Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, once one of the most talked-about couples globally, have seen their relationship deteriorate into a state of open hostility.
Since their divorce in 2019, the pair, famously known as “Brangelina”, have been embroiled in ongoing legal disputes and public disagreements, along with a series of serious allegations against one another.
Most recently, in April, Jolie submitted court documents to the Los Angeles Superior Court claiming Pitt had physically abused her, a charge he has strongly denied. The former couple is also locked in a contentious dispute over the sale of a French winery they acquired during their marriage.
In a notable development, reports have emerged that Vivienne, one of their daughters, has chosen to drop “Pitt” from her surname. Now, it appears that her sister Shiloh is following suit, taking steps to make this change official.
According to TMZ, Shiloh celebrated her 18th birthday by filing for a legal name change to Shiloh Jolie. The timing of her paperwork submission, on the day she turned 18, suggests that this was one of her first actions as an adult.
While the name change is pending, it seems likely to go through. Shiloh is one of the six children Jolie and Pitt share, and she isn’t the only one showing strained relations with her father.
Recently, Vivienne made headlines when her name appeared in the official Playbill for the production of The Outsiders, which she helped her mother produce, listed simply as Vivienne Jolie. Similarly, 19-year-old Zahara has reportedly begun using the name Zahara Jolie, and the eldest sibling, Maddox, 22, has also dropped ‘Pitt’ from his name.
While Shiloh is the only child to have formally initiated a name change, the broader trend among the siblings suggests a unified stance in support of their mother amid the ongoing tensions with their father.
In 2020, their brother Pax even took to Instagram to express his disdain for Pitt, saying: “You have made the lives of those closest to me a constant hell”.
He added ominously: “You may tell yourself and the world whatever you want, but the truth will come to light someday”, finishing with: “So Happy Father’s Day, you f*****g awful human being”.
My MIL Decorated a Christmas Tree at 70 — Just Pathetic!
It’s not every day that I walk into my mother-in-law’s house and get completely thrown off by what I see. But that’s exactly what happened recently when I visited her home and found a giant Christmas tree standing proudly in her living room, adorned with an array of ornaments and twinkling lights.
And when I say giant, I mean this tree was massive—decorated to the nines with an amount of care and effort I would expect from someone in their 30s or 40s, not a woman in her 70s.
At first, I thought, “Okay, maybe she’s just into the holiday spirit.” But when I asked her why she’d gone to all this trouble, her answer left me speechless. She said, “It reminds me of my childhood, decorating the tree with my mom before she passed away.”
At 70 years old, should she really be focused on things like this? Shouldn’t she be letting go of the past and looking ahead to spending time with her grandkids instead of clinging to old memories and decorating a tree by herself? I honestly don’t understand it. It feels like a waste of time and energy—especially when there’s so much to do for the younger generations in the family.
And don’t even get me started on the money she likely spent. Imagine how much that could have gone toward our family’s needs, especially during the holidays. We’ve got kids, bills, and a lot of things to consider. Yet, she chose to put money into something like this. I’m just left feeling confused and, frankly, a bit frustrated.
A Different Perspective: Why This Tradition Might Matter
Before I judge too quickly, I do have to take a step back and try to understand where my mother-in-law is coming from. Sure, it’s easy to view her actions as out of touch or overly nostalgic. But, maybe there’s something deeper at play here. The holidays are a time when many people reflect on the past, and for my MIL, decorating that tree might be more than just about the tree itself. It could be about honoring the memory of her mother and preserving a cherished tradition that was important to her growing up.
For some people, memories and family rituals are what keep them going, especially as they age. For her, this may be a way to feel close to the ones she’s lost and hold onto a piece of her past that brings her comfort. It’s not about clinging to the past in a harmful way, but rather celebrating a life that once was and carrying those memories forward.
Is It Really So Ridiculous for Seniors to Embrace Traditions?
I guess I’m not entirely sure where I stand on this issue. On one hand, it feels like maybe she’s holding onto something that doesn’t necessarily “fit” with her age. But on the other hand, I think about how I’d feel if, at 70, I was still creating memories and taking joy in things that bring me happiness, no matter how small or “childish” they might seem.
The truth is, everyone’s life is different, and we all age in different ways. While I may see the time spent decorating the tree as time wasted, to her, it might be something much more meaningful—a connection to her family’s past, a way of celebrating what she values most. In that sense, maybe it’s not as ridiculous as I initially thought.
Conclusion: A Little More Empathy
I suppose my reaction might have been influenced by the practical side of me, focused on time, money, and family priorities. But I also need to recognize that nostalgia and tradition can be incredibly important, especially for someone who’s lived a long life and wants to keep a piece of their history alive.
In the end, I think this situation just reminds me of how easy it is to judge other people’s choices without fully understanding the emotional significance behind them. Maybe my mother-in-law’s Christmas tree is her way of staying connected to something that makes her feel loved, remembered, and cherished. So, rather than seeing it as a waste, I should probably try to respect her choice and appreciate the memories she’s keeping alive.
After all, who am I to say what’s meaningful to someone else?
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