Vivienne Jolie, the daughter of Hollywood superstars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has seemingly made a striking decision regarding her name, igniting an intense conversation online. The 15-year-old was recently credited as “Vivienne Jolie” in the Playbill for the new Broadway musical The Outsiders, where she worked closely with her mother, who serves as the show’s producer. This omission of ‘Pitt’ from her name has fueled ongoing speculation about the strained relationships between Pitt and his children.
Vivienne is not the first among her siblings to make this adjustment. Last year, Zahara Marley, the former couple’s 19-year-old daughter, also chose to publicly identify herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie” when she introduced herself at Spelman College, where she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. These changes have led many to wonder whether the famous Jolie-Pitt children are intentionally distancing themselves from their father.
The six children—Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne—have grown up under the spotlight, especially since Jolie and Pitt’s highly publicized divorce in 2016. While Jolie has frequently been seen attending events with her children, Pitt’s interactions with them have been notably scarce in recent years. Their bitter custody battle has stretched on for years, with Jolie seeking sole physical custody and reports suggesting a fractured bond between Pitt and his kids.
In August 2022, a source close to Pitt acknowledged his efforts to reconnect with his children. “It’s been a heartbreaking situation for years. Since Angelina filed for divorce, Brad has been trying to maintain a strong relationship with his kids, but it hasn’t been easy,” the insider shared. “There have been long stretches where he didn’t get to see them at all.”
More recently, legal documents from a former bodyguard suggested that Jolie had encouraged the children to avoid Pitt during visitation periods, further complicating their dynamic. This accusation came amid a legal dispute between the exes over their shared ownership of Château Miraval, the French winery they once purchased together.
When news of Vivienne’s name change surfaced online, social media exploded with reactions. Some people supported her decision, with one user commenting, “Honestly, Jolie is a way cooler last name than Pitt. I’d do the same thing.” Another added, “It’s her choice, and more power to her if this is what she wants.”
Others, however, felt she might be too young to make such a significant decision. One user argued, “A 15-year-old can’t legally change their name without parental approval. This is all coming from her mother’s influence.”
Regardless of the differing opinions, Vivienne’s choice reflects the evolving relationships within one of Hollywood’s most famous families. As she continues to carve out her own path in the entertainment industry, her decision has only intensified the ongoing speculation surrounding her father’s connection—or lack thereof—with his children.