Photo Credit: Getty Images
Brad Pitt has opened up about a pivotal moment in his post-divorce journey, his first Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting. Speaking on the Armchair Expert podcast with host Dax Shepard, the 61-year-old actor recalled the emotional and transformative experience, describing it as the turning point after what he called a "particularly difficult time" in his life.
"I was pretty much on my knees," Pitt admitted. "I needed to wake the f–k up in some areas." The meeting came after his highly publicized 2016 split from Angelina Jolie, following an alleged incident on a private jet. In previous interviews, Pitt stated that he attended AA for a year and a half during that turbulent period, describing the experience to The New York Times in 2019 as "actually really freeing."
During Monday's podcast episode, Shepard, himself a recovering addict, praised Pitt's vulnerability in the meetings. "You were so f–king honest," Shepard said. "It meant a lot to me." He revealed that he initially worried the presence of a celebrity like Pitt would disrupt the intimate nature of the group, but instead, Pitt's openness inspired those in attendance.
Pitt said he tried "anything and everything" to cope, calling the AA circle "a really special experience." He described watching men share their "foibles, missteps, wants, aches, and a lot of humor," which contrasted sharply with his upbringing in Missouri's Ozarks, where men often hid emotional pain. "It was incredible," he said.
The actor recalled feeling anxious as his turn to speak approached, but the atmosphere gave him "permission to go, 'OK, I'm gonna step out on this edge and see what happens.'" Over time, Pitt said, he came to "really love it."
While the actor has since moved on with girlfriend Ines de Ramon, his family ties remain strained. According to Us Weekly, Pitt maintains only limited contact with his children, seeing twins Knox and Vivienne "periodically." Vivienne and Zahara have both dropped "Pitt" from their names in recent years, while daughter Shiloh filed to do the same in May 2024.
Despite the divorce being finalized in late 2024, its impact continues to echo. Legal documents had accused Pitt of physically assaulting Jolie and at least one of their six children during the infamous plane incident. Although both the FBI and Los Angeles County child services chose not to press charges, the allegations cast a long shadow over his reputation.
