After nearly a decade of legal battles, Brad Pitt’s long and painful divorce from Angelina Jolie has finally been finalized.
But for Pitt, the emotional aftermath is far from over—especially when it comes to his strained relationship with his children.
From Hollywood Power Couple to Estranged Co-Parents
Once seen as Hollywood’s golden couple, Pitt and Jolie met and fell in love on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
They married in 2014, sharing six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne.
But their seemingly perfect family life started to unravel in 2016 when Jolie filed for divorce—just days after a now-infamous private jet incident in which she accused Pitt of being abusive toward her and the kids.
Though the divorce was legally finalized in December 2024, the emotional scars remain, especially for their children.
Some of them have even distanced themselves from Pitt entirely, reportedly dropping his last name.
Brad Admits Regret, But Tries to Stay Grounded
While promoting his upcoming Formula 1 film in Mexico City, Pitt gave an emotional interview on the red carpet, reflecting on lessons learned over the years.
“No matter the mistake, you just learn from it and move on,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “It’ll lead to the next success.”
At 61, Pitt says his priorities have shifted. “When you get to my age, you realize how important it is to surround yourself with the people you love, the people that love you back,” he said.
“Friends, family—that’s it. From there, we get to go make things. It’s a pretty simple equation.”
A Relationship with Pax and Maddox That Feels Beyond Repair
Despite trying to stay positive, sources close to Pitt say he’s accepted that some family ties may be permanently broken.
After a photo of Pax stumbling out of the Chateau Marmont surfaced last month, an insider claimed Pitt didn’t react emotionally.
“He has zero concern with what Pax does or doesn’t do. [Pax’s] actions reflect who he is,” the source told DailyMail.com.
“Brad honestly considers his relationship with Pax unfixable.”
The insider added that Pitt has no plans to reach out to Pax or Maddox, claiming the two have made their feelings clear. A
s for the rest of the kids, Pitt is said to be holding onto hope that, with time, things might improve.
Jolie’s Camp Pushes Back
A source close to Jolie responded to Pitt’s remarks, suggesting he needs to look inward rather than playing the victim.
“Brad continues to play the victim. His fractured relationship with his children is a direct result of how he has treated them,” the source said.
“If he wants to rebuild a relationship with the kids, he should acknowledge his own actions and make amends.”
Shiloh and the Name Changes That Spoke Volumes
Earlier this year, Shiloh, who turned 18, made headlines when she legally dropped “Pitt” from her name, choosing to go by Shiloh Nouvel Jolie.
And she’s not the only one distancing herself—Zahara and Vivienne reportedly go by “Jolie” as well, though only Shiloh has formalized the change so far.
Vivienne and her twin brother Knox will be turning 17 next month.
Whether they will follow suit remains to be seen.
Pitt Talks Privacy, Ines de Ramon, and the Pressures of Being Watched
The media glare hasn’t let up on Pitt, especially when it comes to his personal life.
In a recent GQ interview alongside F1 co-stars Lewis Hamilton and Damson Idris, Pitt was asked whether his public appearance with girlfriend Ines de Ramon was carefully timed to promote his movie.
“No, dude, it’s not that calculated,” Pitt shot back.
“If you’re living with making those kinds of calculations—oh my God, how exhausting would that be?”
He emphasized that life and relationships evolve naturally, and his connection with Ines—whom he’s been quietly dating since 2022—wasn’t part of some PR plan.
The couple made their first public appearance at the British Grand Prix in July 2024, and they’ve mostly kept things low-key since.
As for the relentless tabloid coverage? Pitt is used to it.
“My personal life is always in the news. It’s been in the news for 30 years, bro,” he said, only half-joking.
No Celebration Over Divorce, Just a Legal Milestone
Despite the years-long tension and drama, Pitt didn’t exactly celebrate when the divorce was officially finalized.
“I don’t think it was that major of a thing,” he admitted. “Just something coming to fruition. Legally.”