The long-running family divide between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie appears to have taken another emotional turn, with reports claiming that their youngest son, Knox, has chosen to stop using his father’s famous surname. According to multiple reports, the 17-year-old graduated from high school earlier this month under the name “Knox Jolie” rather than “Knox Jolie-Pitt,” becoming the latest member of the family to distance himself publicly from the Pitt name.
The development has once again drawn attention to the complicated relationship between the Hollywood star and several of his children.
Knox’s Graduation Sparked Headlines
Knox recently celebrated his graduation from Fusion Academy in Los Angeles, surrounded by family members including his mother, Angelina Jolie, twin sister Vivienne, and siblings Pax and Zahara. However, it wasn’t just the graduation ceremony that attracted public interest. Videos and photographs from the event reportedly showed that his diploma listed him as Knox Jolie, omitting the Pitt surname altogether. The choice came just weeks before Knox’s 18th birthday, fueling speculation that he may eventually make the change official through legal channels. While neither Knox nor his parents have publicly commented on the decision, many observers view it as another sign of the continuing family estrangement.
Following In His Siblings’ Footsteps
If the reports are accurate, Knox would not be the first of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s six children to move away from using the Pitt surname. Their daughter Shiloh legally dropped “Pitt” from her name after turning 18. Meanwhile, Vivienne used only “Vivienne Jolie” in credits connected to the Broadway production The Outsiders. Recent reports have also stated that Maddox filed paperwork seeking a legal name change, while Zahara has reportedly taken steps to officially remove Pitt from her surname as well. The pattern has led to renewed public discussion about the family’s strained relationships.
A Family Rift That Has Lasted Years
Pitt and Jolie’s highly publicized split began in 2016 after two years of marriage and more than a decade together. Their divorce proceedings stretched on for years before finally being finalized in 2024. During that time, the former couple faced custody disputes, legal battles, and intense media scrutiny. Although details regarding the current relationships between Pitt and his children remain private, reports over the years have suggested that several of the children have become increasingly distant from their father. Neither Pitt nor Jolie has recently addressed these claims publicly.
Knox Is Building His Own Identity
Despite the headlines surrounding his family, Knox has largely stayed out of the spotlight throughout his childhood. In recent months, however, he has attracted attention for another reason: his passion for Muay Thai. During his graduation speech, Knox surprised attendees by announcing that he would be competing in a Muay Thai event later that same evening. The teenager reportedly joked that he planned to “knock ’em out,” earning laughter and cheers from classmates and proud family members in attendance. His growing interest in martial arts has become one of the few aspects of his life that he has shared publicly.
The Story Continues To Evolve
As Knox approaches adulthood, questions remain about whether his reported use of “Jolie” will become a formal legal name change. For now, the decision appears to reflect a broader trend within one of Hollywood’s most famous families. While outsiders can only speculate about the reasons behind these deeply personal choices, the situation highlights that even among the world’s biggest stars, family relationships can be complicated, emotional, and difficult to repair. Neither Brad Pitt nor Angelina Jolie has publicly commented on the latest reports involving their son’s name.
