Brad Pitt’s Return to Drinking Sparks Debate Over Past Marriage

The 62-year-old actor, who finalized his divorce from Jolie in 2024, recently told Esquire that he ended his seven-year abstinence to indulge in alcohol in a more restrained manner. While Pitt admits he once struggled with addiction following the collapse of his marriage—an era defined by a 2016 private plane incident and subsequent investigations by the FBI and child services that resulted in no charges—those in his inner circle maintain he has moved past those darker days.

One associate described the actor as being in a better place, reframing his history of alcohol abuse as a byproduct of a toxic domestic situation. This narrative shift arrives as Pitt faces public estrangement from his six children, several of whom have legally moved to drop his surname. Sources close to the actor describe this family rift as the most painful chapter of his life, claiming he was the target of a prolonged campaign of alienation. As Pitt attempts to move forward with his partner, Ines de Ramon, the actor remains firm that his door stays open to his children despite the ongoing legal and personal fallout.