Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter changes name at graduation
Zahara, the eldest daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, graduated from Spelman College with a degree in Psychology over the weekend - and people noticed one key detail when her name was read out.
Although the 21-year-old was listed as 'Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt' in the university's graduation, she was introduced as Zahara Marley Jolie as she walked across the stage to collect her diploma.
It comes amid rumours that several of Pitt's children have distanced themselves from their father. During Pitt and Jolie's divorce, claims that the Fight Club actor was aggressive towards his wife and children on a plane in 2016 surfaced, which Pitt has denied.
This isn't the first time Zahara, who was adopted by Jolie and Pitt from an orphanage in Ethiopia at seven months old, has dropped her father's surname, previously introducing herself as Zahara Marley Jolie when joining the university's Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in November 2023.
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"My name is Zahara Marley Jolie. And I landed all the way from the Golden State in the city full of angels: Los Angeles, California," then 18-year-old Zahara told the crowd in a video shared by Essence.
Zahara isn't the only member of the actors' famous brood of children to drop their father's last name in recent years.
In June 2024, the couple's daughter, Shiloh, filed to drop Pitt from her name on her 18th birthday, now going by Shiloh Nouvel Jolie.
Then last year, when Shiloh worked as a choreographer for musician Luella, she was credited as Shi Joli.
Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the couple's eldest son, Maddox, had also dropped his double-barreled surname, being credited as Maddox Jolie while working as an assistant producer on his mum's latest movie, Couture.
Meanwhile, youngest daughter Vivienne was previously credited as 'Vivienne Jolie' on the playbill of Broadway musical The Outsiders, where she worked behind the scenes as a volunteer production assistant back in May 2024.
It's not currently known if the couple's other children, Pax and Knox, have dropped Pitt from their surname.
While none of the children have spoken about their decision to drop their father's surname, the change came after Jolie and Pitt's highly publicised divorce.
The Mr and Mrs Smith stars separated in 2016 when Jolie accused her husband of 'abusive behaviour’ towards herself and their children while on a private plane to France in 2016.
According to court documents, Jolie alleged that Pitt had attacked her and one of their children onboard the aircraft - claims which the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor denies.
Pitt is alleged to have choked one of his children and struck another in the face. Jolie claims he grabbed her by the head, shook her and pushed her into a bathroom wall, also allegedly pouring beer over her and his children.
Jolie described the alleged incident to the FBI at the time, but it was decided not to pursue criminal charges.
A divorce lawyer for Pitt said at the time the actor accepted responsibility for some things in his past, but would not take the blame for things he didn't do, The New York Times reported.
Jolie and Pitt's divorce was later settled in December, following a number of legal disputes between the former couple.
Pitt has not commented publicly on the relationship between himself and his children since the divorce, but it has been suggested that the siblings have become estranged from their father over the years.
Topics: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Celebrity, Parenting
Brenna Cooper