Maddox Jolie-Pitt, the 24-year-old son of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, has filed a legal request to remove "Pitt" from his surname. He will now be known as Maddox Chivan Jolie, citing personal reasons for the change .

Maddox Chivan Jolie and the legal removal of 'Pitt'

The legal filing submitted on Thursday marks a formal transition for Maddox Chivan Jolie, who has already been distancing himself from his father's identity in professional settings. According to the Daily Mail, the 24-year-old listed his reasons for the name change as "personal," though the move follows a pattern of behavior seen across the Jolie-Pitt household.

Maddox Chivan Jolie had already begun this transition informally in February,when he was listed simply as "Maddox Jolie" in the end credits of the movie Couture, directed by his mother, Angelina Jolie. This differs from his previous work as a production assistant on the biopic Maria, where he was still credited as Maddox Jolie-Pitt.

How Shiloh, Zahara, and Vivienne have distanced themselves

The decision by Maddox Chivan Jolie is part of a broader trend among the children of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Shiloh Jolie, now 20, legally changed her name to remove "Pitt" last year shortly after reaching adulthood. As reported by People, Shiloh's lawyer, Peter Levine , stated that the decision followed "painful events" and was an independent choice made by the young woman.

Other siblings have opted for informal removals of the name. Zahara Marley Jolie, 21, was identified without the Pitt surname during her graduation ceremony from Spelman College, an event that Brad Pitt reportedly skipped according to TMZ. Similarly, 17-year-old Vivienne Jolie was credited without the hyphenated name on the playbill for the Broadway musical The Outsiders in May 2024.

The 2016 private flight and the FBI investigation

The root of the current familial estrangement traces back to a volatile incident on a private jet in 2016. In a 2022 lawsuit filed against the FBI, Angelina Jolie claimed that Brad Pitt physically and verbally assaulted her and their children during the flight, specifically alleging that he struck Maddox, who was 15 at the time.

While Angelina Jolie's claims painted a picture of a tumultuous environment, the legal outcome was different. The FBI investigation into the 2016 flight ultimately cleared Brad Pitt of any wrongdoing, as the incident fell under federal jurisdiction. Despite this clearance, the event served as the catalyst for Angelina Jolie to file for divorce and seek full custody of the six children.

The gap between Brad Pitt's desires and his children's actions

Current reports suggest a stark divide between the public image of Brad Pitt and his actual relationship with his adult children. A source cited by the Daily Mail claims that the 62-year-old actor has "virtually no contact" with his adult children, and his interactions with the younger children have been limited recently due to his filming commitments.

Despite the legal name changes and the lack of communication, some sources continue to defend the actor. The Daily Mail reports that individuals close to Brad Pitt insist he is not an absent father and maintains a strong desire to reconcile with all six of his children. However, the question remains whether these legal filings represent a permanent severance or a temporary manifestation of a long-term conflict.