Brad Pitt Opens Up About His First AA Meeting After Angelina Jolie Divorce: 'I Needed Rebooting'
The "Fight Club" star's drinking problem is understood to have contributed to his split from Angelina Jolie, following a 2016 airplane incident where he allegedly hit her and one of their child.
Brad Pitt has since moved on with girlfriend Ines de Ramon, and has also finalized his divorce from Angelina Jolie.
Pitt recounted what transpired during his first AA meeting as he began his journey to sobriety.
During Monday's episode of the "Armchair Expert" podcast, the 61-year-old actor detailed how it was an "amazing" experience that got him "pretty much on [his] knees" and needing "to wake the f-ck up in some areas."
"I was trying anything and everything, anything anyone threw at me. … It was a difficult time. I needed rebooting," Pitt explained, per Page Six.
Alcoholics Anonymous is usually held in a safe and private space where members sit in a circle and take turns to pour their hearts out as part of efforts to quit drinking.
While on the podcast show, Pitt admitted that it felt daunting as his turn to speak during the AA meeting drew near, but he felt inspired after watching "everyone [being] so open."
"It gives you permission to go, 'OK, I'm gonna step out on this edge and see what happens.' And then I really grew to love it," he explained.
Pitt has previously hinted at his struggles with alcohol, telling the New York Times that he went for a year and a half following his 2016 divorce from Angelina Jolie.
Elsewhere during their conversation on the "Armchair Expert" podcast, host Dax Shepard praised the "F1" star for being "so f-cking honest" at the time. This prompted Pitt to return the favor, noting that witnessing Shepard's own honesty "meant a lot to" him.
"Dax was usually near the end because he's been there awhile," Pitt said, comparing the former "Punk'd" prankster to "an elder statesman" who injected "humor" into his wisdom.
He called the AA meeting "a really special experience coming from the Ozarks," where he grew up hearing men insist that "everything is great."
"I just thought it was incredible, men sharing their experiences with their foibles, their missteps, their wants, their aches, and a lot of humor with it," he added.
Pitt's struggle with the bottle came after a "difficult" split from ex-wife Angelina Jolie following a 2016 private jet incident where he allegedly assaulted her.
In court documents filed at the time, the "Maleficent" actress alleged that the actor "choked one of the children and struck another in the face" and "grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her," per Page Six.
"At one point, he poured beer on Jolie; at another, he poured beer and red wine on the children," the documents also read, adding that Jolie tried to de-escalate the situation and "grabbed" him from behind to stop him.
"To get Jolie off his back, Pitt threw himself backward into the airplane's seats, injuring Jolie's back and elbow," the documents allege.
"The children rushed in and all bravely tried to protect each other. Before it was over, Pitt choked one of the children and struck another in the face. Some of the children pleaded with Pitt to stop. They were all frightened. Many were crying," the statement claimed.
Pitt and Jolie were both declared legally single in 2019 and settled their divorce last year 2024.
During the premiere of his "F1" movie in Mexico City, Pitt shared a thoughtful message about the importance of learning from one's mistakes.
"No matter the mistake, you know, you just learn from [it] and move on," the actor told Entertainment Tonight. "It'll lead to the next success."
Pitt had issued the response after he was asked about what had helped him "feel grounded" amid the challenges and achievements in his life.
And while he gave no details about some of the mistakes he has made in his own life, the actor hinted that family was also part of what has helped him navigate these moments.
"At my age, I see how important it is to surround yourself with the people you know, the people you love, the people that love you back," the 61-year-old shared further. "Friends, family, and that's it. From there, we get to go make things. It's a pretty simple, I think, equation."
Pitt has since moved on with girlfriend Ines de Ramon, who was by his side last week as he attended the New York City premiere of his new movie "F1."
Coincidentally, Jolie was also in New York during that period, prompting a source to accuse her of "haunting" her ex-husband.
"Angelina said she was going to move to New York two years ago, but didn't quite get the glowing reception she thought she deserved, so she went back to LA," a Hollywood insider told News Nation.
"It's just insane that Angelina would show up in the city the same week of Brad's premiere," the insider added. "She just can't stand for him to get any good press. It's like she's haunting him."
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