Brad Pitt is opening up about his path to sobriety and personal growth, revealing that he turned to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) following his high-profile split from Angelina Jolie.
During a candid appearance on the “Armchair Expert” podcast hosted by Dax Shepard, the Hollywood icon, 61, described his experience with AA as transformative.
“It was just incredible men sharing their experiences, their foibles, their missteps, their wants, their aches — and a lot of humor with it,” Pitt shared. “I thought it was a really special experience.”
Brad Pitt and Dax Shepard Met in AA
Dax Shepard, 50, revealed that he and the “Fight Club” actor met through Alcoholics Anonymous. When asked if he was nervous about publicly discussing it, Pitt said he felt “quite at ease,” though he admitted to being “shy” during his first meeting.
“I was pretty much on my knees, and I was really open,” Pitt confessed. “It was a difficult time. I needed rebooting. I needed to wake the f— up in some areas.”
Pitt emphasized his willingness to take accountability and learn from his mistakes, stating:
“When I’ve stepped in s–t, I’m pretty good at taking responsibility for it and owning up to it. And now it’s a quest: What do I do with this? How can I right this and make sure it doesn’t happen again?”
Eventually, AA meetings became something Pitt looked forward to. He said he approaches therapy the same way, describing himself as “desperate” when he initially began the process.
“When I jumped into therapy then, I was just like, ‘And I did this and I did that…’” the “Troy” star explained.
Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Divorce: A Legal Battle Spanning Years
Pitt and Jolie, both 50, finalized their divorce in December 2023, ending an eight-year legal battle that began in 2016. The former couple met in 2005 on the set of “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”, while Pitt was still married to Jennifer Aniston.
They wed in 2014 before Jolie filed for divorce two years later following an alleged incident on a private plane involving their children.
Pitt was investigated after the alleged altercation but was not charged.
Together, they share six children: Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16, Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, and Zahara, 20.
Pitt on the Public Scrutiny of His Personal Life
In a May 2025 interview with GQ, Pitt downplayed the divorce as a “legal” conclusion rather than an emotional upheaval.
“I don’t think it was that major of a thing. Just something coming to fruition — legally,” he said.
Now dating jewelry designer Ines de Ramon, 32, Pitt acknowledged that public interest in his personal life has been a constant burden.
“It’s been an annoyance I’ve had to always deal with… a nagging time suck or waste of time, if you let it be that.”
Inside Pitt and Ines’ Love Story
Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon’s relationship, which began in 2022, has remained largely private. But through red carpet appearances, romantic vacations, and quiet dinners, the couple has shown a strong, steady bond.
According to a source who spoke with Page Six, it was Ines who encouraged Brad to finally resolve his long-standing divorce with Angelina Jolie, which was settled in late 2023 after nearly eight years of legal disputes.
“He was influenced by Ines to finally settle,” the insider revealed, suggesting she brought a sense of calm and stability into his life.
Social Media Reacts to Their Age Gap
Of course, the public had plenty to say about the couple’s 29-year age gap. Some critics compared them to a “father-daughter” duo, while others questioned the dynamic with comments like, “Is this one of his kids?” or “Bro’s dating someone old enough to be his daughter.”
Still, plenty of fans defended the relationship, calling Ines “stunning” and the couple “a perfect match.” One commenter summed it up: “They look happy — and that’s what counts.”
