Brad Pitt Shares His Experience Attending Alcoholics Anonymous

In a recent podcast interview, Brad Pitt opened up about the transformative experience of attending his first Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting. The actor, 61, described feeling “almost on my knees” and recognizing the need to address various personal struggles at the time.

Pitt explained that he was “trying anything and everything” to cope, describing that it was a difficult period where he felt the necessity for a reboot. While he did not specify the exact timing of his first AA session, he revealed that he attended meetings for about a year and a half after his 2016 divorce from Angelina Jolie.

The actor shared that although the process was intimidating—especially as his turn to speak approached—witnessing others openly share their stories inspired him. He appreciated how the experience provided a sense of permission to confront his own vulnerabilities, and he grew to love participating in these meetings. Pitt also highlighted that hearing honesty from others, including host Dax Shepard, meant a lot to him, with Shepard’s humor and wisdom serving as a comfort.

Pitt mentioned that sharing his struggles helped him accept parts of himself he previously kept hidden, and that witnessing Shepard’s honesty added depth to his own journey. He emphasized that coming from a background in the Ozarks, where men often dismiss vulnerabilities, the meetings offered a refreshing different perspective—men sharing their foibles, missteps, and humor.

He also noted that his journey with sobriety included a decision to “remove my drinking privileges,” a step he took after his split, which he described as a moment of significant personal growth. The experience helped him confront his issues openly, contributing to his ongoing recovery and self-awareness.