As Zahara Jolie celebrated one of the biggest achievements of her life, another painful chapter reportedly unfolded behind the scenes for Brad Pitt.
The actor’s already fractured relationship with his children has once again become the focus of public scrutiny after claims surfaced that he never congratulated his daughter following her Spelman College graduation.
While sources close to Angelina Jolie have continued to criticize Pitt’s role as a father, multiple insiders are now pushing back, insisting the story surrounding the Oscar winner is far more complicated than it appears.
Brad Pitt found himself at the center of renewed criticism following Zahara’s recent college graduation.The 21-year-old proudly walked across the stage at Spelman College in what should have been a joyful family moment.
However, shortly afterward, reports surfaced claiming Pitt never reached out to congratulate his daughter.
“Nothing prevented him from showing up for her. Or ever visiting her. The day was about all she accomplished. Not whether he was willing to attend,” TMZ reported on May 18.
The report quickly sparked backlash online against Pitt, whose strained relationship with several of his children has remained a topic of public fascination for years. However, insiders close to the actor strongly disputed the narrative.
“When you’ve made clear that you’re pushing him away from the children, a reasonable person cannot then complain that he’s not close to the children,” a source told the Daily Mail.
The insider insisted Pitt continues to want a relationship with all six of his children, Zahara, Maddox, Pax, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne.
Pitt’s Family Reportedly Tried To Maintain Connections
According to multiple insiders, Brad Pitt has not been alone in trying to repair the family divide. One source claimed the 62-year-old’s extended family also made repeated attempts over the years to remain connected to the children.
“His family did try to do things and there were, at some points, communication,” the source explained.
They admitted, however, that communication eventually faded, noting, “I know that there have been attempts with the cousins,” the source shared, adding,. “[Growing up], they did have a good relationship, so that’s been cut off also. Nothing’s really changed.”
A second insider claimed those closest to Pitt have largely respected the boundaries surrounding the family situation while continuing to support him privately.
The source said those closest to him, including friends and family, were not judging him through the situation because they believed he was “genuinely trying his best” while dealing with incredibly difficult circumstances.
The painful divide reportedly became even more emotional last year when Pitt’s mother, Jane Etta, died at age 84.
Sources alleged at the time that she had not spoken to the children in nearly nine years before her death.
“The most gut-wrenching part is that Angelina kept the kids away from his parents, from their own grandparents,” one insider claimed. “The question Brad has – that we all have – is: Angelina, where is your heart?”
Meanwhile, sources close to Angelina have repeatedly rejected claims that Pitt is being unfairly portrayed. One insider previously insisted that the “F1” actor’s damaged relationship with the children stems from his own actions.
“Brad continues to play the victim. His fractured relationship with his children is a direct result of how he has treated them,” the source said.
Pitt Reportedly Accepted Responsibility After The Plane Incident
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were married from 2014 until 2019, though their relationship reportedly deteriorated long before their divorce became official.
Their split followed the now-infamous 2016 private plane incident and years of allegations involving abuse.
Pitt has consistently denied allegations of physical abuse and was never charged following the FBI investigation into the incident.
Still, one source insisted the producer acknowledged mistakes from that period of his life. “His behavior wasn’t criminal, but he took responsibility for his actions,” the insider said, further revealing, “He got his act together.”
Another source added that Pitt has reached a painful realization about the limits of what he can currently do. “Brad has come to understand that there is little more he can do beyond continuing to be present and available if his children ever decide they want him back in their lives,” the source continued.
They also described the situation as emotionally surreal for Pitt explaining that he had been hoping for some kind of breakthrough with his children but currently felt it was impossible.
According to the insider, the situation seemed so unreal to the Hollywood star that it felt more like a bad joke than his actual reality.
Brad Pitt’s Relationship With His Children Changed After The Custody Battle
A third source suggested that Angelina’s extremely close relationship with the children has shaped how they view Brad Pitt today.
The insider claimed the actress and her children are inseparable. “They are her entire world and she has convinced them Brad isn’t a good person,” the source alleged.
They further explained that the children were now old enough to make their own decisions, but added that it was difficult to suddenly unlearn beliefs after being taught the same things for so long.
Angelina herself has rarely spoken publicly about the family conflict publicly, but she defended her decision to leave the marriage during a 2020 interview with Vogue. She described her choice as “the right decision,” noting that she was focused on healing. She also added, “Some have taken advantage of my silence, and the children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds.”
