Trigger Warning: This article contains references to alcohol and drug addictiontheyBrad Pitt finally decided to open up about one of the most difficult times in his life, and people really didn’t expect him to be so honest.
After his breakup with Angelina Jolie, he hit a wall. He had to face his problems with alcohol and start taking responsibility for his actions.He’s been very open about it ever since. In fact, Pitt has spoken in numerous interviews about how the aftermath of the divorce prompted him to seek help. He also revealed that one of the biggest steps was getting into his first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. That moment changed everything for him.
Brad Pitt opens up about hitting rock bottom after Jolie’s breakup
Brad Pitt talks about attending his first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting
Per Entertainment Weekly, at the time, Pitt was reeling from the end of his marriage. This negatively affected his relationship with his children as well. He could no longer ignore what was happening. He needed to reset himself, and he was finally ready to face some harsh truths about himself.He actually joined AA right after Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, which he described as one of the lowest moments of his life. On Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast last year, Pete described himself as “on his knees.”
The breakup forced him to consider personal issues for years, especially his drinking.He and Shepherd bonded over their experiences in AA. Pete talked about how free he felt when he let his guard down and showed parts of himself that he normally wanted to hide. “There’s a lot of value in that,” he said in a 2019 New York Times interview, and he reiterated it again with Shepherd: “That’s when I first started waking up.
I thought it was incredible: men sharing their experiences, their foibles, their mistakes, their desires, their hurts, and so much humor with her.
I thought it was a really special experience.”Growing up in Missouri, where no one really shows their emotions, this kind of openness was new to him. Shepherd admitted that he wasn’t sure Pete could open up, especially with all the attention he brought to the group, but Pete said he learned to really love those meetings.“I was very honest,” Shepherd told him. “I was like, ‘He must be as stubborn as I am,’ which is like, ‘Yes, all of this is happening, but I refuse to let him not let me be a person.'” Pitt said the openness came from hitting rock bottom. “I was pretty much on my knees, and I was really open. I was trying anything and everyone. Anything anyone threw at me. It was a difficult time. You need to restart. You need to wake up—in some areas.
This means a lot to me.”He was always the type to admit his mistakes. “Once I got into the s—, I became very good at taking responsibility for it and acknowledging it. Now it’s more about, you know, ‘What do I do with this?’ “How can I correct this? And make sure it doesn’t happen again.”After a few sessions, those AA meetings became something he actually looked forward to. Seeing everyone so open made it easy for him to do the same.
He started to like him.He took the same approach to treatment. “When I jumped into therapy then, I was like, ‘I did this and I did that and da da da da,'” he said, admitting that he was very desperate at the time.“Yes. You don’t join AA because everything is going well,” Shepard joked.“No. That’s not usually the entry point,” Pete laughed.“It’s not a winner’s club,” Shepherd added. “You’ve got to have your hair on fire before you can say, ‘Yes, I’m going to go hang out with a group of guys and talk about feelings.'”
Brad Pitt and Angelia Jolie: Looking back at their relationship
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were once Hollywood’s golden couple. They first met in 2004 on the set of the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith. At the time, Brad was still married to Jennifer Aniston, so when rumors started swirling about him and Angelina, it sent Hollywood into a frenzy.Even with all the gossip and public scrutiny, Brad and Angelina got together and began building a large, blended family that people everywhere tuned into as if it were their favorite TV show.
Together they raised six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne. People know them not only because of their films, but also because of their work with the Jolie-Pitt Foundation. They have made headlines for their humanitarian efforts almost as much as their red carpet appearances.After nearly ten years, they tied the knot in a quiet ceremony in France in 2014. But the marriage did not last long, only two years.
In 2016, Angelina filed for divorce, saying things were no longer working well. The split became even messier after an alleged incident on a private plane. Authorities looked into the matter, but in the end, Brad was never charged with anything.The separation turned into a media circus. Every detail, from custody battles to financial arguments, all played out before the public eye and continued for years. For Brad, this was a turning point.
He had to confront his problems with alcohol and decided to get help.Finally, after eight long years of legal battles, the divorce was finalized in 2024.Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or drug abuse, please seek help from available helplines or support organizations.