Brad Pitt’s ongoing family challenges have clearly taken a significant toll on the actor. In a candid interview with Esquire
Addressing past speculation, Pitt was firm regarding his mental state. “I was never suicidal in any way. It just was not my makeup,” he told the magazine. “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 Angelina Jolie remains a focal point of public interest. Known as “Brangelina” during their high-profile romance, the pair filed for divorce in September 2016 after two years of marriage. While they were declared legally single in 2019, their split was not finalized until December 2024. The decade since their separation has been marked by relentless legal battles, most notably regarding the Château Miraval French vineyard, which brought Jolie’s allegations of physical abuse against Pitt to the forefront.
These legal conflicts have strained Pitt’s relationship with his six children: Maddox, 25; Pax, 22; Zahara, 21; Shiloh, 20; and 18-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox. Several of the children have taken steps to remove Pitt’s last name, with Vivienne filing a formal request in Los Angeles court as recently as July 20. Pitt acknowledged that these “family stuff” issues have played a central role in his mental health struggles.
Jolie’s allegations include a 2022 filing claiming Pitt assaulted her and two children on a 2016 private flight. Later filings suggested this behavior occurred long before that incident. Pitt has consistently denied these claims, and the FBI concluded its investigation into the flight incident without pursuing charges.
Despite his resilience, Pitt admitted to moments of extreme 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 shared. “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. 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 a new perspective on his relationship with alcohol. While he previously sought sobriety following his split from Jolie—enrolling in Alcoholics Anonymous for 18 months as he told The New York Times in 2019—he is no longer strictly sober. “I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon,” he said with a laugh. “In a more restrained manner. I got overconfident a couple times, went, ‘Yep, nope, not good for me.’ Not in big quantities.”
During his meeting with Esquire writer Ryan D’Agostino, Pitt offered a glass of wine, clarifying his current approach: “I can have a few, but I can’t have a lot. I have to be professional about it.” This marks a shift from his earlier commitment to total abstinence, which he had previously credited for helping him through his darkest times. In a June 2025 appearance on the “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard” podcast, he reflected on his initial recovery: “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).
It just was not my makeup,” Pitt, 62, told the magazine.
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.
The Oscar-winning actor, who’s been in a yearslong legal battle with ex-wife Angelina Jolie, opened up about his mental health journey amid the personal drama in an interview with Esquire published Monday, Aug.