Angelina Jolie’s Oldest Child Maddox "Doesn’t Really See Himself" as Brad Pitt’s Son

Us Weekly reports this week that Brad Pitt and their oldest son Maddox Jolie-Pitt aren't close at all. Maddox doesn't want to be. Here, details.

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Brad Pitt's relationship with his and Angelina Jolie's six children isn't completely perfect. Us Weekly reports this week that actually, he and their oldest son Maddox Jolie-Pitt aren't close at all. Maddox doesn't want to be.

Brad reportedly got into an altercation with Maddox on a private plane in 2016; it was that incident that led Angelina to file for divorce. And it's that incident that has tainted their relationship years later.

A source told the outlet that now, “Maddox doesn’t really see himself as Brad’s son.” (Angelina adopted Maddox in 2002; Brad legally adopted Maddox too in 2006 when he and Angelina were together.) A second source, a friend of the family's, said that Maddox "is very close with Angie."

Us reports that Brad learned of Maddox’s plans to attend Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea moments before the news leaked to the media. Brutal.

A source told Us Weekly that while Maddox has "some simmering resentment" toward Brad, he's also just being a typical teenager seeking independence. That source pointed out that last Christmas, Maddox "refused" to go open presents at his dad's place with his younger siblings Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox. Pax, the couple's second oldest kid, opted to skip going to Pitt's too. But they're just teens who "spend less time than they used to with the younger kids and the family," the source said.

Brad hasn't given up on Maddox. "Brad’s hopeful that as his son gets older, they’ll become close again," a source told Us.

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Alyssa Bailey
News and Strategy Editor

Alyssa Bailey is the news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she's not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.