‘Tis the season for college graduations, and this past weekend was a big one in Atlanta. Spelman College’s class of 2026 graduated, including Angelina Jolie’s eldest daughter Zahara Jolie. Zahara left home for one of the best HBCUs in the country four years ago, and now she’s got her degree! Reportedly, Angelina was in Atlanta for the graduation, as were some (if not all) of Zahara’s siblings. But it looks like Brad Pitt did not go. It also looks like Zahara’s entire college experience was under her mother’s surname – Zahara Marley Jolie.
Zahara Jolie-Pitt is moving on to a new chapter in life — in more ways than one. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter graduated from Spelman College over the weekend. And while taking the stage to accept her diploma, she was announced as “Zahara Marley Jolie” — noticeably leaving out “Pitt” from her name.
The 21-year-old received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the Atlanta-based college.
This isn’t the first time she has dropped the last name of her estranged father at a public event, however.
When Zahara joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha organization back in 2023, she proudly declared herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie.” In a video from the sorority’s induction ceremony, she shouted it while shaking her hair and performing a series of moves. At the time, social media users pointed out that one of her brothers also dropped their father’s last name years prior.
Again, to my knowledge, Shiloh is the only kid to legally change her name. But it seems like the four oldest (Zahara, Shiloh, Pax and Maddox) dropped “Pitt” from their names at school/work as soon as possible. I wonder what the twins will do long-term – reportedly, Vivienne dropped “Pitt” from her name in production credits too. Incidentally, TMZ had this story straight from Team Jolie:
Brad Pitt’s estrangement from his daughter Zahara has not cooled off … with sources telling TMZ that the actor did not reach out ahead of her graduation from Spellman. A source close to Angelina tells TMZ that “Zahara’s mom and siblings, who have been involved over the four very special years, were present and cheering her and her Spelman sisters on.”
The source added, “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.”
Sources tell TMZ that Brad did not contact anyone about getting a ticket to her graduation ceremony, which took place over the weekend.
My opinion: “A source close to Angelina” has every right to put this out there. Because we’ve seen, over the past decade, Brad’s constant victim act when it comes to the kids, like Angelina *made* the kids hate him, like Angelina *forces* him to be a terrible father and a terrible person. This was a moment for Brad to act like an adult towards his adult daughter, who was graduating from college. He could have showed up. He chose not to. This source also stopped Team Pitt from lying about it too, because you know some “poor Brad, he would have loved to go to the graduation, if not for Mean Angie” story was coming.
“Zahara Marley Jolie, the daughter of Angelina Jolie, reacts as she walks off the stage after receiving her diploma.” #Spelman 💙🎓
Credit: Miguel Martinez https://t.co/c6TYrfDy23 pic.twitter.com/QX6eXXy8Lf
— 𐌊𖤓 (@lyntwig_) May 17, 2026
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Avalon Red.
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- Angelina Jolie mit Tochter Zahara Jolie bei der Verleihung der 82. Golden Globe Awards 2025 im Beverly Hilton Hotel. Beverly Hills, 05.01.2025 Foto:xJ.xBlocx/xFuturexImagex globes_5193,Image: 952047356, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Jennifer Bloc/Avalon
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- BEVERLY HILLS, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – JANUARY 05: Zahara Marley Jolie and mother Angelina Jolie arrive at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 5, 2025 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 952078915, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Zahara Marley Jolie, Angelina Jolie, Credit line: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
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- BEVERLY HILLS, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – JANUARY 05: Zahara Marley Jolie and mother Angelina Jolie arrive at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 5, 2025 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 952087846, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Zahara Marley Jolie, Angelina Jolie, Credit line: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
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- BEVERLY HILLS, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – JANUARY 05: Zahara Marley Jolie and mother Angelina Jolie arrive at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 5, 2025 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 952087851, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Zahara Marley Jolie, Angelina Jolie, Credit line: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
