Brad Pitt Says He Felt Like He Could ‘Understand Suicide’ During a Difficult Period Navigating ‘Family Stuff’

Rebecca AizinMon, August 10, 2026 at 2:48 PM UTC

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Brad Pitt for EsquireCredit: Chantal Anderson/Esquire (2) -

Brad Pitt reflected on a difficult time in his life in a new interview with Esquire, describing how he came to understand the concept of suicide

Pitt attributed his resilience to his optimism but acknowledged the emotional toll of navigating family challenges

He shares six children with ex-wife Angelina Jolie; four of them have filed a petition to drop “Pitt” from their last name

Brad Pitt is opening up about a difficult period in his life amid his ongoing estrangement from some members of his family.

In rare comments, the F1 actor, 62, said that although he was never suicidal, there was a point when he felt he could “understand suicide” as he navigated a turbulent time involving “family stuff.”

“I was never suicidal in any way. It just was not my makeup,” he said in an interview with Esquire published Aug. 10. “In fact, 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. Or, as my forever-funny friend David Fincher will say, Yeah, you see the glass as half full, but it’s half full of urine.”

Brad Pitt for EsquireCredit: Chantal Anderson/Esquire

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 . . .”

“Yeah. Like, listen: This s--- ain’t easy,” Pitt concluded. “And you’re talking to a guy who won the lottery.”

Brad Pitt (C), (L-R) Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, Jane Pitt, and William Pitt attend the premiere of “Unbroken” at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on December 15, 2014 in Hollywood, CaliforniaCredit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

When the interviewer asked whether the difficult period related to “kid stuff,” Pitt replied, “Family stuff. We could leave it at that.”

Pitt was previously married to Angelina Jolie. The two split in a contentious divorce in 2016, which was finalized eight years later in 2024 following intense legal battles. They share six children — Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax, Knox and Vivienne — four of whom have filed a petition to drop “Pitt” from their last names.

Shiloh’s petition was granted in August 2024. Zahara and Maddox’s petitions remain pending, with Zahara’s hearing scheduled for Sept. 28 and Maddox’s set for Sept. 14, according to previous court documents obtained by PEOPLE.

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“It’s sad to see someone repeatedly publicize their successful alienation of their children from the other parent,” a source close to Pitt previously told PEOPLE.

While the actor has not addressed his kids’ petitions publicly, he last spoke about the importance of surrounding himself with loved ones in a June 2025 red carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight ahead of the release of F1.

“I think you get to my age and see how important it is to surround yourself with the people you know, the people you love, the people that love you back. Friends, family, and that’s it. From there, we get to go make things. It’s a pretty simple, I think, equation,” he said.

A source told PEOPLE in 2024 that, at the time, Pitt had “virtually no contact” with his adult kids, but still had visitation with his younger kids, who were under 18.

“He has virtually no contact with the adult kids. His engagement with the younger kids is more limited in recent months because of his filming schedule,” the source said, referring to Pitt filming F1 on location in Europe.

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Pitt next stars in Heart of the Beast, which releases in theaters on Sept. 25.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”