Brad Pitt Opens Up About Dark Times Post-Jolie Split: 'This S–T Ain’T Easy'

Brad Pitt's Candid Confession

Brad Pitt, the Hollywood heartthrob known for his roles in "Fight Club" and "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood," has opened up in a raw interview with Esquire. A decade after his well-publicized split from Angelina Jolie, Pitt revealed he faced a dark period where he felt "suicidal" while dealing with "family stuff."

In his candid conversation, the 62-year-old actor shared, "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 described the oppressive pain he felt, admitting that while he wasn’t going to act on those feelings, the thought of relief was tempting.

“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,” Pitt confessed.

Family Ties and Struggles

When asked if this dark period was related to "kid stuff," Pitt clarified, "Family stuff." The actor, who shares six children with Jolie, opted to keep the details vague, stating, "We could leave it at that." Despite the challenges, Pitt's "incredible survival instincts" kicked in, helping him navigate through the tough times.

The couple, who were once co-stars in "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," share children Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Vivienne and Knox. Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, citing full custody of the children following an alleged incident on a private jet that year.

The Aftermath of a High-Profile Split

The divorce proceedings were tumultuous, with Jolie's lawyers accusing Pitt of abusive behavior during the 2016 incident. However, the FBI investigated and decided not to press charges against the Oscar-winning actor.

Since then, the couple has been declared legally single as of 2019, with their divorce finalized in 2024. Despite his efforts to reconnect, Pitt remains estranged from most of his children, and some have even moved to drop his last name.

For those grappling with similar issues, help is available through SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).