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Zahara Jolie Sues to Drop ‘Pitt’ Surname, Graduates

6/10/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Zahara Marley Jolie filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court on April 28, 2026 to drop the surname “Pitt.”
The court scheduled a hearing for September 28, 2026.
Zahara Marley Jolie graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta on May 17, 2026 and was announced under her new name.
Maddox Jolie filed a similar petition in early 2026 while Brad Pitt missed the graduation and has limited contact with his adult children.

History

Historical Context

Prince’s 1993 legal battle with Warner Bros. Records led him to replace his name with an unpronounceable symbol, protesting contractual control. Decades later, Zahara Marley Jolie and brother Maddox filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to drop the Pitt surname, echoing Prince’s use of courts to reshape branding. The cases show celebrities leveraging litigation to manage identity.

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Story summary

Zahara Marley Jolie filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court on April 28, 2026 to drop the surname “Pitt.”
The court scheduled a hearing for September 28, 2026.
Zahara Marley Jolie graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta on May 17, 2026 and was announced under her new name.
Maddox Jolie filed a similar petition in early 2026 while Brad Pitt missed the graduation and has limited contact with his adult children.

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