Vivienne Jolie-Pitt Files Petition to Drop ‘Pitt’ from Her Last Name

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, the 18-year-old daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has asked the court to remove “Pitt” from her surname and legally change her name to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie.

In May 2024, Broadway’s The Outsiders Playbill credited her as “Vivienne Jolie.” She helped produce the show alongside her mother, Angelina Jolie. Los Angeles County Superior Court has reportedly scheduled a hearing for November 2.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s daughter Vivienne is seeking to legally remove “Pitt” from her last name.

The 18-year-old has filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court requesting that her legal name be changed from Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie. The reason for the name change is listed as “personal,” according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE.

Vivienne also isn’t the first of Jolie, 51, and Pitt’s six children to take steps toward dropping “Pitt” from her name. Zahara is seeking to legally change her name to Zahara Marley Jolie, while Maddox is requesting to become Maddox Chivan Jolie. In 2024, Shiloh filed to drop Pitt from her name and change it to Shiloh Jolie.

People

When Several Children Choose Distance, the Narrative Around Brad Pitt Deserves Scrutiny

At this point, the pattern is difficult to ignore. Shiloh legally removed Pitt from her surname, while Maddox, Zahara and Vivienne reportedly filed similar petitions. Knox has also used Jolie without Pitt. Blaming Angelina Jolie denies these children agency and ignores the possibility that they reached their own conclusions.

The allegations connected to the 2016 flight were deeply disturbing. The family’s estrangement did not appear overnight. Jolie alleged in court filings that Pitt physically assaulted her and two of their children during a private flight. The FBI and child-welfare authorities investigated Pitt but brought no charges. Pitt has disputed Jolie’s account. Even so, he continues to enjoy enormous public goodwill, while the media repeatedly portrays Jolie as bitter, vindictive or responsible for turning the children against him. That double standard reveals how readily society protects famous men and distrusts women who describe alleged abuse.

A charming public image proves very little about how someone behaves in private. Being friendly to colleagues, fans or other celebrities does not disprove allegations about conduct inside the home. All six children are now adults and are entitled to make their own decisions about their names, identities and family relationships. Treating every decision they make as evidence of their mother’s control denies them agency. People can change, but genuine redemption requires accountability—acknowledging harm, respecting boundaries and attempting to repair trust. Without that, claims of personal growth ring hollow. Whatever happened inside that family, the children deserve peace. They should be allowed to define their own relationships, names and identities without strangers insisting they must protect their father’s reputation.

Whatever happened inside that family, the children deserve peace. They should be allowed to define their own relationships, names and identities without strangers insisting they must protect their father’s reputation.