'Terrible Father': Internet Defends Angelina Jolie’s Daughter Zahara Dropping Brad Pitt’s Last Name

Angelina Jolie’s daughter Zahara has reportedly dropped her father Brad Pitt’s last name.

This comes amid news of some of Zahara's other siblings doing the same.

Jolie and Pitt separated in 2016 after the latter was accused of being abusive toward the Maleficent actress and their kids on a flight.

According to People, at the Spelman College’s 139th commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17, Zahara graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

Reportedly, even though the official commencement program listed her as Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt, her name was called out as “Zahara Marley Jolie” while she was accepting her diploma.

This is not the first time that the 21-year-old has chosen to drop her father’s last name. Zahara has solely used her mother’s last name during various other public appearances.

While joining the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in November 2023, Zahara introduced herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie.”

It seems that Jolie’s children have chosen a side following Jolie and Pitt's much-talked about separation in 2016. The divorce of the former couple was finalized in December 2024.

Zahara, who is a native of Ethiopia and was adopted by Jolie when she was seven months old in 2005, also praised her mother during the Pearls of Purpose Foundation’s Dearest Mother & Daughter: A Most Delightful Brunch Experience in April 2026.

In a video from the event that was shared on social media, Zahara was heard saying, “Our love for each other is a found one. I was adopted at 6 months old and given some of the most special and loving people as my siblings, with a mom who raised us on the value of helping others, being kind, and always striving for growth as people.”

She credited Jolie as being her ultimate role model, who taught her to become a good human being. Zahara said at the event, “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.”

Continuing the endearing words for her mother, the 21-year-old called Jolie, “the most selfless, loving, and understanding woman who I get to call my mom.”

Some social media users reacted to Zahara letting go of his father's last name during her graduation ceremony.

One X user wrote, “If a father is not present anymore in their child’s life or does not care about them, I don’t see any reason why they’d have their last name. If you want your child to have your name, make sure to represent their name emotionally and physically, too.”

Another user stated, “That man ruined everything on one flight.”

“And people will still defend this man whose own children want nothing to do with him,” an individual commented.

One person noted, “She went to HBCU, and Angelina was highly involved with her daughter, but Brad was nowhere in sight.”

“Brad Pitt must have been a terrible father and a husband because none of his children is taking his side. What did he actually do?” wrote one user.

Another added, “Congrats to Zahara. Also, dropping your abusive father’s last name and choosing your own peace will always be the right move.”