Brad Pitt's son quietly removes his father's last name, a shocking decision after the controversy.

Maddox appears in the Couture film credits as Maddox Jolie instead of Jolie-Pitt. He is the latest of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's children to drop their father's surname amid rumors of a strained family relationship.

According to People, Maddox – Angelina Jolie's eldest son – is quietly making his mark in the film industry by taking on the role of assistant director for the drama film Couture. The film, starring Angelina Jolie, officially premiered in France on February 25th and quickly attracted attention not only for its content but also for the appearance of Maddox's name in the end credits.

What particularly caught public attention was that in the production team list, he was listed as Maddox Jolie instead of Maddox Jolie-Pitt as before. This wasn't the first time this naming convention had appeared. When the film was presented at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025, the production documents sent to the press also listed him as Maddox Jolie. This change was seen as a milestone indicating that he had officially stopped using his father's surname.

Maddox became the latest of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's children to drop the Pitt surname. Previously, in May 2024, in the Playbill for the Broadway musical The Outsiders, Vivienne appeared as Vivienne Jolie instead of Vivienne Jolie-Pitt. Not long after, in August of the same year, Zahara introduced herself as Zahara Marley Jolie while speaking at a university event. Also in August, Shiloh – the couple's eldest biological daughter – completed the legal process to change her name to Shiloh Jolie shortly after turning 18.

The fact that the children are successively dropping their father's surname comes amidst rumors of a growing distance between Brad Pitt and his children. A source close to the actor shared that he was hurt by the news. "He still loves them and misses them a lot," the source said. However, Brad Pitt is not said to have publicly reacted strongly to his children's personal decisions.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt began their relationship in 2004 after working together on a film project. Ten years later, they held a private wedding in France. However, the marriage lasted only two years before Angelina Jolie filed for divorce in June 2016. Since then, the legal process between the two stars has dragged on for years with numerous disputes over child custody and asset division.

The couple has six children: Maddox (24), Pax (22), Zahara (21), Shiloh (19), and twins Knox and Vivienne (17). Among them, Maddox has been involved in filmmaking since a young age, having assisted his mother in several previous projects. His continued work behind the scenes as an assistant director for Couture is considered a significant step in building an independent career.

According to Business Insider's estimates, the legal battle between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt has cost each of them more than $1 million. This includes legal fees, expert advice, media handling, and the complex procedures related to the property dispute. Although some agreements have been reached, the simmering tensions are believed to have significantly impacted their family relationship.

Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie continues to focus on her artistic work and humanitarian activities. Maddox's presence on the Couture production team partly demonstrates the strong bond between her and her children in the creative field.

Brad Pitt launches a $35 million lawsuit against his ex-wife, preparing to publicize shocking evidence Thảo Vi11:45:40 11/11/2025Brad Pitt demanded $35 million in compensation from Angelina Jolie and made public documents related to Château Miraval. The December 17 trial in California is considered the end of the conflict and power of the two stars.