Brad Pitt’s AA Journey After Angelina Jolie Divorce
The facts matter. Objective reporting, insightful analysis—let’s unpack Brad Pitt’s experience with Alcoholics Anonymous as he navigated the fallout of his split from Angelina Jolie. According to E! Online’s June 23 report on Armchair Expert, Pitt first walked into AA meetings shortly after Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016. He described the gatherings as “incredible,” highlighting how a roomful of men sharing raw anecdotes, failures and even humor proved pivotal in his early sobriety efforts.
Pitt, now 63, opened up to host Dax Shepard about the early days when he “was on my knees” and willing to try “anything anyone threw at me.” Those sessions, he said, became something he genuinely looked forward to—despite initial hesitation about confidentiality and paparazzi exposure. The Fight Club star admitted he was “pretty good at taking responsibility,” even under the glare of celebrity, and he embraced AA’s ethos of accountability and peer support.
Angler Jolie’s divorce filing marked a personal nadir for Pitt, who shares six children with her: Maddox, 23; Pax, 21; Zahara, 20; Shiloh, 19; and 16-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox. Pitt told The New York Times in 2019 that an inflight dispute over his drinking was the moment he “removed my drinking privileges.” That decisive action set the stage for his long-term recovery and pursuit of healthier coping strategies.
Broader context underscores how AA has shaped multiple celebrity recovery narratives. Jason Biggs, famously known from American Pie, celebrated his one-year sobriety milestone via Instagram in October 2018, praising AA’s structure. Pitt’s candid reflections on Jenny Mollen’s All the Fails podcast in March 2024 further reveal ongoing challenges—he confessed to finding ways to “take myself out of the life equation” during darker times, only to recommit to therapy and support meetings soon after.
The numbers speak volumes: AA meetings typically host 20 to 100 participants, yet Pitt found a smaller 30-person group ideal for forging connections without losing privacy. His story illustrates how a celebrity’s public journey can mirror the struggles of countless others. Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that peer-based programs contribute to measurable improvements in long-term sobriety, corroborating Pitt’s assessment that “it was a difficult time” and AA offered a necessary “reboot.”
As Pitt continues to date Spanish food writer Ines de Ramon and co-parent amicably with Jolie, his admission serves as a high-profile case study in accountability, personal growth and the often-overlooked power of community support. More updates will follow as Pitt’s recovery journey evolves—and as celebrity culture continues to grapple with substance-use transparency. Stay informed, stay critical, and follow the facts.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, “Brad Pitt Attended Alcoholics Anonymous Amid Angelina Jolie Breakup”
The New York Times, 2019 interview with Brad Pitt
People Magazine, Jason Biggs sobriety announcement
Armchair Expert podcast, June 23 episode
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
