s] biggest fear is to be permanently disconnected from the kids because he does want to find a way to make things right,” the insider explained to Us. “His biggest fear is that too much time is going by and the more time without something happening, the harder it will be to reconcile.”

Pitt previously admitted that he could be a better father to his and Jolie’s kids, telling GQ in May 2017, “I grew up with a Father-knows-best/war mentality — the father is all-powerful, super strong — instead of really knowing the man and his own self-doubt and struggles. And it’s hit me smack in the face with our divorce: I gotta be more. I gotta be more for them. I have to show them. And I haven’t been great at it.”

“People on their deathbeds don’t talk about what they obtained or were awarded. They talk about their loved ones or their regrets — that seems to be the menu,” he continued. “I say that as someone who’s let the work take me away. Kids are so delicate. They absorb everything. They need to have their hand held and things explained. They need to be listened to. When I get in that busy work mode, I’m not hearing. I want to be better at that.”

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