Brad Pitt admits hitting rock bottom after split from Angelina Jolie

FILE PHOTO – Angelina Jolie, left, and Brad Pitt arrive at the 2015 AFI Fest opening night premiere of “By The Sea” on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

“I was pretty much on my knees,” Brad Pitt shared, looking back on the moment that forced him to confront his own demons. 

Following his messy 2016 split from Angelina Jolie, the Oscar-winning actor and star of F1 movie turned to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), where he said he found a much-needed reboot.

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Pitt didn’t hold back in his conversation with Dax Shepard on the Armchair Expert podcast episode released June 23. He described his early sobriety journey as a turning point. 

“It was just incredible,” he said, reflecting on the men in his AA group who opened up about their “foibles, their missteps, their wants, their aches.”

Brad Pitt, left, and Tom Cruise pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film ‘F1 The Movie’ on Monday, June 23, 2025, in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

At the time, Pitt admitted he was desperate and ready to try anything.

“I was trying anything anyone threw at me,” he said. The aftermath of the plane incident with Jolie and their children – which ultimately led to the divorce – left him feeling broken. “It was a difficult time,” he admitted. “I needed rebooting.”

Ines de Ramon, left, and Brad Pitt pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film ‘F1 The Movie’ on Monday, June 23, 2025, in London. (Photo by Millie Turner/Invision/AP)

Though he was nervous about joining such a vulnerable space as a public figure, Pitt said the openness of the group helped him let go of his fears. “Everyone was so open,” he recalled. “I can generally be a bit shy in any kind of situation first… but I just remember getting my arms around it pretty quickly.”

Shepard, who met Pitt in that very AA group, noted how gracious and humble the actor was, despite his celebrity status. Pitt said he found himself genuinely inspired by those around him: men who had already “been there for a while” and who showed him what long-term recovery could look like.

Beyond his sobriety, the actor is also dealing with the emotional toll of strained relationships with his children. Pitt shares six children with Jolie, and recent reports of daughter Shiloh dropping his surname reportedly hit hard.

Shiloh Jolie | Photo from shilohjoliepittofficial/Instagram

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“He’s aware and upset,” a source close to Pitt told People. “The reminders that he’s lost his children is, of course, not easy for Brad.”