Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt's Oldest Daughter Just Made a Bold Statement About Her Relationship With Her Dad
Congratulations are in order for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's oldest daughter, Zahara. The 21-year-old graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Atlanta's Spelman College on May 17. Jolie was in attendance, along with sons Pax, 22, and Knox, 17, to cheer Zahara on. However, her dad was noticeably absent.
"Zahara Marley Jolie," the announcer called out as Zahara crossed the stage to receive her diploma in a video posted on X. Many were quick to note that "Pitt" was dropped and was also missing from the event program.
Zahara Jolie has officially graduated from Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. 💙 pic.twitter.com/Q6Pm3aXgBr
— 𐌊𖤓 (@lyntwig_) May 17, 2026
"So glad they respected the last name she wants to go by. Congrats Zahara," one fan commented, as one noted that her legal name is Jolie-Pitt.
The omission isn't surprising but rather a natural progression. When she joined the sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha in 2023, an EssenceTikTok showed her introducing herself as Zahara Marley Jolie.
Zahara Honors Jolie's Influence
Most recently, she was listed as Zahara Jolie at the Pearls of Purpose Foundation's "Dearest Mother & Daughter: A Most Delightful Brunch Experience" in April. There, she also gave a speech about her and Jolie's "unique, almost kindred relationship."
She talked about being adopted at six months old, and that she and her siblings had "a mom who raised us on the value of helping others, being kind, and always striving for growth as people."
"These values may sound simple, but in a world where kindness is overlooked and helping others comes at a cost, I am grateful to have had a role model to show me what it looks like to be a decent human being," she said.
"For any daughters in the room who may know the feeling of seeing their mom as a superhero and not knowing how she does it," she added, per an Instagram video. "This is something I've been trying to understand my whole life. She's the most selfless, loving, and understanding woman who I get to call my mom."
A Growing Pattern Among the Siblings
Zahara's move is the latest statement regarding the estranged relationship Pitt has with his kids. Shiloh filed to legally drop Pitt from her name in 2024, shortly after her 18th birthday. Vivienne, 17, who co-produced the musical The Outsiders with Jolie, was listed in the production's program as Vivienne Jolie.
In February 2026, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, 24, became the latest sibling to drop Pitt from their name. In the credits for Couture, where he worked as the third assistant director, his name also appeared without his famous father's name attached.
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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 1:42 PM.