Brad Pitt’s kids aren’t only estranged from him, but they’re also estranged from their paternal grandparents, including Brad’s mother, Jane Pitt, who died at the age of 84 on Tuesday, August 6.
A source told the Daily Mail at the time that Jane had not seen Brad’s children—Shiloh, Knox, Pax, Vivienne, Zahara, and Maddox—for nine years. The estrangement dates back to 2016 when Brad’s ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, filed for divorce from him after their 12-year relationship.
“The most gut-wrenching part is that Angelina kept the kids away from his parents, from their own grandparents,” the insider said. “The question Brad has — that we all have — is Angelina where is your heart? Are you going to remain bitter for the rest of your life?” The source continued, “It’s one thing if she wants no contact (with her former in-laws), but what about the kids?”
Jane’s death was announced by Brad’s niece Sydney, the daughter of his younger brother Doug, who shared a tribute to her grandmother on Instagram. “My sweet Grammy, Jane Etta, we were not ready for you to go yet but knowing you are finally free to sing, dance, and paint again makes it a tad easier,” she wrote. “If you knew Grammy, you knew she had the biggest heart. She cared deeply for everyone and everything, no questions asked. She taught me how to paint, how to be strong, how to lead with kindness, to love Jesus through everything, and to find joy in the smallest things. She made up the silliest games just to make us laugh, and she believed in fairness, in putting others first, and doing good simply because it was the right thing to do.”
Sydney continued, “Every year before school, she gave each of us grandkids a ‘special day’ which was a whole day to do whatever we wanted (and Papa had to go along with it… though I know he secretly loved it too). Mine usually started with banana splits for breakfast, hours of playing Trouble, a craft project obvi, riding every ride together at Silver Dollar City like the badass she was, dinner at Olive Garden with Papa, mini golf where she’d make a V with her feet to help me aim… (and somehow still beat me) and ending the night watching Paulie until we feel asleep.”
