Brad Pitt says he resumed drinking after seven years of sobriety
The actor disclosed that he began drinking again after a seven-year period of abstinence and reflected on his struggles with grief and a brief episode of suicidal thoughts.
Brad Pitt told Esquire that after seven years of sobriety he started drinking again, describing his current consumption as more limited and “in a more restrained manner.”
He said the relapse came amid reflections on personal challenges, including his divorce from Angelina Jolie that began in 2016. Pitt acknowledged that fame had not shielded him from emotional pain, noting that grief leaves “a gaping hole” but also “profound beauty.”
The actor also recounted a short period when he felt overwhelming despair and imagined suicide as a form of relief, though he emphasized that he never intended to act on those thoughts. He added that his “survival instincts” ultimately prevailed.
Pitt, who is in his 60s, expressed a desire to make the most of his later years, saying he wishes he could reclaim his fifties and pursue new projects.
"I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon," Pitt said.
"In that one little period, I just thought – I just couldn’t – just didn’t see a way out," he added.
The interview provides insight into Pitt’s ongoing personal struggles despite his long-standing career in film and production.