Hollywood icon Angelina Jolie has long been a fierce advocate for humanitarian causes, but when it comes to her own personal battles, her children feel she has failed to stand up for herself. Jolie and her ex-husband Brad Pitt have been embroiled in a lengthy divorce battle since 2016.
After years of legal turmoil, the pair finally reached a settlement on December 30, signing papers to officially end their estranged relationship. Throughout the process, the 49-year-old actress’ children have expressed frustration that their mother did not publicly defend herself.
According to a close source, the kids have been disappointed by Jolie’s decision to focus on humanitarian work, such as advocating for legal reforms, instead of raising her own voice in the midst of the divorce drama.
“She’s been trying hard to be light after a dark time,” an insider told PEOPLE, describing Jolie’s approach to her personal struggles. However, her children’s concerns have grown over the years. “The kids have grown up seeing that some people have so much power and privilege that their voices don’t matter. Their pain doesn’t count,” the source revealed.
Despite the emotional weight of the situation, Jolie has continued to advise her children to channel their energy into larger causes. “They have wanted her to speak up for herself, to defend herself over these years but she reminds them to focus on changing laws over telling public stories,” the insider shared.
Jolie and Pitt share three biological children: Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16. Additionally, the former couple adopted three children: Maddox, 23, Zahara, 19, and Pax, 21. As the years have passed, their children have witnessed their mother’s focus on broader societal issues, but some have wished she had used her voice to defend herself more openly during her personal struggles.