In a rare interview with Esquire UK, actor Brad Pitt discussed his past struggles with suicidal ideation linked to intense family turmoil. The 62-year-old star cited the "oppressive" pain of his separation from Angelina Jolie and his children as a primary driver of his mental health crisis.
The heavy toll of an eight-year divorce battle
Brad Pitt's recent revelations highlight the profound psychological impact of his highly publicized separation from Angelina Jolie. The actor's mental health crisis is deeply intertwined with the collapse of his marriage, which followed a volatile 2016 plane incident. As the source reports, while Pitt has denied various abuse allegations, the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services cleared him of physical abuse.
The legal conflict between Pitt and Jolie has extended well beyond their domestic life and into their shared business interests,specifically the Chateau Miraval estate. Pitt initiated a lawsuit against Jolie in 2022 concerning her stake in the property, which is famous for its award-winning sparkling rosé. This protracted legal friction, which lasted until the divorce was officially finalized in 2024, contributed to what Pitt described as a feeling of having no way out of his emotional distress.
Why four of the six children are dropping the Pitt name
The emotional fallout of the divorce is most clearly reflected in the legal identity of the couple's six children. According to the report, four of the children—Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, and Vivienne—have actively moved to distance themselves from the Pitt surname. This trend marks a significant shift from the "Brangelina" era, during which the family was seen as a unified Hollywood powerhouse.
The process of shedding the family name has been handled through various legal and public channels. Shiloh, who was born Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, legally changed her name to Shiloh Jolie last year. Meanwhile, Maddox, 24, and Zahara, 21, both published formal notices in the Los Angeles Daily Journal throughout the summer of 2024, signaling their intention to drop their father's surname.
The "gaping hole" left by Jane Pitt’s passing
Beyond the family rift, the death of Pitt's mother, Jane, contributed significantly to his sense of isolation. The actor described the loss of his mother, who passed away at age 84 just one year ago, as leaving a "gaping hole" in his life. He noted that while grief can be devastating, surviving it can also reveal a profound, albeit "aching," beauty.
The mystery behind Vivienne’s "personal" name change petition
Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt has officially petitioned the Los Angeles County Superior Court to change her legal name to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie. While court docuuments obtained by the Daily Mail list the reasons for this request as "personal," the specific motivations behind her decision remain unverified. An official court hearing regarding her petition is scheduled for November 2.
The family's current state of estrangement leaves several questions regarding the remaining siblings . While most of the children have moved to distance themselves from the Pitt name, Knox, the 18-year-old twin brother of Vivienne, is the only sibling who has not yet formally dropped the surname.. It remains to be seen whether his legal identity will follow the path of his older siblings or remain a holdover from the family's former structure.
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