Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's daughter Shiloh celebrated her milestone 18th birthday this month – but the occasion also served as an important turning point for the actor, who believes his child's first steps into adulthood will give him the chance to repair their broken bond.
Pitt, 60, has had a strained relationship with the six children he shares with his ex-wife, Angelina, 48, since the A-listers called it quits in 2016, with DailyMail.com revealing earlier this month that the couple's former bodyguard had accused the actress of trying to poison their kids' bond with their father.
Now, a source close to the star has told DailyMail.com that the actor is 'confident' he can strengthen his relationship with budding dancer Shiloh, who turned 18 on May 27, because she is now legally an adult, and therefore free to make her own decisions about the time they spend together.
'Now that Shiloh is 18, she can make up her own mind as far as how she wants her relationship with her father to develop,' the insider said.
The source went on to say that since the couple split, the Maleficent actress has made sure their children have had 'limited involvement' with their father.
Brad Pitt, 60, is looking to repair his relationship with daughter Shiloh, 18. The father-daughter duo are pictured in 2014
Shiloh is pictured in 2021 with mom Angelina, 48, and siblings Maddox, Vivienne, Knox and Zahara. She also has an older brother, Pax
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Angelina Jolie accused of sabotaging her six kids' relationship with Brad Pitt 
'It is still that way with the underage ones, but with Shiloh that is no longer Angie's choice,' they continued.
'If Shiloh chooses to have limited contact with her dad, that is her decision.'
The source said that Pitt would still 'love her unconditionally,' no matter what she chose to do.
'The difference between now and [a few] days ago [before her birthday] is that Shiloh makes the choice,' they pointed out.
The insider continued saying that now he can contact his daughter without repercussions from Jolie.
'Everyone is confident that they will, in time, rekindle the bond that was broken by the divorce,' they said confidently.
'Keeping Shiloh from Brad is no longer an option for Angelina.'
Meanwhile, a second source told DailyMail.com that Brad would 'never stand down' from his duties as a father and will 'always' be just a phone call away if his children want to get a hold of him.
'That is just the maturity he has within himself and the guy Brad is and always has been,' they explained.
The insider continued: 'As the kids get older and are able to make more decisions for themselves, if it is Shiloh or anyone else, if those decisions pose a positive or negative outlook on the father he wants to be, he understands that they are adults and can decide what they want to do.'
The source declared that Pitt was 'first and foremost' about being there for his kids.
'Angie can make them think differently but the truth is, Brad always wants them to know that he has their back,' they said, adding the truth 'always seems to find a way to find itself to the forefront.'
'Brad never wants to regret, so when he is 70, 80, or 90, he would always love to see his kids and have a relationship with them.
'He would love Shiloh to start making her own decisions and him to be in the mix for her future, so he just has to see what happens and hope for the best.'
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for both Pitt and Jolie for comment.
The couple separated in 2016 after two years of marriage. Their union ended on a contentious note, and their children appear to have taken sides. Pictured in 2015
In addition to Shiloh, the Mr and Mrs Smith actors share sons Maddox, 22, Pax, 20, Zahara, 19 and twins Vivienne and Knox, 15. Pictured with their brood in 2011
Shiloh (seen with her mother in 2021) is a budding dancer and has recently earned viral fame for her impressive performances in social media videos
The exes have since been embroiled in not only a contentious custody battle since they split, but also have also argued over the circumstances under which their relationship ended and their ongoing business affairs.
Keeping the kids close has been difficult for Pitt, who had been on the outs with his children since he split from Jolie.
The couple separated in 2016 after two years of marriage. Their union ended on a contentious note, and their children appear to have taken sides, straining the relationship with their father.
In addition to Shiloh, the Mr and Mrs Smith stars share sons Maddox, 22, Pax, 20, Zahara, 19, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 15.
Earlier in May, a source alleged the Hollywood actress of trying to drive a wedge between her estranged husband and their six kids in the aftermath of their split, according to court filings lodged at LA Superior Court.
In an explosive declaration seen by DailyMail.com, a ex-bodyguard for the couple, former British SAS solider Tony Webb, claimed he was informed by his own contractors that Jolie was pushing for her children to avoid Pitt when she had custody of them.
Documents submitted to the court, seen by DailyMail.com, state Webb's colleague told him he overheard Jolie 'encouraging the children to avoid spending time with Pitt during custody visits.'
In April, DailyMail.com reported that the 48-year-old actress and mother-of-six accused her 60-year-old estranged spouse of being physically and emotionally abusive before the private jet incident in 2016.
The court papers claimed that Jolie had evidence of 'Pitt's history of physical abuse of the family and control abuse of Jolie' and alleged the children continued to experience 'significant and ongoing post-traumatic stress.'
Pitt has denied all allegations of physical abuse and was not charged following an FBI probe into the incident on the flight.
In March this year, DailyMail.com reported that the couple was finally approaching the finish line in their epic legal war, with an end expected by the summer after the actor reportedly dropped his pursuit seeking shared custody.
While Pitt had originally sought a 50/50 arrangement relating to their six kids, an insider revealed that he was no longer contesting the matter.
That means that Jolie would retain primary physical custody of the children and he would have visitation rights.
One factor in that decision was that much of their brood had 'aged out' – only Knox, and Vivienne, both 15, are still under 18.
In a statement given to DailyMail.com in relation to the ongoing legal battle with Pitt, her lawyer, Paul Murphy, said earlier this month: 'Angelina looks forward to the eventual end of this litigation with its false narratives that continue to hurt the family and interfere with their ability to heal.'
Back in 2020, Pax called Brad a 'world class a**hole' and 'despicable person' who made his four youngest children 'tremble in fear' on his Instagram account
Adopted son Pax allegedly hasn't spoken to the Fight Club alum since the now-infamous private plane fight which ended the marriage, and is said to not even regard Brad as a parent anymore.
Back in 2020, on his private Instagram account, he called Brad a 'world class a**hole' and 'despicable person' who made his four youngest children 'tremble in fear,' as previously revealed by DailyMail.com.
He added in the scathing post, shared on Father's Day: 'You time and time and again prove yourself to be a terrible and despicable person.
'You have no consideration or empathy toward your four youngest children who tremble in fear when in your presence.
'You will never understand the damage you have done to my family because you're incapable of doing so.'
In addition, Zahara now goes by 'Zahara Jolie' rather than 'Zahara Jolie Pitt,' which is her legal name.
