As her lengthy divorce battle with Brad Pitt finally comes to an official close, Angelina Jolie’s children have expressed a desire for their mother to be more outspoken in defending herself during the years-long legal proceedings.
According to an exclusive source, the children, who range in age from 16 to 23, have been deeply affected by the ongoing struggle, seeing their mother bear the brunt of what they perceived as unfair scrutiny.
“She’s been trying hard to stay positive after a difficult time,” a source close to the actress told PEOPLE. “The kids have grown up witnessing the power dynamics in the world and how sometimes voices are silenced.
They’ve wanted her to speak up for herself and defend her actions over the years.” Despite this, Jolie has always encouraged her children to focus on more constructive causes, such as advocating for law changes, rather than publicly discussing family matters.
Jolie, 49, and Pitt, 61, first met while filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2005, and their relationship became a media sensation. They married in 2014 and share six children: Maddox (23), Pax (21), Zahara (19), Shiloh (18), and twins Knox and Vivienne (16).
Their divorce, filed by Jolie in 2016, was prompted by an alleged incident on a private plane where Pitt was said to have become intoxicated and acted aggressively toward Jolie and their children.
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While the investigation cleared him of criminal charges, the divorce battle raged on.
Despite signing agreements in 2017 to protect the privacy of their children, the legal dispute continued to make headlines, including a custody case in which Pitt was granted 50-50 custody.
However, the judge was later disqualified, and the ruling was voided.
Jolie’s divorce lawyer, James Simon, commented that since the filing, Jolie has remained focused on achieving peace and healing for her family.
“Angelina is exhausted but relieved that this chapter is finally closed,” Simon said.
The children have also faced their own struggles, with some distancing themselves from Pitt.
A source revealed that several have even dropped “Pitt” from their last names, while Pitt, who reportedly has little contact with the older children, continues to miss them deeply.
Though the divorce may be officially settled, the tension between the former couple remains, with both still engaged in a separate lawsuit over a French winery they once owned together.
Despite the ongoing battles, both parents continue to express their care for their children, with Jolie reiterating her hope that her kids can have a more private and peaceful life moving forward.