The Real Reason Brad Pitt Didn’t Attend His Daughter’s Graduation as 4 of His 6 Kids Drop His Last Name
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s eldest daughter, Zahara, has officially graduated from Spelman College. She walked across the stage on Sunday, May 17, to receive her diploma, with Jolie and her siblings there to celebrate—though Pitt was not among those in attendance.
The actor is reportedly estranged from his kids, and a source told TMZ that his distant relationship with Zahara has “not cooled off.” Pitt reportedly didn’t reach out to Zahara ahead of her graduation, nor did he contact anyone about obtaining a ticket to attend.
“Nothing prevented him from showing up for her,” a source close to Jolie said. “Or ever visiting her. The day was about all she accomplished. Not whether he was willing to attend.”
The reason for his absence, sources say, is that Pitt has become “so estranged from his kids because of the animosity directed at him towards Jolie, that any outreach would be unwelcome.”
This follows reports that Zahara and three of her siblings, Maddox, Shiloh, and Vivienne, have dropped their father’s last name. Zahara introduced herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie” when she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in November 2023, and in April 2026, she went by “Zahara Jolie” at the Pearls of Purpose Foundation’s Dearest Mother & Daughter: A Most Delightful Brunch Experience.
While her name was listed as “Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt” on Spelman’s commencement program, her name was read as “Zahara Marley Jolie” at the graduation ceremony.
Back in 2024, a source told People that Pitt has “virtually no contact” with his adult kids, including Zahara. Despite this, the Oscar-winning actor’s “fatherly instincts” haven’t changed at all, according to RadarOnline, and he’s now channelling that energy “in a direction outside his own family,” specifically with his late friend Chris Cornell’s children.
“When it comes to Chris’ kids, he takes his obligation to them incredibly seriously,” an insider explained. “Through them, Brad is finding the kind of connection his own kids have denied him.”
