The bitter battle between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie took a shock twist recently when it emerged that Shiloh Jolie-Pitt filed to have her father’s surname legally dropped from her name when she turned 18.
It was a clear statement – with the teen filing the request on the day of her birthday, and paying costs with her own money – and a source tells heat that “heartbroken” dad Brad is placing the blame on ex-wife Angelina.
The couple have been embroiled in an acrimonious split since 2016, when Angelina, 49, filed for divorce after 12 years together and two years of marriage. It was said the break-up was prompted after Brad, 60, had a physical confrontation with the actress in front of their six children while on a private jet.
Eight years later, and with their divorce and custody battle still not finalised, rumours are also circulating that 15-year-old daughter Vivienne is now known only as “Jolie” among friends and family.
But while Angelina is thrilled to see the pair’s children – comprising adopted kids Maddox, 22, Pax, 20, and Zahara, 19, and biological children Shiloh, 19, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 15 – stand up for themselves, we’re told Brad has been left in a “world of pain.”
An insider tells heat, “Brad’s known for a while that the three eldest children, particularly Maddox and Pax, want nothing to do with him. He’s had no choice but to accept it and hope that one day they’ll change their minds. But, with the twins and Shiloh, he was hoping it would be different.
“He’s tried everything he can to nurture his relationship with them and see them as often as he was allowed. It’s true that things have been tense at times, because of how hostile his relationship with Angelina has been, but Brad clung to the belief that their bond was strong enough to withstand the divorce.”
The source continues, “He’s been looking forward to the day his kids turned 18, because he was convinced that they’d spend more time with him once they were legally old enough to make their own choices. Instead, Shiloh – who’s been the apple of his eye since the day she was born – has basically disowned him. Hiring a lawyer to change her name is sending a clear message about where her loyalty lies.”
As Brad faces the harsh reality that he could be estranged from all of his children, our source reveals he thinks it’s down to Angelina. Just last month, an ex-bodyguard for the actress alleged that she was driving a wedge behind Brad and his children – reportedly telling them behind closed doors to avoid spending time with their dad.
“Brad’s convinced Angelina is behind this,” our source says. “But Shiloh and the other kids insist it’s nonsense to say she’s poisoned them against him. Angie has always trusted them to make their own choices. It was Shiloh who wanted to change her name – she wanted to make it legal and pay for it herself to make sure there was no question about whose decision it was, and she won’t be made to feel guilty about it.”
Once the ultimate A-list power couple, Brangelina have been locked in court battles for almost a decade, disputing not only the custody of their children, but also businesses and property. Back in 2022, in what infamously became known as the “War of the Rosés”, Brad filed a lawsuit claiming Angelina had illegally sold her share of their French vineyard Château Miraval without his knowledge.
While this lawsuit is still ongoing, the former couple’s divorce is now very nearly finalised with reports that Brad – who currently has visitation rights to his two youngest children – is finally dropping his seven-year bid for joint custody. And, we’re told, Angelina is proud to watch her kids take control when it comes to the relationship with their dad.
“She says Brad only has himself to blame,” says our source. “If he’d truly owned up to his actions, things would be very different now. Instead, he used his money and lawyers to try to win at all costs. These are well-educated young adults who see first-hand the damage he’s caused. Brad can cry all he wants about the kids choosing to drop his name, but Angelina says she would never stand in their way if they wanted to be with their dad. She won’t bother dignifying Brad’s attempt at a blame game. At the end of the day, they both know the truth and now he’s facing the consequences. All Angelina cares about, and has ever cared about, is protecting her kids.”