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Brad Pitt felt ‘suicidal’ navigating ‘family stuff’ 10 years after Angelina Jolie split: ‘This s–t ain’t easy’

“I’ve never been suicidal except for one little period,” the “Fight Club” actor said in a candid interview with Esquire.​”I’ve never been suicidal except for one little period,” the “Fight Club” actor said in a candid interview with Esquire. 

Brad Pitt revealed he felt “suicidal” while navigating “family stuff” 10 years after splitting from Angelina Jolie.

“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 “Fight Club” actor said in a candid interview with Esquire.

“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,” he added.

Brad Pitt (seen above) revealed he felt “suicidal” while navigating “family stuff” following his divorce from Angelina Jolie. CHANTAL ANDERSON/ Esquire
“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 actor (seen above) told Esquire. CHANTAL ANDERSON/ Esquire

“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 …”

After a brief pause, Pitt, 62, told the interviewer: “This s–t ain’t easy. And you’re talking to a guy who won the lottery.”

When the reporter asked the “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” star if he was dealing with “kid stuff,” he replied, “Family stuff.”

The “Troy” star (seen above) said his “incredible survival instincts” kicked in before he could act on his feelings. CHANTAL ANDERSON/ Esquire
Pitt and Jolie share six kids (seen above with their parents in Tokyo). WireImage

However, Pitt — who shares six children with Jolie — did not want to delve deeper into the touchy topic.

“Family stuff,” he told the outlet. “We could leave it at that.”

Page Six has reached out to Jolie for comment but did not immediately hear back.

The “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” co-stars share kids Maddox, 25, Pax, 22, Zahara, 21, Shiloh, 20, and 18-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox.

After the “Eternals” star (seen above with the actor in 2015) filed for divorce from Pitt in 2016, she requested full custody of their children. Dimitrios Kambouris
Jolie’s lawyers claimed the “F1” actor (seen above with the actress in 2015) allegedly “choked one of the children and struck another in the face” during a confrontation on a private jet in 2016. Getty Images

Jolie, 51, filed for divorce from Pitt in 2016 and requested full custody of their six children following an alleged abusive incident between the actor and the kids.

The “Eternals” actress’s lawyers claimed Pitt allegedly “choked one of the children and struck another in the face” during a confrontation on a private jet.

The FBI “thoroughly” investigated and chose “not to bring any charges” against the two-time Oscar winner.

Pitt (seen above with Pax, Maddox, Shiloh and Jane Pitt in 2014) does not have a close relationship with his kids. Getty Images
Several of the children have legally filed to drop the actor’s last name. (Pictured: Jolie, Pitt, Maddox and Pax in 2013.) Getty Images for Paramount Pictures International

The former couple was declared legally single in 2019 and finally settled their divorce in December 2024.

Last year, a source told Us Weekly that the “Fight Club” actor remains estranged from most of his children despite “several efforts to reconnect.”

Several of the children have taken legal or public steps to drop “Pitt” from their last names.

If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). 

Brad Pitt wearing a dark green turtleneck and light brown pants, sitting on a bar, with his elbow on his knee and chin in his hand.
Brad Pitt (seen above) revealed he felt “suicidal” while navigating “family stuff” following his divorce from Angelina Jolie. CHANTAL ANDERSON/ Esquire
Esquire magazine cover featuring Brad Pitt wearing a red jacket and light pink neck scarf, looking at the viewer.
“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 actor (seen above) told Esquire. CHANTAL ANDERSON/ Esquire
Brad Pitt wearing a long tan coat, striped pajamas, and sunglasses, leaning against a brick wall.
The “Troy” star (seen above) said his “incredible survival instincts” kicked in before he could act on his feelings. CHANTAL ANDERSON/ Esquire
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie with their six children at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo.
Pitt and Jolie share six kids (seen above with their parents in Tokyo). WireImage
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the WSJ. Magazine 2015 Innovator Awards.
After the “Eternals” star (seen above with the actor in 2015) filed for divorce from Pitt in 2016, she requested full custody of their children. Dimitrios Kambouris
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at the AFI Fest 2015 opening night gala.
Jolie’s lawyers claimed the “F1” actor (seen above with the actress in 2015) allegedly “choked one of the children and struck another in the face” during a confrontation on a private jet in 2016. Getty Images
Actor Brad Pitt with Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, and Jane Pitt at the "Unbroken" premiere.
Pitt (seen above with Pax, Maddox, Shiloh and Jane Pitt in 2014) does not have a close relationship with his kids. Getty Images
Brad Pitt, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, Pax Jolie-Pitt, and Angelina Jolie standing on a red carpet in front of a movie poster.
Several of the children have legally filed to drop the actor’s last name. (Pictured: Jolie, Pitt, Maddox and Pax in 2013.) Getty Images for Paramount Pictures International

 

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