Flonique Guimary

Brad Pitt opens up about breaking sobriety: ‘It felt like relief’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<div><em>CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses sensitive topics related to mental health, suicide, and substance abuse. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please know that help is available. You can reach out to the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis Hotline at 1553 (Luzon-wide landline toll-free), or through their mobile numbers 0917-899-8727 and 0919-057-1553. </em></div><div><br/></div><p>As the cover story of this month’s Esquire magazine, American actor Brad Pitt got candid about his life and career at the age of 62. </p><p>One of the biggest revelations in his interview involved losing his battle with sobriety this year following his split from ex-wife Angelina Jolie. The former couple’s marriage reportedly started going downhill after an alleged drunken incident on a plane during an argument in 2016. The <em>Mr &amp; Mrs Smith </em>star first revealed he was sober and had joined a 12-step program in an interview with the New York Times in 2019.</p><p>In his interview with Esquire earlier this month, Brad talks about why he is not sober anymore. </p><p>“I got—I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon. Well . . . I can have a few. But I can’t have a lot. I have to be professional about it,” he admitted. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/Db29q9gI8Ao/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=642&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A14855828.699999988%2C%22ls%22%3A3656424.800000012%2C%22le%22%3A3656641.100000024%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="921" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:658px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>During another part of his extensive interview with the men’s magazine, Brad also opened up about that one period in his life when he felt like taking his life. </p><div><br/></div><p>“Yeah, I was never suicidal in any way. It just was not my makeup. 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. Or, as my forever-funny friend David Fincher will say, ‘Yeah, you see the glass as half full, but it’s half full of urine’,” he shared. </p><div><br/></div><p>He was never inclined towards thoughts of taking his life before, but at a very low point, he admitted entertaining the idea. While his will to live was stronger and he was eventually able to choose survival, that moment made him realize why one could be driven to such a point.</p><div><br/></div><p>“Anyway, I’ve never been suicidal except for one little period. And in that one little period, I just thought—I just couldn’t—just didn’t see a way out. The pain was so oppressive that—I wasn’t going to act on this, but I could feel—I could feel the cold steel of the bullet in my head, and it felt like relief. And I thought, ‘Oh, okay, now I understand—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, but it was just . . . Yeah. Like, listen: This shit ain’t easy.”</p><div><br/></div><p>Brad and Angelina divorced in 2019 after two years of marriage. The couple have six children — Maddox, 25, Pax, 22, Zahara, 21, Shiloh, 20, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 18. He is reportedly estranged with several of his children. Four of the six children have already filed to legally drop his last name as of this year. </p>

<p>Hollywood star and multi-awarded actor Brad Pitt opens up about what broke his sobriety this year.</p>

Hollywood star and multi-awarded actor Brad Pitt opens up about what broke his sobriety this year.