BRAD’S ‘ DADDY COOL’ AGAIN
EVER SINCE Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt in September 2016, Brad’s relationship with his six children has appeared as one of the central difficulties in the split. There were accusations of child abuse in 2016 involving the couple’s oldest child, Maddox, 16 (they were swiftly dropped), reported disputes over the pair’s approaches to parenting (Angelina is said to be more carefree, while Brad favours a more structured upbringing) and, this summer, a judge’s claim that Angelina limiting their time with Brad could be ‘harmful’ to them – so much so that she could risk losing primary custody of them.
But, following the news that the couple had finally reached a deal after an acrimonious two-year custody battle, there appears to have been a breakthrough.
Last month, the night before Brad’s 55th birthday, the pair’s five youngest children, Pax, 15, Zahara, 13, Shiloh, 12, and 10-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne, had an overnight stay with Brad at his LA mansion – the first since his split from Angelina. The visit, according to sources, was overseen by therapists, who are apparently still involved in the divorce proceedings to ensure a smooth transition for the children.
‘ The last two years have been an unimaginably tumultuous time for Brad and he is thrilled that his bond with the children is starting to be restored,’ said a source. ‘He has really missed out on being there for holidays and birthdays – and at times it felt like he was losing them.’
In the same week as the children’s sleepover, it was reported that Pax had paid tribute to Brad on social media, writing alongside a baby picture of him, ‘Happy birthday to this stud. Love you so much! Can’t wait to see you later.’ One news outlet, however, claimed the account – as well as one in the name of Maddox – was a fake.
It came just after a shocking report that Angelina had told Pax that Brad had ‘never wanted to adopt him’. The actor was said to be nervous about bringing a three-year-old child into the family less than a year after they’d had Shiloh, at a time when they were going through difficulties in their relationship. Angelina apparently told Brad, ‘Pax needs me more than Shiloh,’ with the dispute reported to have almost ended their marriage in 2007.
The happier news that Brad is working to repair his relationship with the children comes after a summer that saw a private judge encourage him to spend more time with them, while also ordering Angelina not to interfere with the actor’s time with the children – including checking up on their messages to their father on their mobile phones.
‘Brad’s connection with the children suffered, especially given that he often saw the children with family therapists present, which made their time together pretty awkward and strained,’ said the source. ‘It was as if Brad was being presented as an untrustworthy figure within the family, which he completely resented.
‘But Brad pulled through, followed the rules, accepted the fact that he and the children were being evaluated, and proved himself as a father. He has just been focused on getting through it all, and now they are finally able to spend time together as a family again.’