Brad Pitt reveals he had suicidal thoughts amid family drama

Brad Pitt has shared that during a brief period in his life, he grappled with suicidal thoughts.

In a new interview with Esquire, the movie star, 62, revealed that it came at a time he was dealing with a lot of “family stuff”.

Speaking from the comfort of his own home, Pitt opened up on his emotional state, revealing his feelings from some of the darkest moments of his life.

“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,” he said.

He went on to explain that his optimism, while useful under some circumstances, has gotten him in trouble. Before doubling back on his prior statement and sharing that at one point in his life, he did struggle with suicidal thoughts.

“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,” he said.

“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. 

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“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.”

Pitt went on to comment on the difficulty of life, explaining that even for him as “a guy who won the lottery,” it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

While discussing his emotions during that difficult time in his life, the reporter inquired whether it had anything to do with “kid stuff”.

“Family stuff,” Pitt responded.

“We could leave it at that.”

Pitt went through a public divorce in 2016, after 12 years with ex-wife Angelina Jolie. The pair were caught up in an eight-year legal battle, only settling their divorce in 2024.They are still tied up in a contentious legal battle over their French winery, Château Miraval.

The former couple also share six children, Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, Zahara, 21, Shiloh 20, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 18.

Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne have all decided to drop their father’s last name, with Pitt said to be largely estranged from his children.

Pax is the only one of six children who has not publicly decided to drop Pitt from his surname.

In the interview, Pitt also shared he “got back off the wagon” after seven years of sobriety.

“No, I got – I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon,” Pitt said.

“In a more restrained manner. I got overconfident a couple times, went, Yep, nope, not good for me. Not in big quantities.”

The Esquire reporter noted that Pitt had offered him a glass of wine earlier in their conversation. “Yeah. Well . . . I can have a few. But I can’t have a lot. I have to be professional about it,” he said.

Pitt began his sobriety journey in 2016, after Jolie filed for divorce following an alleged drunken argument on the former couple’s private plane.

If you or someone you know need help or support, contact Lifeline on 12 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au