Where Brad Pitt Stands With His, Angelina Jolie's 6 Children: 'Heartbreak'

Brad Pitt is "heartbroken" over the distance and tension in his relationships with his six children but chooses to "process things quietly and privately."

Multiple sources told US Weekly that the F1 actor has "made several efforts to reconnect with his kids," Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 18, and 16-year-old Knox and Vivienne, whom he shares with his ex-wife Angelina Jolie, since filing for divorce in 2016.

He sees twins Knox and Vivienne on occasion, "but the rest of the relationships are strained. It’s caused him a lot of heartbreak."

One source praised the star for being able to balance his public and private life amid deepening estrangement.

"Brad has always had a good balance between being in the spotlight and having a private life."

"He likes a slower [pace] now," another agreed, revealing that he surrounds himself with a supportive circle of "longtime friends."

Over the last year, Shiloh has legally taken steps to remove "Pitt" from her last name. Maddox, Zahara, and Vivienne also dropped their surnames while attending public events.

In December, a source told Page Six that the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood standout wishes he was closer to his children.

"Brad is missing his kids and wishes he had a closer relationship with them, particularly with celebrating the holidays and his birthday this month."

Pitt and Jolie finalized their divorce in January, and a source close to the María actress told People that her kids encouraged her to "speak up for herself, to defend herself over these years."

For more, read Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt's Kids Speak Out Following Divorce Settlement.