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- New York City, NY – Angelina Jolie is spotted leaving Jean-Michel Basquiat’s former studio with her kids in New York City. The Manhattan building that once housed the studio and living quarters of the late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat has found a new tenant. Actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie secured 57 Great Jones Street, a two-story structure owned by Andy Warhol for 20 years, for a new creative endeavor platforming underrepresented fashion workers. With 6,600 square feet at her disposal, Jolie is working to create “a community of creativity and inspiration, regardless of socio-economic background” by providing resources and support to an international network of tailors through Atelier Jolie. Pictured: Angelina Jolie, Zahara Marley Jolie, Pax Thien Jolie BACKGRID USA 27 DECEMBER 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: T.JACKSON / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York, NY – Angelina Jolie, accompanied by her children, attends the “Maria” premiere at Alice Tully Hall during the New York Film Festival. The family arrived in style for the highly anticipated screening in NYC. Pictured: Pax Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Zahara Jolie, Maddox Jolie-Pitt BACKGRID USA 29 SEPTEMBER 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York, NY – Angelina Jolie and her children were spotted attending the after-party for the New York Film Festival premiere of “Maria”. The family made a stylish appearance as they celebrated the film’s debut. Pax could be seen with what appeared to be a black brace supporting his right arm followign his recent bike accident. Pictured: Maddox Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Jolie BACKGRID USA 29 SEPTEMBER 2024 BYLINE MUST READ: T.JACKSON / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York, NY – Angelina Jolie attends the “Maria” Premiere during the 62nd New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall in New York City. Pictured: Zahara Jolie BACKGRID USA 29 SEPTEMBER 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- New York, NY – Angelina Jolie attends the “Maria” Premiere during the 62nd New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall in New York City. Pictured: Pax Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Jolie and Maddox Jolie-Pitt BACKGRID USA 29 SEPTEMBER 2024 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
I bet they were all happy that he decided not to attend. Who wants an abuser at such a wonderful celebration.
Was it “he decided not to attend” or was it he wasn’t invited?
If your child won’t have anything to do with you, changes their surname to distance themself from you, would you be crass and gate-crash their graduation? I don’t think so, to be utterly fair.
Congratulations, Zahara! There’s got to be a private means of filing a name change, right? So maybe more kids have done it than we know about.
Yeah, you can legally change your name confidentially. I’ve often wondered if Harry and Meghan have changed the last names of their kids from Mountbatten-Windsor to Sussex, especially after what Meghan said to Mindy.
Some state laws require newspaper announcements for (adult only, I think) legal name change petitions. Not sure CA laws though they were discussed here when Shiloh changed her name. Wasn’t there a newspaper announcement, and people wondered why until someone pointed out it was required?
Also – do we know FOR SURE that the older kids ever had Pitt as a LEGAL surname?
Once Charles became king their surname ceased to be MW. Per the LP it’s for non HRH in the male line.
States that require a newspaper announcement must have some alternative for abuse scenarios.
Aww congrats to Zahara! I think that’s the broadest smile I’ve ever seen on her face and its fully deserved.
💯 Biggest smile and well deserved. I have a similar photo getting my diploma. Congratulations Z.
The whole world supports you and excited. Congratulations! Best family ever
He could ruin the fun. Can’t give him an opportunity to serve Angelina another law suit.
This is to reply to @CynthiaFabian, I take your point and it’s a heroic point to raise, from personal experience. I do get the impression from the way the statement to TMZ is worded, that he was not prevented from attending, so I infer that no one asked him to recuse himself. I get the impression with this story that the only times Angelina is truly pissed off — and not just terminally *tired* of this cheap gamesmanship — is when it undermines family moments for her kids, or her kids’ equilibrium, more generally. Even my parents were able to patch it up to attend graduation ceremonies. And these were people who did not exchange a single word after they split up, forty years ago this month. They just seethed with suppressed rage and bitterness. I never felt outclassed by the British capacity for repression, living in London. Maybe that was a silver lining.
Didn’t he make some weird comments a while back about finally having a daughter in reference to Shiloh? Am I remembering that correctly?
I think that was a case of a tabloid “source” saying something along those lines, but I don’t think BP himself has ever been quoted as saying that.
Anyway, congrats to Zahara! I remember when she was a baby, it’s so crazy that she’s now a grown-up college graduate 🤯. I wish her the best.
Brad Pitt doesn’t seem interested in any of children so I’m not surprised he wasn’t at the graduation. He didn’t even know that she had decided to go to Spelman. Congrats to Zahara.
It does feel sad when we’ve seen so many divorced couples recently reunite for their children’s’ ceremony.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYFxNlECRT5/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYaRykTEk4L/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYabi8JxDGD/
And before history rewrites begin, Reese and Ryan had a VERY ugly divorce.
