Brad Pitt reveals ‘family stuff’ made him suicidal: ‘I didn’t see a way out’

Rachel McGrathTue, August 11, 2026 at 8:32 AM UTC

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Brad Pitt has opened up about feeling suicidal during what he described as “one little period” when he “just didn’t see a way out”.

The actor’s candid admission comes several years after his high-profile divorce from second wife Angelina Jolie played out in the newspapers, while in recent months, several of their children have changed their surnames from Pitt to Jolie.

In a wide-ranging new interview, the Oscar-winning actor said he is usually an incredibly positive person, explaining: “If I have any afflictions, it’s probably being a congenital optimist. Which has helped many times, and it’s also gotten me– I’ve walked foolishly head-on into a Mack truck because of my optimism.”

But he continued: “Anyway, 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.

“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.

“And I thought, ‘Oh, okay, now I understand.’ I understand suicide, in the sense that it’s just relief. It’s just looking for relief from the pain. But I also think we have incredible survival instincts. And for me, that immediately kicked in, but it was just...”

Pitt attributed the feelings to ‘family stuff’ (AFP/Getty)

Asked by the Esquire interviewer what sparked his suicidal feelings, Pitt replied: “Family stuff.”

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“We could leave it at that,” he added, declining to elaborate further.

After a high-profile split from his first wife, Jennifer Aniston, Pitt began dating his Mr and Mrs Smith co-star Angelina Jolie in 2005. The pair welcomed six children together, adopting the eldest three – Maddox, Pax and Zahara – before having their biological children, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne.

‘Brangelina’, as they were nicknamed by the press, married in 2014. They then split just two years later after an incident on a private plane allegedly saw Pitt become physically abusive towards his wife and their children, who were aged between eight and 15 at the time. Pitt has always denied the allegations and was cleared of all charges following an FBI investigation.

Jolie with their six children (Getty)

Jolie filed for divorce just days after the flight, but the pair then spent eight years battling it out in the courts before reaching a settlement agreement. During that time, the pair fought numerous custody battles over the children and the French winery, Château Miraval, which they had bought in 2008.

In 2023, a years-old scathing Father’s Day post, reportedly from Pax’s private Instagram account, emerged in which he reportedly said to his adoptive dad: “Happy Father’s Day to this world class a***hole. You time and time and again prove yourself to be a terrible and despicable person.”

When the divorce settlement was agreed, Jolie’s lawyer said in a statement: “This is just one part of a long ongoing process that started eight years ago. Frankly, Angelina is exhausted, but she is relieved this one part is over.”

More recently, four of Pitt and Jolie’s six children have legally dropped their father’s surname.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans on 116 123 (UK and ROI) or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”