Why Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s Children Are Dropping the “Pitt” Surname

It has been reported that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s 15-year-old daughter, Vivienne, has removed “Pitt” from her last name, highlighting a trend among the former couple’s children to distance themselves from the “Pitt” surname.

Vivienne is assisting her mother Jolie in producing the new musical “The Outsiders” as an assistant producer. The program for the show listed her name as “Vivienne Jolie” instead of “Vivienne Jolie-Pitt,” according to the American magazine “PEOPLE.” It is unclear if Vivienne has legally changed her name.

On April 11, during the opening night of “The Outsiders” in New York, Jolie, who attended with Vivienne, commented:

“I am excited to work on my first theatrical production with my daughter Vivienne, who is a student of theater and a supporter of the arts.”

The musical is a Broadway adaptation of the 1983 film “The Outsiders,” directed by Francis Ford Coppola, which was based on the novel of the same name by S.E. Hinton.

Last November, when the former couple’s eldest daughter, Zahara, joined a social club at Spelman College, it was revealed that she introduced herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie.” Following Zahara, Vivienne’s decision to drop “Pitt” has also created a stir.

Furthermore, it has been reported that their second daughter, Shiloh, submitted an application to legally change her name to “Shiloh Jolie” after turning 18 on May 27.

A source connected to Pitt stated to the magazine in August 2022 that amidst the ongoing custody battle, Pitt hoped to establish a better relationship with his children as soon as possible. However, this wish seems increasingly distant.

Tony Webb, the owner of a security company that worked for the former couple for 20 years and is still employed by Pitt, revealed in court documents related to the lawsuit over the couple’s French winery, Château Miraval, that his employees witnessed Jolie advising the children to avoid spending time with Pitt during visits.

It was also reported that in 2020, the second son, Pax, criticized his father on Instagram, calling him a world-class jerk who terrifies the children.

“Pitt and Jolie got engaged in 2012 after seven years of dating and married in 2014 in southern France. Just two years later, in 2016, Angie filed for divorce. The cause was reported to be an incident during a private jet flight back to the US from London, where Pitt, allegedly drunk, had a physical altercation with their eldest son Maddox while arguing with Angie,” said a reporter for a women’s magazine.

This incident reportedly caused Maddox and Pax to turn against Pitt, siding with Angie and living with her.

Angie moved out with their six children and separated from Pitt. They battled over custody in the divorce proceedings, which concluded in 2019.

Initially, Angie had full custody of the children, but in 2021, it was agreed that Pitt would have 50% custody. However, Pitt’s presence as a father seems to be diminishing.