An attorney for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter Shiloh has spoken out for the first time about her “significant” move to drop “Pitt” from her last name.
It was reported over the weekend that Shiloh published an ad in the Los Angeles Times stating that she had filed to change her name from “Shiloh Jolie-Pitt” to “Shiloh Jolie.”
According to previous reports, Shiloh first filed to change her name on her 18th birthday, May 27. The LA Times notice was the next step in the legal process, where — under California law — the petitioner must have the legal forms published in a newspaper for one month before a judge can approve the request.
Now, amid speculation surrounding the newspaper spot, Shiloh’s attorney, Peter Levine, has issued a statement clearing up any confusion about how she’s navigated the process.
“The media should be more careful in their reporting,” the attorney said, “especially when covering a young adult who has made an independent and significant decision following painful events, and is merely following legal process.”
Levine’s mention of the “painful events” that led up to Shiloh’s decision comes amid speculation that she and her five siblings — Maddox, 22; Pax, 20; Zahara, 19; and 16-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne — are largely estranged from their father in the wake of his and Angelina’s 2016 split.
Their divorce is still ongoing, and Angelina’s initial filing to end the marriage in September 2016 was believed to have been prompted by an alleged incident on a private jet, whereby Brad was accused of physically abusing then-15-year-old Maddox.
Earlier this month, People published reports that Brad has “virtually no contact” with his adult children and “has visitation with the younger kids” per a custody agreement with Angelina. He is also said to be “aware and upset” that Shiloh has filed to change her name.