Vivienne Jolie opens up about eating disorder and hospitalisation

Vivienne Jolie has spoken publicly about her health struggles, revealing that she was hospitalised earlier this year while dealing with an eating disorder. The 18-year-old daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt shared deeply personal details about her experience through an artistic exhibition, offering a glimpse into a difficult period of her life.

Her revelation comes shortly after she made headlines for dropping her father’s surname, becoming the latest member of the family to distance herself from the Pitt name.

Vivienne recently introduced an exhibition titled A Gallery on Patience in Patients, featuring a collection of her illustrations and personal diary entries. The project explores her emotional experiences, challenges and journey towards understanding herself.

Among the details shared through her artwork was her admission that she had spent time in hospital at the beginning of 2026 because of an eating disorder. She also reflected on the emotional difficulties she experienced during that period, describing feelings of anger, illness and loneliness.

In one of her personal reflections, Vivienne recalled how difficult it was to cope with her circumstances while being surrounded by unfamiliar people and dealing with her health concerns.

She explained that the kindness she received from fellow patients and hospital employees gradually helped her overcome the emotional barriers she had created around herself.

According to Vivienne, the warmth and understanding shown by the people around her made a significant difference in her recovery. Their support encouraged her to become more comfortable expressing her emotions and sharing her experiences.

She described the experience as one that brought out some of her strongest emotions, allowing her to laugh, cry and speak honestly in ways she had previously struggled to do.

Vivienne Jolie shares emotional diary entries

The exhibition also features several illustrations inspired by her personal experiences. One particularly meaningful drawing shows a tulip holding a telephone beside a payphone and a chair, reflecting the emotional themes explored throughout the collection.

The artwork is accompanied by diary entries that provide further insight into her state of mind during her hospital stay.

An entry dated April 4, 2026, revealed how deeply she longed for comfort and emotional reassurance. She described wanting a hug so desperately that her entire body felt tense.

Another entry, written on April 22, highlighted her changing perspective on recovery. In the reflection, Vivienne acknowledged that allowing herself to experience difficult emotions was an important part of getting better.

Her decision to include such personal material in the exhibition demonstrates how she has used creativity to express feelings that may have been difficult to communicate through words alone.

Rather than focusing entirely on her struggles, the collection also highlights the importance of patience, emotional support and accepting vulnerability during challenging periods.

Vivienne Jolie drops Brad Pitt’s surname

Her health revelation has also brought renewed attention to her relationship with her family and her decision to remove Brad Pitt’s surname from her name.

Earlier this month, Vivienne became the fourth child of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to drop the actor’s surname. She has chosen to be identified as Vivienne Jolie, leaving out the Pitt name.

Her older siblings have made similar decisions in recent years. Maddox, 25, Zahara, 21, and Shiloh, 20, have also removed their father’s surname from their names.

The family has remained a subject of public interest following the highly publicised separation of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

Vivienne’s recent exhibition, however, offers a more personal perspective on her life, shifting attention towards her artistic interests and emotional experiences.

Through her illustrations and diary entries, she has shared an important chapter of her personal journey, highlighting the role that compassion, honesty and support can play during difficult times.