Brad Pitt reflects on going to AA after Angelina Jolie divorce: 'I needed rebooting'

Brad Pitt is looking back on his "incredible" experience in Alcoholics Anonymous.

The "F1" star, 61, reflected on seeking help from the recovery group while speaking to Dax Shepard on the "Armchair Expert" podcast in an episode released Monday, June 23.

"I was pretty much on my back, on my knees," Pitt said. "I was trying anything anyone threw at me. It was a particular difficult time. I needed rebooting. I needed to wake the (expletive) up, in some areas."

Pitt, who previously told The New York Times he spent a year and a half in Alcoholics Anonymous after ex-wife Angelina Jolie filed for divorce, described attending AA as a "really special" experience. He said it was "incredible" to see "men sharing their experiences, their foibles, their missteps, their wants, their aches," and doing so with "a lot of humor."

Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt in September 2016, kicking off a years-long legal dispute between the actors over issues including custody of their children. They reached a divorce settlement in December 2024, which an attorney for Jolie told USA TODAY was "just one part of a long, ongoing process."

Jolie has accused Pitt of physical abuse, alleging he assaulted her and two of their kids on a plane in 2016. Pitt has denied her allegations and did not face any charges over the alleged incident.

Shepard, who has also discussed his struggles with alcohol, noted that he met Pitt in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and recalled how "honest" the actor was. Pitt said that "everyone was so open," which "gives you permission" to share, adding that he "really grew to love it."

The "Fight Club" star went on to describe going to AA as part of an effort to take "responsibility" for his actions and "be better."

Pitt previously told The New York Times it was "really freeing just to expose the ugly sides of yourself" in Alcoholics Anonymous. But Pitt later said in an interview with GQ in 2024 that Alcoholics Anonymous reprimanded him for talking about his experience with the group publicly.

"You know they came down on me for that? AA did," Pitt told GQ. "They were like, 'It's anonymous.' ... I'm not outing anyone. Everyone knows you exist. What's the issue?"

Contributing: Anna Kaufman