Maddox, the eldest son of former Hollywood couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has reportedly filed legal documents to remove 'Pitt' from his surname. The 24-year-old is now the fourth of the six Jolie-Pitt children to distance himself from his father's name amid the ongoing public feud following the couple's divorce.
Name Change Petition
According to reports from TMZ, Maddox has petitioned to legally change his name from Maddox Jolie-Pitt to Maddox Chivan Jolie. The move comes after he was recently credited professionally as 'Maddox Jolie' in the upcoming film 'Couture', where he worked as an assistant director alongside his mother, who played the leading role.
Other Children Following Suit
Maddox is the latest among the Jolie-Pitt children to distance himself from his father. Shiloh Jolie previously filed a legal request to remove her father's surname after turning 18. Zahara Jolie recently received her Bachelor's degree under the name 'Zahara Jolie', though it is unclear if she legally changed her name. Vivienne Jolie also dropped 'Pitt' from her name in a credited list for her Broadway play. Maddox's legal request has reportedly not yet been formally approved by the court.
Strained Relationship with Brad Pitt
The developments come amid reports of a strained relationship between Pitt and his children, following the actor's highly publicised split from Jolie in 2016. While the couple's divorce was finalised in 2024, they remain locked in a battle over the ownership of their French winery, Chateau Miraval.
According to a Daily Mail report, sources close to Pitt claimed the continued public scrutiny surrounding his relationship with his children has been difficult for the actor. "When you've made clear that you're pushing him away from the children, a reasonable person cannot then complain that he's not close to the children," one source reportedly told the outlet. Additional sources defended Pitt, alleging that he has continued to rebuild his relationships with his six children. "Those closest to him, including his friends and family, are not judging him through any of this because they know he is genuinely trying his best under incredibly difficult circumstances," read the report.
Family Tensions Resurface
The family tensions reportedly resurfaced following the death of Pitt's mother, Jane Etta Pitt, last year at the age of 84. Reports claimed she had allegedly been estranged from her grandchildren for several years and was barred from talking to them before her passing. However, sources close to Jolie have claimed that 'Brad continues to play the victim', and that his fractured relationship with his children is "a direct result of how he has treated them."
