Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been battling for custody of their children for years. They share six children - Maddox, 21, Pax, 18, Zahara, 17, Shiloh, 16, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 14. However, their two oldest boys are already legally adults, and it’ll be that way for all of their children within a few years.
At the moment, a custody arrangement dictates when Brad Pitt sees his minor children. Even though there have been allegations Angelina tried keeping the kids from her ex-husband, he does have legally established access to the kids, as per the court agreement.
But for their kids that are legally adults, there’s nothing forcing them to spend time with either of their parents. Brad’s relationship has been extremely strained with his kids. And the older ones that have more insight or a different perspective on their parent’s divorce may view their father in a different light. Moreover, Brad and Angelina’s oldest children are moved out and attending college, making it even more difficult to keep up a relationship.
Brad may keep his relationship with his kids relatively private from the media, but here’s everything we know about how he gets along with his oldest children.
Brad Pitt Was Accused Of Mistreating Angelina & Their Kids
Following their split, Angelina won primary custody of their six children. At the time, Brad was facing abuse allegations following an altercation involving him, Angelina, and their children on a private plan.
In recent years, court documents have revealed Angelina’s allegations that Brad got physical with her and the kids.
This was the incident that reportedly made Angelina filed for divorce, and it understandably put a strain on Brad’s relationship with his kids.
Moreover, seeing his children on a regular basis was apparently difficult due to the custody arrangement. There were many occasions when reports accused Angelina of trying to keep Brad away from the kids, or at least suggesting that’s what the actor himself believes.
Brad has accused Angelina of intentionally trying to harm him. He launched a lawsuit after she sold her estate the French winery they once owned together. Brad said she tried to harm his reputation by selling it to a Russian oligarch with questionable connections.
Court documents reveal Brad’s allegations that Angelina "sought to inflict harm" by forcing him into a partnership with "a stranger with poisonous associations and intentions."
If Brad believes Angelina would hurt him nosiness-wise, it’s not far fetch to assume he thinks she wants to hinder his relationship with their children.
Afterwards, Brad Pitt Had To Fight Angelina Jolie To See The Kids
Brad fought Angelina in court for many years in hopes of getting more rights to his kids. Though he was initially denied joint custody in 2021, a judge later ruled in his favor.
Now, he reportedly sees his minor children regularly and has a stable relationship with them. "Brad has dinner with his younger kids when they are all in L.A.” a source told PEOPLE. “Since the kids are older now, they have their own life and friends. Brad still has a pretty good relationship with them."
However, some of Brad and Angelina’s children are now legally adults. So, they can’t be forced to participate in court-mandated visitation. It’s up to them whether they want to have a relationship with either of their parents, and it will be that way for all of Brad and Angie’s kids once they’re 18.
The custody battle was understandably difficult for Brad and Angelina’s kids. Some of the children, especially the older ones, were expected to testify. Reports say this further strained their relationship was Brad.
"Maddox has already given testimony as [an] adult in the ongoing custody dispute, and it wasn't very flattering towards Brad," one source told Us Weekly.
Brad Pitt’s Oldest Kids Allegedly Refuse To Speak To Him
This doesn’t mean that Brad doesn’t see his older children, it just means they have to agree to and initiate it themselves. However, in 2020, one report said that Brad wasn’t on speaking terms with his eldest sons, Maddox and Pax.
“That relationship continues to be nonexistent,” a source told Us Weekly.
The previous year, a different source told Us Weekly that Brad was hopeful he could repair his relationship with Maddox now that the teen was going off to college. But the insider said Maddox “hasn’t been receptive.”
“With Maddox overseas [for college], Brad is also hopeful that Pax will also be interested in reconnecting without the influence of his older brother,” they continued.
Brad doesn’t usually speak publicly about his relationship with his kids, so there’s not a lot of information out there about the current status of his relationship with his older kids. However, unless they’ve patched things up, Brad still may have little communication with them.
