Nearly a decade after one of Hollywood’s most explosive splits, Brad Pitt is reportedly coming to terms with a painful truth: his relationship with his eldest children may never recover.
Once the proud father of a close-knit brood alongside Angelina Jolie, the actor’s family life has been reduced to strained silence and emotional distance. According to insiders, Brad now believes his bond with sons Maddox, 23, and Pax, 21, is “irreparable.”
“He’s devastated,” a source tells Heat. “But he’s starting to accept that, barring a miracle, his relationship with Maddox and Pax is beyond repair. It’s crushing for him—but he’s run out of ways to reach them.”
The once-golden Jolie-Pitt clan—who famously traveled the world together—has fractured in the years since Angelina filed for divorce in 2016 following an alleged altercation between Brad and Maddox aboard a private jet. Though the FBI cleared Pitt of wrongdoing, the fallout has lingered.
Sources say Brad’s relationship with his two eldest sons has grown increasingly distant. Maddox dropped “Pitt” from his name years ago, while Pax, whose recent party antics have drawn tabloid attention, has reportedly refused all contact with his father.
“Brad’s detached now,” the insider shares. “He feels like he doesn’t even know who Pax has become. It’s heartbreaking, but he’s given up trying to fix it. Every time he reaches out, he’s met with anger or silence.”
The situation came to a head back in 2020, when Pax posted a scathing Father’s Day message calling Brad “a terrible and despicable person.” The words, the source says, “cut him to the core.”
“Brad would never discuss it publicly,” the insider continues. “He tries to act like it doesn’t hurt, but it broke him. He’s constantly questioning what kind of father he was to deserve this level of rejection.”
Brad, now 61, reportedly believes that Angelina, 50, has influenced their children’s hostility toward him. “He’s told friends that she’s been poisoning them against him for years,” says the source. “He thinks she’s painted him as the villain. He’s devastated that his kids seem to believe it.”
Angelina, meanwhile, has long maintained that her actions were driven by the need to protect her children. “From her perspective, she’s done nothing but look out for them and let them make their own choices,” the insider explains. “But Brad sees it as a betrayal—he feels like she’s destroyed his family.”
Over the years, signs of estrangement have only intensified. Zahara, 20, introduced herself as “Zahara Jolie” during a college event; Vivienne, 17, dropped “Pitt” from her name on a theater program; and most recently, Shiloh, 19, reportedly listed herself as “Shi Jolie” while working on a fashion project.
As his twins approach their 18th birthday next year—when his custody rights will officially end—Brad’s heartache is said to be mounting. Still, insiders insist he hasn’t given up hope entirely.
“With Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox, there’s at least some communication,” the source adds. “He knows the damage runs deep, but he believes that love can eventually win out. He’s just trying not to push too hard.”
Even as he faces one of the most painful chapters of his life, Brad continues to hold onto the possibility of healing. “He’s deeply depressed, but he still believes in reconciliation,” says the insider. “He just doesn’t know how to reach them anymore.”
