Brad Pitt to Tom Cruise: Celebrities who’ve faced estrangement from their kids

Even in Hollywood’s limelight, family bonds can be complex. Some of the top celebrities have found themselves distanced from their children, through estrangement, custody battles, lack of attention or simply growing apart.

Here are some of the most talked about parent-child gaps among celebrities:

1. Brad Pitt and his children:

Brad Pitt’s bond with his children from ex-wife Angelina Jolie has been strained in recent years.

A source told PEOPLE in 2024 that the star has 'virtually no contact' with his adult children Maddox, Pax, Zahara, and Shiloh.

However, Brad maintains visitation rights with his younger twins, Vivienne and Knox, though Jolie “has the kids most of the time.”

The distance grew more public when Shiloh filed to drop 'Pitt' from her surname in June, something Brad was reportedly “aware and upset” about. Zahara and Vivienne have also stopped using the Pitt name publicly.

“The reminders that he’s lost his children are of course not easy for Brad,” the insider explained. “He loves his children and misses them. It’s very sad.”

2. Tom Cruise and Suri Cruise:

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes share a daughter Suri, but after their divorce in 2012, Suri has lived exclusively with Holmes in New York City.

In 2024, when Suri graduated from high school, her name appeared as 'Suri Noelle' in the graduation program, dropping the Cruise surname.

While Cruise was in attending Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, at that time Suri celebrated her milestone in New York with Holmes. 

However, the exact nature of their bond remains unknown, but the distance speaks volumes.

3. Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus:

Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughter Miley Cyrus were rumoured of having strained relationship after his divorce from Tish Cyrus in 2022.

During her Grammy acceptance speech in February 2024, Miley didn’t mention her father, joking instead, “I don’t think I forgot anyone. But I might have forgotten underwear. Bye!”

Later that year, she opened up on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, saying while she has 'a lot of love' for her dad, her parents’ influence on her life can’t “be weighed on the same scale.”

“I mean, honestly, my mom is my hero,” she added. Still, Miley clarified, “There’s not estrangement here with your father… My parents served us and sacrificed so much for us. Anything we dreamed of, they made possible.”

4. Cher and Elijah Blue Allman:

Cher’s youngest son, Elijah Blue Allman, has long had a turbulent relationship with the superstar.

“He and I have such a bizarre relationship. We’ve had so many strange moments,” Cher admitted back in 2004 on Dr. Phil.

In December 2023, Cher filed for a temporary conservatorship over Elijah’s estate, mentioning concerns about his health and substance abuse. Shortly after, Elijah’s estranged wife claimed Cher had hired men to kidnap her son. However, Cher firmly denied this allegation, and told PEOPLE, “That rumor is not true.”

By September 2024, mother and son reached a private agreement, and Cher voluntarily dismissed the petition, showing that their relationship, while complex, remains ongoing.

5. Anthony Hopkins and Abigail Hopkins:

Anthony Hopkins’ relationship with his daughter Abigail has been distant for decades. Hopkins left when Abigail was a toddler, and though they briefly reconnected in the 1990s. She even appeared in two of his films but the bond didn’t last.

In a 2018 interview, Hopkins revealed he had no idea if Abigail had children, bluntly saying, “I don’t have any idea… Families split and, you know, ‘Get on with your life.’”

He later clarified to The Times that he wasn’t being 'cold', “If somebody doesn’t want to be part of my life, fine. Go and do whatever you want. I wish her well.”

Abigail, meanwhile, has expressed sadness but acceptance, saying, “We have never really been close. We’ve never discussed big life issues. Because, well, our relationship was always so sporadic. I’ve never felt I could discuss those sort of things with him.”