Brad Pitt has opened up about the profound toll that years of family conflict and legal battles have taken on his mental well-being. The Oscar-winning actor, currently embroiled in a protracted separation process from his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, shared his perspective during an extensive interview with Esquire magazine
Addressing past speculation regarding his mental state, the 62-year-old actor was clear about his resilience. “I was never suicidal in any way. It just was not my makeup,” Pitt told the publication. He characterized his temperament as inherently positive, noting, “In fact, if I have any afflictions, it’s probably being a congenital optimist. Which has helped many times, and it’s also gotten me – I’ve walked foolishly head-on into a Mack truck because of my optimism.”
The history between Pitt and Jolie, once famously dubbed “Brangelina,” remains a focal point of public interest. The pair filed for divorce in September 2016 following two years of marriage. While they were declared legally single in 2019, their divorce was not finalized until December 2024. Over the last decade, their relationship has been marked by intense legal friction, most notably regarding the ownership of Château Miraval, their former French vineyard. This dispute served as a backdrop for Jolie’s public allegations of physical abuse against Pitt.
The strain has extended to Pitt’s relationship with his six children: Maddox, 25; Pax, 22; Zahara, 21; Shiloh, 20; and 18-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox. Recent court filings indicate that several of the children have sought to remove Pitt’s last name, with Vivienne filing a formal request in Los Angeles court on July 20. While Pitt refrained from discussing specific family details, he acknowledged that these domestic challenges have significantly impacted his mental health.
Jolie’s allegations, first detailed in an October 2022 filing, claimed that Pitt assaulted her and two of their children during a private flight from France to Los Angeles in 2016. Subsequent filings from the actress alleged that Pitt’s abusive behavior predated the airplane incident. Pitt has consistently denied these claims, and an FBI investigation into the 2016 flight concluded without the filing of any charges.
Despite his general optimism, Pitt admitted to experiencing a singular, dark period of despair. “I’ve never been suicidal except for one little period. And in that one little period, I just didn’t see a way out,” he recounted. “The pain was so oppressive that – I wasn’t going to act on this – but I could feel the cold steel of the bullet in my head, and it felt like relief. And I thought, ‘Oh, OK, now I understand.’ I understand suicide, in the sense that it’s just relief. It’s just looking for relief from the pain. But I also think we have incredible survival instincts. And for me, that immediately kicked in.”
Pitt also offered an update on his relationship with alcohol, noting that his approach to sobriety has shifted. After previously maintaining seven years of total abstinence, he revealed he now consumes alcohol in moderation. “I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon,” he said. “In a more restrained manner. I got overconfident a couple times, went, ‘Yep, nope, not good for me.’ Not in big quantities.” During the interview, he clarified that while he might have a drink, he maintains strict boundaries: “I can have a few, but I can’t have a lot. I have to be professional about it.”
This current stance contrasts with his earlier, more rigorous efforts to achieve sobriety. In 2019, he told The New York Times that he had spent 18 months in Alcoholics Anonymous following his separation from Jolie. He later credited fellow actor Bradley Cooper for providing essential support during that time. Reflecting on his initial journey to sobriety in a June 2025 appearance on the “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard” podcast, Pitt described the necessity of that period: “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 particularly difficult time. I needed rebooting.”
If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting “988.” If you or someone you know needs help battling a substance abuse addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Smith” stars’ children have either removed Pitt’s last name or filed court requests to do so, including daughter Vivienne, who sought a name change in Los Angeles court on July 20.
