Brad Pitt, 61, has candidly discussed his battle with addiction and path to sobriety on the Armchair Expert podcast hosted by Dax Shepard, 50. Following his 2016 split from Angelina Jolie, Brad described hitting rock bottom, saying, “I was pretty much on my knees… I needed to wake the f*** up.” That turbulent period pushed him to join Alcoholics Anonymous, where he found a safe space to confront years of substance dependency.
Finding Support and Healing
Brad admitted he was initially nervous attending AA but grew to value the experience. “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 praised Dax’s honesty in the group, likening him to “an elder statesman,” and found comfort in men openly sharing their struggles with humor and vulnerability.
Upbringing and Coping Mechanisms
Raised in Missouri, Brad reflected on his emotionally reserved upbringing. “Everything is great,” was the common phrase among men, which left little room for emotional expression. He revealed he used alcohol and drugs to cope with fame, saying, “I really became a bit of a hermit and just bonged myself into oblivion” during the ’90s.
Over 30 years later.#TomCruise#BradPitt pic.twitter.com/gwrZTyiGI8
— Tom Cruise News (@TCNews62) June 23, 2025
Support from Friends and New Beginnings
Brad previously credited Bradley Cooper with helping him get sober, saying his life became happier ever since. His decision to get clean followed his messy divorce from Angelina, 49, with whom he shares six children. The legal dispute, including a fight over their Château Miraval estate, concluded in December 2024.
Brad is now in a relationship with 34-year-old jewellery executive Ines de Ramon, while Angelina is believed to be single.
