Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt, the daughter of Hollywood icons Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, has lived a life of immense privilege, but her journey has been marred by emotional turbulence, family estrangement, and the painful realities of racial bias.

Despite being born into a world of stardom, her life’s narrative reflects a complex blend of triumph over adversity and the ongoing struggle to find her place within both her adopted family and her cultural identity.

Born in Ethiopia in January 2005, Zahara was adopted by Jolie when she was only six months old, entering a family that would quickly become one of the most famous in the world.

However, the long, drawn-out divorce between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt has been a source of deep emotional pain for Zahara and her five siblings: Maddox, Pax, Shiloh, and twins Vivienne and Knox.

As the public scrutiny surrounding the breakup intensified, reports surfaced that the divorce and subsequent custody battles had caused significant strain between the children and their father.

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Jolie has openly accused Pitt of violent behavior, claiming that his actions, particularly during a 2016 incident on a private flight, were a tipping point that led her to file for divorce.

Court documents revealed that Pitt was violent not only towards Jolie but also toward their children, leading to a severed relationship between him and most of the family.

While Jolie has been legally restrained from sharing detailed accounts of the abuse, sources suggest that all six of their children have sided with their mother during the divorce, with Zahara, in particular, growing distant from her father.

By 2024, it had become increasingly clear that Zahara, now 19, had chosen to cut off nearly all contact with Pitt. A source revealed in July 2024 that Brad Pitt had “virtually no contact” with his older children, including Zahara.

Her estrangement became even more evident when she introduced herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie” during her sorority induction at Spelman College, intentionally omitting Pitt’s last name.

Zahara’s older siblings, Maddox and Pax, have also been vocal about their strained relationship with their father, with Pax even accusing Pitt of showing no empathy or consideration toward his younger children in a 2020 social media post.

Long before becoming a part of the Jolie-Pitt family, Zahara’s life began under tragic circumstances. Her biological mother, Mebrat “Mowab” Dawit, had been the victim of a brutal rape, resulting in Zahara’s conception.

Struggling with the trauma of the assault and the challenges of raising a newborn, Dawit eventually left her baby, leading to Zahara being placed for adoption.

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Dawit’s story is one of immense pain and hardship. In interviews, she described how she tried to care for Zahara after her birth but was overwhelmed by the challenges of postpartum care, including her inability to breastfeed, which made her believe that her baby was becoming ill.

In desperation, she fled, leaving Zahara behind. Dawit’s mother ultimately made the heart-wrenching decision to put Zahara up for adoption, a choice that gave Zahara a new life with Jolie and Pitt.

Though Zahara was raised in an environment of wealth and fame, her biological mother has continued to express a longing for connection. In a 2017 interview, Dawit revealed her wish to speak with Zahara, clarifying that she had no intention of reclaiming custody but simply wanted her daughter to know that she was alive.

“I just want her to know that I am alive and here, and long to be able to speak with her,” Dawit said, adding that she was grateful for the life Zahara had with Jolie. Despite this desire for reconnection, there has been no confirmed contact between Zahara and her biological family.

While Zahara was embraced into a family of privilege, she has also faced challenges related to her racial identity. Growing up as a Black child in a predominantly white family, she encountered instances of racial bias, particularly in the medical system.

Angelina Jolie has spoken candidly about the difficulties Zahara faced in receiving appropriate medical care, particularly following surgery.

Jolie recounted one incident in 2021 where a nurse instructed her to monitor Zahara’s skin for any signs of it turning pink—advice clearly tailored to patients with lighter skin tones. The improper guidance could have delayed important medical interventions, Jolie noted, pointing to the broader issue of racial bias in the healthcare system.

“Whenever I looked at medical charts, the reference point was always white skin,” Jolie said in an interview with *Time* magazine. This experience highlighted the structural inequalities that Zahara faced, even in a household as influential as the Jolie-Pitt family.

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Despite being raised by white parents, Zahara has developed a strong sense of connection to her Ethiopian roots. In 2019, she traveled back to Ethiopia and met with Sahle-Work Zewde, the country’s first female president.

Zahara’s journey to reconnect with her heritage has been a significant part of her personal development, as she navigates life between two worlds: one of immense privilege and another tied to her African origins.

The complexities of Zahara’s relationship with Brad Pitt became increasingly public as she grew older. By 2023, Zahara and her siblings Maddox, Pax, and even Shiloh—who was once believed to be closest to Pitt—had reportedly distanced themselves from their father.

Maddox, who is now an adult, was one of the first to sever ties with Pitt, choosing not to see him following the infamous 2016 flight incident.

Pax followed suit, and Shiloh, upon turning 18 in May 2024, legally removed Pitt’s last name, further signaling the divide within the family.

Zahara’s decision to drop her father’s surname during her sorority induction at Spelman College was another indicator of her emotional distance from Pitt. While she has not publicly addressed her relationship with him, the signs of estrangement are clear.

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Pax, who has been more outspoken, accused Pitt of violent behavior toward Zahara and her younger siblings, Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox.

“You have no consideration or empathy toward your four youngest children, who tremble in fear when in your presence,” Pax allegedly wrote in a private Instagram post in 2020.

Despite the tumultuous relationship between Zahara and Pitt, Jolie has made it clear that she has tried to keep the family intact, particularly during the legal battles.

In 2020, Jolie revealed in court documents that several of her children, including Zahara, had expressed a desire to testify against their father during the custody trial. Although the children did not testify, they were reportedly heard by the court in some capacity.

As Zahara Jolie-Pitt moves forward in her life, her story remains one of resilience in the face of adversity. She continues to explore her cultural identity, seeking connections to her Ethiopian roots while also dealing with the complexities of her family’s past.

Though she has grown up in the glare of Hollywood’s spotlight, Zahara has shown a determination to chart her own path, away from the shadow of her parents’ fame and the turmoil that has accompanied it.

Her estrangement from Brad Pitt, along with the ongoing legal battles between her parents, adds another layer of complexity to her life. Yet, Zahara’s strength in navigating these challenges is a testament to her character.

Whether she chooses to speak publicly about her experiences or continue to live a more private life, Zahara Jolie-Pitt’s journey is far from ordinary—and her resilience continues to inspire those who follow her story.