Angelina Jolie was reportedly “not surprised” by Brad Pitt’s recent revelation that he has fallen off the wagon after seven years of sobriety, according to an insider. Pitt, who had previously announced he was sober following a difficult period after his split from Jolie, shared in a recent interview that he had “gotten back off the wagon.”
The actor’s sobriety journey began after a 2016 incident on a private jet, during which he was accused of pouring alcohol on Jolie and their children. Pitt has denied these allegations, and an FBI investigation did not lead to charges.
In an interview with Esquire UK, Pitt disclosed that he has resumed drinking but in a more controlled manner. "I can have a few. But I can’t have a lot. I have to be professional about it," he stated, noting that he now prioritizes mornings. "Mornings are interesting, and he doesn’t want any more of them to go by unseen."
A source close to Jolie told Rob Shuter's Naughty But Nice column that Jolie had “long believed that sobriety did not necessarily mean the underlying problems [Brad had] had disappeared.” The insider added, “She doesn’t believe Brad has fundamentally changed. She believes Brad is who Brad is, and no amount of sobriety or reinvention changes that.”
Family Drama and Legal Battles
Pitt’s renewed drinking comes amid ongoing family drama and a protracted legal dispute with Jolie. Several of their children have publicly distanced themselves from Pitt, with some opting to drop his last name. Most recently, their daughter Vivienne, 18, filed a petition to remove “Pitt” from her name, citing personal reasons. Her siblings Zahara and Maddox have also taken steps to legally drop the surname.
Last year, Shiloh, who was born Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, legally changed her name to Shiloh Jolie. Knox, Vivienne's twin, is the only other sibling who has not yet formally dropped the actor's surname.
During their marriage, Pitt and Jolie purchased the French winery Chateau Miraval, which has become a central point in their ongoing legal battles. Court documents indicated that Jolie's decision to sell her stake in the winery was partly motivated by Pitt's "acknowledged problem of alcohol abuse on their family."
Pitt has spoken candidly about his struggles with alcohol and his time in Alcoholics Anonymous. In a 2017 interview with GQ, he described himself as a "professional" drinker before deciding to step away. He later told The New York Times that AA provided a "safe space where there was little judgment, and therefore little judgment of yourself."
Pitt also addressed estrangement from his children in the Esquire interview, admitting he experienced a period of suicidal thoughts due to the pain he felt. He clarified that he never acted on these thoughts but understood the desire for relief from overwhelming pain.
Despite these personal challenges, Pitt continues his film career. His upcoming projects include "Heart of the Beast" and Quentin Tarantino's "The Adventures of Cliff Booth."