Accusations of infidelity & abuse abounded, but they locked it down fast.
Chris Rock and his ex-wife, as well.
Was Ryan accused of abusing any of the kids? Did any of the kids say he terrified them? The comparison is disingenuous. Angelina and Brad are actively engaged in a lawsuit and Zahara has made her feelings on him known. Thinking a reunion would happen is ludacris. What fantasy world are people living in
But who would have wanted him to be there? However, a decent person would have sent her congratulations, or acknowledged her milestone in some way.
College graduations make me so emotional (my daughters graduated three years ago and I think I may have set some sort of record for tears in a single month).
Congrats to Zahara and any grads or parents of grads on Celebitchy!
Wow time flies!
They were all better off without him there.
I agree – I think this article is less about wishing he were present at this milestone in Zahara’s life (or, according to the article, ever visiting her) and more about anticipating his terrible habit of latching on to any story about the Jolie kids and making it a tale of woe about himself. It must be exhausting for all of the family.
I fear the real nastiness may lie ahead when the children who share DNA with him complete their education.
I have seen this article out and the comments against Angelina for this are horrific. My blood runs cold when I see women ASSUME that this is Angelina forcing her kids to hate Brad Pitt. You know, the guy that boarded a plane drunk and stoned and proceeded to abuse his family and destroy the interior of the plane, but ya, she must be in the unhinged one because she didnt speak to her father for years for abandoning her and her brother and mother when she was young for fame and stardom. Also, you know, the Brad Pitt who left a women homeless with six children? But he parades around smiling and waving, wearing dumb shit, so he must be misunderstood OR, alienated from his children because of the dark haired shrew. My blood runs cold when I see women hating women. I am married in to a family who does just this, and it’s heart breaking and disappointing, but WE SHALL OVERCOME.
I can’t believe its been four years! I remember when Zahara announced she was going to Spelman and now she’s a graduate. Continue to fly high and enjoy your life. Brad Pitt gives me the impression of someone who never progressed emotionally past the age of 25 or maybe even younger.
Congratulations to her. Did she even invite him? I mean, if she did it was probably a shits and giggles invite; come don’t come, I do NOT care. It’s best that he stayed away so his presence didn’t distract or ruin her day.
Not clear from the wording if he was sent an invitation and a ticket. If Zahara invited him and sent the necessary ticket, shame on him for not showing up. If Zahara chose not to invite him, and she had every right to exclude him, it’s better he didn’t show up against her wishes and cause a scene trying to enter without a ticket.
Zahara looks SO happy.
Great moment for her and her family. Pitt who?
Aw, look at that beaming smile! I feel so proud of Zahara!
As for the story from “a source close to Angelina”, I think it’s sad but it has become necessary to pre-empt her ex’s sob stories to friendly gossip sites like People about how much he misses his children. If only that mean Angelina hadn’t stopped him etc etc. He’s a loser, an abuser, and above all a whiner, so his family are (smartly) getting their side out first. They have the upper hand because I doubt he even realized that Zahara was graduating this spring.
I’m zooming in and enhancing this part: “Nothing prevented him from showing up for her. Or ever visiting her.” So, she was in school for four years without so much as a visit.
Well, his pr firm will earn their keep this month – expect an article in People and/or page 6 soon.
Erm what if he wasn’t invited? Does that not mean even if he wanted to make amends and come he’s not welcome? So he did right by not gate crashing? Dunno
Best to Zahara on her special day. Will she follow it up with law school or a medical degree? You go, Zahara. And enjoy every minute of it.
Congratulations to Zahara for such a major accomplishment 👏🏿
Angelina has done a marvelous job in raising and guiding her children into adulthood over the last decade.
Why must he be included in everything they do? He’s taken great pleasure in informing the media how much better his life has been, at every turn, since 2016. Leave that family the hell alone without his noxious non presence constantly plaguing them.
Good job Z.
Congratulations Zahara!
Congrats to Zahara! With the way people tried to overshadow her day I am happy it was confirmed (if tmz is correct ofc) that he doesn’t reach out. I would say i wish it was said much earlier. Everyone can stop asking and he can stop pretending he does. Every hoilday its a brad sent text! Who knows if they’ll respond! He can save it.
In reality he didn’t even have to show up. He could’ve sent a congratulation to people magazine. He can complain about not seeing them through sources but cant send a positive one for her day? Telling.