Brad Pitt hasn't managed to reconcile with his children since his separation from Angelina Jolie. According to outlets like Page Six and Us Weekly, the 61-year-old actor keeps a complicated relationship with his older children. He only has sporadic contact with the twins Knox and Vivienne, who are 16 years old, and sees them periodically.
"The rest of the relationships are tense," explained a source close to the actor's circle. Pitt has carried a heavy emotional burden for years because of this family situation. Even though he has tried to get closer, he hasn't managed to heal the open wounds with his children.
Despite all the effort he has put into restoring bonds, the result hasn't been the desired one. The emotional distances have widened over time. "He takes it easy, but he suffers a lot in private," the source added.
Consequences of a conflict that was never solved
Last Father's Day, the actor couldn't spend the day with his children. Brad was in New York promoting his new movie, F1, while most of his children stayed in Los Angeles.
The most serious conflict between them dates back to 2016, during a private family flight. On that trip, Pitt reportedly had a physical altercation with his oldest son, Maddox. That episode was decisive for Angelina Jolie to start the divorce process.
The breakup between Pitt and Jolie became official in December 2024, after years of litigation. During this time, Jolie has given some interviews about her emotional experience. In one of them, for Vogue, she stated that her children were her refuge in the darkest moments.
The relationship with Maddox and Pax, practically broken
The coldest relationships are the ones he keeps with Maddox, who is 23 years old, and Pax, who is 21. According to Daily Mail, Brad has completely cut ties with them after years of estrangement. Both have been critical of their father, especially Pax, who has done so publicly.
In 2020, Pax posted a harsh message on a private Instagram account along with a picture of Pitt receiving his Oscar. In the text, he described him as a father without empathy, unable to consider his children's feelings. "You've made the lives of those around me a constant hell," he wrote.
Recently, Pax was photographed leaving the Chateau Marmont hotel in an obvious state of intoxication. According to close sources, this kind of episode has led Pitt to lose hope of rebuilding his bond with him. "Brad considers his relationship with Pax irreparable," an informant revealed.
The children who have stopped being "Pitt"
Three of the six children of the former couple have distanced themselves both symbolically and legally. They have decided to stop using the Pitt surname in various public contexts. This gesture reflects the deep emotional estrangement they feel toward their father.
Shiloh, who recently turned 18 years old, legally requested to remove the Pitt surname and keep her mother's, becoming "Shiloh Nouvel Jolie." In her professional debut as a choreographer, she was credited as "Shi Jolie." The young woman seems determined to chart her own path, far from her father's shadow.
Vivienne has also chosen to use only the Jolie surname in her activities. She was credited this way in the Playbill for the play The Outsiders, where she worked as a production assistant. Meanwhile, Zahara introduced herself as "Zahara Marley Jolie" at her university initiation ceremony in 2023.
A new chapter in the actor's life
Amid this family crisis, Brad Pitt has chosen to seek refuge in privacy. He doesn't use social media and avoids sharing personal details with the press. According to expert Evan Nierman, he has managed to remain professionally visible without being emotionally available.
Currently, Pitt keeps a stable relationship with jewelry designer Inés de Ramón. The couple have been living together in the actor's house in Los Feliz since early 2024. Although he remains reserved about a new marriage, he seems emotionally committed.
Close sources say Brad has found some peace in this new stage. Inés supports him without pressuring him, and both enjoy a more mature and calm relationship. Despite the family pain, the actor tries to move forward with serenity.