Everything Brad Pitt Has Said About His Sobriety — Including Why He Quit Drinking
Pitt got even more serious about his sobriety following his highly publicized breakup with Jolie in 2016.
The Maria actress filed for divorce days after an incident aboard the former couple’s private plane. According to court documents, Pitt allegedly got into a drunken argument with Jolie while they were flying from France back to their home in Los Angeles.
During the dispute, a source said he was allegedly “verbally abusive” and became “physical” with Jolie and one of their children. In a 2024 court filing, Jolie’s lawyers alleged he was abusive toward multiple children.
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Pitt denied the allegations, and the FBI and Los Angeles Department of Child and Family Services concluded their investigations with no findings of abuse. However, he told The New York Times that the split prompted him to join a 12-step program.
“I had taken things as far as I could take it,” he said in 2019. “So I removed my drinking privileges.”
Pitt found support in a 12-step program
In 2016, the Ad Astra actor joined a 12-step program and started attending an all-men group, which included Shepard. He said he found the meetings a “freeing” way to expose the “ugly sides” of himself.
“You had all these men sitting around being open and honest in a way I have never heard,” Pitt told The New York Times. “It was this safe space where there was little judgment, and therefore little judgment of yourself.”
He credited Bradley Cooper for inspiring his sobriety
In his acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor at the 2020 National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala, Pitt praised actor Bradley Cooper, who had presented him with the award.
“Bradley just put his daughter to bed and rushed over here to do this,” Pitt said. “He’s a sweetheart. I got sober because of this guy and every day has been happier ever since.”
Cooper himself has been sober for over two decades.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
