While Brad Pitt is considered one of Hollywood's most talented stars, his family life has been marred by court battles, assault allegations and several of his children dropping his last name.

For years, Pitt and Angelina Jolie—who met in 2004 on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith—were considered the "it couple" of Hollywood, and during their 12-year relationship, they spent time building a large family together. The former couple share three adopted and three biological children: Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax and twins Knox and Vivienne.

However, in 2016 the couple split after Jolie claimed in court documents that Pitt "choked one of the children and struck another in the face" during a flight the family took that year from France to Los Angeles. Jolie further alleged that Pitt "grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her." After an FBI investigation into the alleged incidents, Pitt—who has denied all allegations—was not arrested or charged.

Brad Pitt, winner Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," poses in the press room during the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on January... Brad Pitt, winner Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," poses in the press room during the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 19, 2020, in Los Angeles, California. It has been reported that he has a frayed relationship with his children. Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images for Turner

In September of that year, they underwent a custody battle, which initially granted Jolie sole custody of their brood, while Pitt received only visitation rights. In May 2021, Pitt was given shared custody, but the ruling was subsequently overturned.

While Pitt's children don't often speak about him publicly, what they have said about him indicates the relationship is strained. Here, Newsweek has detailed what his children have said and done in relation to their father over the years.

Newsweek emailed a spokesperson for Jolie for comment on Thursday and a spokesperson for Pitt declined to comment.

An Angry Social Media Post

In 2023, the Daily Mail resurfaced an Instagram story that Pax wrote in 2020 about his father. Jolie adopted Pax from Vietnam in 2007 and Pitt adopted him in 2008.

Pax posted a photo of Pitt being awarded an Oscar for his role in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood to his private Instagram account—and he didn't hold back when he added his thoughts.

"Happy Father's Day to this world class a******!! You time and time and again prove yourself to be a terrible and despicable person," he wrote.

"You have no consideration or empathy toward your four youngest children who tremble in fear when in your presence. You will never understand the damage you have done to my family because you are incapable of doing so.

"You have made the lives of those closest to me a constant hell. You may tell yourself and the world whatever you want, but the truth will come to light someday. So, Happy Father's Day, you f****** awful human being!!!"

Angelina Jolie and children (from left) Maddox, Vivienne, Zahara, Shiloh and Knox arrive for the world premiere of Marvel Studios' "Eternals" in Los Angeles, California, on October 18, 2021. Jolie has sole custody of her... Angelina Jolie and children (from left) Maddox, Vivienne, Zahara, Shiloh and Knox arrive for the world premiere of Marvel Studios' "Eternals" in Los Angeles, California, on October 18, 2021. Jolie has sole custody of her children. VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Distant Relationship

In 2019, In Touch Weekly reported that Maddox publicly spoke about his distant relationship with Pitt.

When a reporter asked him whether the Fight Club actor planned to visit him at Yonsei University, South Korea, where he had recently enrolled, Maddox replied: "I don't know about that [or] what's happening."

Maddox was also asked whether his relationship with Pitt was over. "Well, whatever happens, happens," he said.

Jolie became a mom for the first time when she adopted Maddox from an orphanage in Cambodia in 2002, with Pitt officially adopting him in 2006.

Angelina Jolie and Pax Jolie-Pitt on August 16, 2023, in New York City. Pax previously shared his dislike for Brad Pitt on social media. Angelina Jolie and Pax Jolie-Pitt on August 16, 2023, in New York City. Pax previously shared his dislike for Brad Pitt on social media. Gotham/GC Images

Removing His Last Name

After turning 18 on May 27, Shiloh celebrated by requesting a legal name change.

In August, she officially removed the "Pitt" from her name after her request was approved by a judge in the Superior Court of Los Angeles, according to court documents obtained by Page Six. Her name was officially changed from Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt to Shiloh Nouvel Jolie.

She isn't the only Jolie-Pitt child to drop Pitt from their surname. While the changes haven't been made legally, Vivienne and Zahara have done the same thing.

Vivienne, who was credited as a producer on her mother's Broadway production, The Outsiders, was listed as Vivienne Jolie on the playbill.

In 2023, Zahara became a member of the sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha at Spelman College, which is the first historically Black sorority. As Zahara introduced herself during her induction ceremony, she notably skipped mentioning her famous dad's last name.

As her sorority sisters stood in formation, she said: "My name is Zahara Marley Jolie! Coming all the way from the Golden State in the city that is full of angels, Los Angeles, California."

Jolie adopted Zahara from Ethiopia in 2005 and Pitt adopted her the following year.

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