Angelina Jolie’s 21-year-old son Pax raised eyebrows after being photographed stumbling out of Los Angeles’ celebrity hotspot Chateau Marmont before heading to a nearby strip club on May 31.
According to eyewitnesses, Pax needed help walking as friends supported him on both sides. The group, described as loud and rowdy, partied late into the night on the Sunset Strip. Pax appeared visibly intoxicated, clinging to his companions as they waited near a street corner.
This isn’t Pax’s first brush with recklessness. He has previously crashed his e-bike twice, including a serious accident last July that sent him to the hospital. Sources close to the family say his refusal to wear a helmet has alarmed friends, who fear he’s flirting with danger.
Angelina’s hands-off parenting under scrutiny
The incident has renewed scrutiny of Jolie’s unconventional parenting style. The Oscar-winning actress has long taken pride in giving her six children freedom to grow and make their own decisions. However, insiders say her ex-husband Brad Pitt believes the children, especially Pax, were granted too much independence too soon.
A source close to the family said Brad has been pushing Angelina to be more firm, especially now that Pax is legally an adult. But Angelina reportedly feels she lacks the moral high ground to clamp down too hard, given her own wild past.
Jolie, 50, has openly admitted to experimenting with hard drugs in her younger years. She’s also said she struggles with formal education settings, preferring her children to explore the world instead of being confined by classrooms. In a past interview, she confessed she was once scared of parent-teacher meetings and suffers from PTSD rooted in her own upbringing.
A fractured family
Pax has been one of the most vocal in supporting his mother during her bitter divorce from Pitt, which began after an infamous 2016 altercation on a private plane. Though Pitt has denied wrongdoing, the incident fractured the family.
In a now-deleted 2020 Instagram post, Pax allegedly called his father a “world-class a**hole.” Pitt, now 61 and sober, continues to express love for his children but feels deeply estranged. He reportedly remains hopeful, but his legal access is now limited only to twins Vivienne and Knox, who are 16.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Shiloh has legally dropped “Pitt” from her name and now goes by “Shi Joli.” Her press release debuting a self-choreographed fashion show dance marked the first public use of her new identity.
Angelina appears committed to letting her children chart their own paths. Zahara is enrolled at Spelman College, while Maddox now lives in Jolie’s Manhattan apartment. According to a family friend, Jolie believes in giving them space to stumble and grow, trusting that they’ll all eventually find their way.
Still, the recent events around Pax suggest growing pains may come with a cost — and both parents are feeling it.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.